Netflix's final season of "Stranger Things" premiered on Thursday to divided critical reception and immediate technical chaos, as the streaming platform crashed within minutes of releasing the first four episodes.
The fifth and final season debuted with reviews ranging from enthusiastic praise to pointed criticism. Jack Seal of The Guardian called it «luxurious» and predicted viewers would be «standing on a chair, yelling with joy». But Sophie Gilbert of The Atlantic found the season «largely joyless and grim», while Nick Hilton of The Independent criticized what he termed the show's «Marvelisation» and excessive plot delays.
Netflix crashes under demand
Netflix experienced a server outage lasting approximately three minutes shortly after the premiere. More than 14,000 users in the US reported issues accessing the platform. The crash echoed similar incidents when previous seasons launched, with over 13,000 outages reported during season four part one's release.
Frustrated fans flooded X (formerly Twitter) with complaints. One user wrote: «Billion dollar company can't even keep the servers from crashing». Another asked: «How could you not realize how big this was going to be and not prepare for it?»
Fans stunned by cliffhanger ending
Those who managed to stream the episodes responded with overwhelming enthusiasm to the fourth episode's cliffhanger, which reveals Will Byers developing telekinesis and telepathy similar to Eleven's abilities. Fans declared the ending «GENUINELY INSANE» and reported «FULL BODY CHILLS».
The season picks up approximately 18 months after previous events, on November 3, 1987. Max Mayfield remains in a coma following her brutal assault by Vecna, but the premiere reveals she is alive and aware within villain Henry Creel's mindscape, actively working to dismantle his system.
Age gap draws attention
Critics noted the growing disconnect between the teenage characters and their adult actors. The core cast members, meant to portray 17-year-olds, range from 21 to 24 years old. Older characters face even starker contrasts: Joe Keery is 33 playing 20-year-old Steve Harrington, while Natalia Dyer is 30 portraying 19-year-old Nancy Wheeler.
Alison Herman of Variety wrote: «By declining to enrich its characters as they age, Stranger Things traps itself in arrested development. When you get bigger without going deeper, you end up stretched thin».
Franchise continues beyond finale
Despite the main series ending, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos confirmed at the London premiere: «The world of Hawkins, Indiana and the Upside Down, it's not over». A source told The Sun that Netflix is planning live-action spin-offs, animated projects, and potential standalone character shows.
Co-creator Matt Duffer described filming the final scenes as «really emotional», with cast members «sobbing». He told The Times: «Every character's ending needed to feel right. That was more important than providing the fans with the ending they're hoping for».
The remaining three episodes release on Christmas Day, with the finale "The Rightside Up" streaming on December 31. The finale will also screen in over 350 movie theaters beginning December 31 at 8 p.m. ET.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
