With so many mixed reactions to season 5 of Stranger Things, what’s one thing you’d change if you could?

I’m actually enjoying it a lot but, if I had to pick one thing, I’d say: the balance has shifted substantially in who is getting development and who isn’t. Feels like Eleven, Mike, and Lucas are kind of stuck in supporting roles now. It’s nice to see Will, Max, etc get big moments this season but they’ve expanded character such as Holly at the expense of some established characters that are flat this season.

That or I just want more dipshit Derek.

I have to agree with the balance shifting quite noticeably, which is posing some issues. We all want to see our favorite characters have big moments and screen time now that it's the final season, but some just aren't getting that. I will say, though, I am really loving Holly's expanded role and Derek is a gem!

For me, I really think my biggest issue isn't so much with the show itself as it is the release schedule. The season has felt really flat to me compared to other seasons and I'm struggling to get as invested in it as I typically do, and I think it mostly has to do with how they split it up. I'm planning to binge-watch Season 5 once all 8 episodes are out, and I think I'll end up liking it a lot more that way.

I think the show has made a grave misstep in positioning Henry/Vecna as THE big bad and NOT the Mind Flayer entity. That thing was so much freakier and a much better metaphor for so many themes in the early seasons (1 & 2). Henry could've served as a different kind of metaphor for corruption, while there would've been larger franchise potential keeping the Mind Flayer as an overarching big bad.

As it stands, Henry's backstory (with the stage play and all) has ended up feeling like the classic "snake eating its tail" mistake of a show gorging on too much of its own lore.

Having Holly be such a big main character really feels like a mistake at the expense of the other main characters they've built over the years. Such a weird move for a final season.

More music. This season feels comparatively flat in terms of the soundtrack compared to others.

17 hours ago, kristyne said:

Having Holly be such a big main character really feels like a mistake at the expense of the other main characters they've built over the years. Such a weird move for a final season.

Completely agree. I'll admit that I've ended up really really liking Holly, and I think her storyline is pretty interesting, but it feels so weird to devote so much time to a character who up to this point has been a background character when it's the final season.