It was an instant hit, drawing around 14 million viewers in the 18-49 demo per episode initially. By the third season, that number surged to over 40 million households watching within the first four days and 64 million within the first month, breaking Netflix records at the time and making it the most-watched original series on the platform.

However, as the audience expanded, both critical acclaim and fan enthusiasm began to wane. The first season's impressive 97% Rotten Tomatoes score dropped to 94% for Season 2, then fell further in the following seasons to 89% and 86%, respectively. While I appreciated the first volume of Stranger Things 4, the finale left me quite disappointed (especially when compared to the emotionally charged conclusion of Season 3, which was unfortunately undercut by the revelation that Hopper had somehow survived).

(P.S. I recently reread my review of the Season 4 finale and realized just how conflicted I felt about it back then. I haven't rewatched it yet, but maybe I should now that Season 5 is approaching.)

Additionally, Netflix altered its release strategy for Season 4, opting for a split-season format that divided Stranger Things 4 into two segments. The initial set of episodes dropped all at once, but the final two lengthy episodes didn’t arrive until more than a month later.

This unfortunate pattern spread to other Netflix Originals, from The Witcher’s third season to the upcoming second season of Wednesday, where later seasons were split into two or three parts. Cobra Kai’s final season was divided into three segments spaced nearly a year apart.

• Volume 1: November 26th at 5pm PT / 8pm ET
• Volume 2: Christmas Day, 5pm PT / 8pm ET
• The Finale: New Year’s Eve, 5pm PT / 8pm ET

For fans who have waited years since the second half of Stranger Things 4—which aired on May 27th, 2022, and July 1st, 2022—it was already painful having to wait over three years for the final season. Now being asked to wait weeks between the first two volumes and another week for the finale only adds insult to injury.

But there is some good news too. First, the gap between Volume 1 and the finale is only about a month. Compare this to Cobra Kai’s sixth season, which was split into five-episode chunks starting with Volume 1 on July 18th, 2024; Volume 2 on November 15th, 2024; and Volume 3 on February 13th, 2025. In comparison, the Stranger Things 5 release plan is much easier to accept.

Another positive note is the timing—each volume drops at 5pm PT / 8pm ET. This means everyone (at least in North America) can watch simultaneously, unlike midnight releases which tend to fragment the viewing experience. Personally, I miss the old days when shows released one episode each week in the evening, allowing everyone to discuss it the next day. That shared excitement made shows like Lost, The Walking Dead, and Game Of Thrones so special. Perhaps releasing Stranger Things 5 across three evenings might bring some of that back.

This staggered release also builds anticipation. Instead of bingeing everything at once, fans must wait to find out what happens to our favorite characters. This can spark endless fan theories, forum discussions, and social media chatter (and even in-person conversations), which is part of the fun for shows like Stranger Things.

One thing is certain: When the final episode concludes, nearly nine-and-a-half years will have passed since we first met Eleven, Mike, Hopper, and the rest of the cast. Many fans will have grown up alongside the Stranger Things kids. Who survives, who doesn’t, and what becomes of Vecna and the Upside Down remains unknown.

The Duffer Brothers-created series stars Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers, David Harbour as Jim Hopper, Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler, Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven, Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson, Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas Sinclair, Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler, Charlie Heaton as Jonathan Byers, Cara Buono as Karen Wheeler, Matthew Modine as Martin Brenner, Noah Schnapp as Will Byers, Sadie Sink as Max Mayfield, Joe Keery as Steve Harrington, and a rotating cast of guest stars including Dacre Montgomery as Billy Hargrove, Sean Astin as Bob Newby, Paul Reiser as Sam Owens, Maya Hawke as Robin Buckley, and Joseph Quinn as Eddie Munson, among many others.

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