I’ve Seen Plenty Of Terrible Series Finales Over The Years, And I Need To Talk About Stranger Things’ Ending

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It’s widely known that ending a long-running TV show well is incredibly challenging. While some series manage to stick the landing, many have disappointing finales, particularly lately. The controversial ending of Game of Thrones is still talked about years later, and the recent Stranger Things finale on Netflix has also drawn a lot of criticism – and a lot of negativity directed at The Duffer Brothers, the show’s creators.

The final episode of Stranger Things had a lot to live up to, especially with its extended scene wrapping up the stories for all the characters we’ve come to love. However, some viewers were still left wanting more, sparking a fan theory about an extra episode. Personally, I thought the ending was excellent, and it’s important to remember some truly disappointing series finales we’ve seen lately.

Stranger Things’s Series Finale Is Getting Too Much Hate

With Stranger Things being such a popular and long-running show for Netflix, it was always going to be tough to satisfy all viewers. Some felt the final fight with Vecna was rushed, while others wished the Demogorgon had made an appearance. There was also disappointment among some fans about what happened to Eleven, especially those who didn’t buy Mike’s explanation and believed she died when the Upside Down collapsed.

Even though Eleven seemingly sacrificed herself, the ending of Stranger Things really tied things up nicely. We saw Joyce and Hopper get engaged, the core group of friends graduate and leave Hawkins behind, and the older characters start their adult lives. Plus, watching everyone team up to finally defeat Vecna was incredibly exciting.

I think a lot of the online criticism of the Stranger Things finale is unfair. People seem to be forgetting how many other TV shows have had truly terrible endings. Game of Thrones is a prime example – remember how controversial Bran becoming king was, and what happened with Daenerys and Jon? It’s definitely not the only show that’s stumbled at the finish line, though.

Several TV finales have been major letdowns – like the endings of Dexter and True Blood, which were particularly criticized, and the widely disliked How I Met Your Mother finale. These shows aired around the time of Breaking Bad‘s excellent conclusion, making their failures even more noticeable. However, I don’t think the Stranger Things finale deserves to be grouped with those disappointments.

It’s impossible to make everyone happy, but I believe the ending of Stranger Things will be appreciated more over time. All episodes are currently available on Netflix, and a behind-the-scenes documentary about the final season will premiere on January 12th as part of the 2026 TV lineup.

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2026-01-10 22:09