From Game Of Thrones To Stranger Things: Why Do So Many TV Shows End Badly?

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TV show finales, like those of Stranger Things and Game of Thrones, often disappoint viewers despite a lot of anticipation. There are many reasons why this happens, and the Stranger Things finale, released on January 1, 2026, was no exception. While the ending wasn’t particularly surprising, reactions to it were mixed.

Honestly, it was wild seeing everyone react to the Stranger Things finale! For every person online saying it was perfect, there were just as many saying it was totally predictable and didn’t really deliver. While it was great to see what happened with almost everyone, I have to admit I was a little bummed about El’s ending – it felt a bit open-ended and left me wanting more closure for her.

However, not all viewers were pleased with the ending. Some felt it was too clean and simple for a show that had previously been so unpredictable. While a few appreciated the clear resolution, others thought the perfectly happy outcomes for characters like Max, Lucas, Dustin, and Will were unrealistic and didn’t fit the tone of the series.

Sticking The Landing Has Always Been Difficult For TV Shows

As the summary shows, the biggest challenge with the Stranger Things finale was that it was impossible to please everyone. Before season 5 started, fans both feared and hoped for a darker, more intense ending that would include the deaths of several important characters.

Okay, let me tell you, when the dust settled and almost everyone made it out of this latest season alive – with only Eleven taking a hit – the reaction was…split. A lot of fans were breathing a sigh of relief, honestly. But just as many were frustrated! It’s tough for any show with a big following to satisfy everyone, because we all have different ideas about what should happen. Landing the ending right is always a challenge when you’re dealing with a passionate fanbase.

When popular shows like Breaking Bad and The Sopranos finished, fans had strong opinions about what should happen to the main characters. Some wanted Walter White and Tony Soprano to find redemption, while others felt they deserved to face consequences for their actions. This meant that even though these finales were highly praised, they still sparked a lot of debate.

Another issue is how long the show can continue. Stranger Things premiered in 2016, and there’s been a lot of discussion about its surprisingly lengthy run. Beyond the common complaints about the actors visibly growing up, there’s a bigger concern with shows that go on for many seasons and try to stretch their storylines.

The Golden Age Of Television Raised The Bar For TV Finales

To keep a show going for many seasons like Stranger Things, the story needs to grow, which usually means adding new characters with each season. However, Stranger Things already started with a very large group of characters.

The first season of Stranger Things centered around Eleven, Lucas, Mike, Dustin, and Will, alongside characters like Jonathan, Nancy, Steve, Hopper, Dr. Brenner, and Joyce. Later seasons added new faces: Murray, Max, Billy, and Bob Newby in season two, and Alexei and Cary Elwes as Hawkins’ shady mayor in season three.

By season 5, Stranger Things had become too ambitious with its large cast to deliver a truly satisfying conclusion. Plus, expectations for TV finales were incredibly high, thanks to shows like 30 Rock and The Leftovers, which had set a new standard with their acclaimed endings.

Streaming Has Turned TV Shows Into Massive Pop Culture Events

At first glance, 30 Rock and The Leftovers seem like very different TV shows. However, they share a key similarity that may explain why both shows were praised for their finales. Both built dedicated followings and impressed critics, but neither became mainstream, widely popular hits.

As a huge fan of both shows, I saw Stranger Things go through the same thing Game of Thrones did – a ton of initial excitement followed by some negativity. But honestly, the fact that they’re already planning all these spinoffs just proves how incredibly popular Stranger Things is – it’s truly one of the biggest shows streaming has ever seen. And with so many viewers, you’re bound to get a lot of different opinions, which naturally led to a pretty divided reaction when the final season dropped.

What Makes A Good TV Finale?

Many detailed analyses demonstrate the Game of Thrones finale was objectively flawed. However, despite any show’s problems, there’s no such thing as a definitively ‘bad’ or ‘perfect’ TV episode – quality is ultimately subjective.

A great TV finale feels consistent with everything that came before it. The famously disappointing finale of Lost failed because the show built its success on unanswered questions. Any explanation, no matter how detailed, was bound to feel unsatisfying after so much mystery.

Unlike Breaking Bad, which realistically showed one man’s descent into immorality making his final sacrifice feel meaningful, the ending of Stranger Things didn’t quite live up to expectations. It wasn’t as disappointing as the Game of Thrones finale, but it wasn’t a complete success either.

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2026-01-05 15:45