Whether you're a die-hard fan or a vocal critic, the finale of Stranger Things has undeniably left a lasting mark—though not always for the right reasons. But here’s where it gets controversial: while the show’s emotional beats and nostalgia hit hard, its final chapter is riddled with head-scratching decisions that feel more like plot holes than deliberate storytelling. From characters who vanish without a trace (yes, we’re looking at you, forgotten souls—check out this deep dive: [link]) to plot twists that appear out of nowhere, the finale serves up a buffet of baffling moments. And trust us, we’ve got a video that breaks it all down—scroll up and click to see what we mean.
Season 5 of Stranger Things struggles with pacing issues that are impossible to ignore, and one character, in particular, gets the short end of the stick. Take Vecna’s backstory, for instance. When we flashback to his origins as Henry Creel (Jamie Campbell Bower), we see his first encounter with the Mind Flayer, thanks to a panicked scientist and a mysterious briefcase. The scientist warns him to stay away, hinting that Henry’s been experimenting with a piece of Upside Down-connected rock for some time—but for how long? And why? The show teases a deeper backstory but never delivers, leaving us with a frustratingly underdeveloped Season 5 detail (here’s a closer look: [link]) that feels like a missed opportunity. And this is the part most people miss: Vecna’s past isn’t the only plot thread left dangling.
Speaking of Vecna, what exactly was his endgame? Season 5 builds a tense arc around Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink) and Holly Wheeler (Nell Fisher) escaping his mindscape, culminating in Max discovering a mineshaft he fears to enter. In The Rightside Up, we learn this is where he committed his first murder and met the Mind Flayer. But why did Henry go to such lengths to avoid this memory? Was the Mind Flayer trying to hide his innocent past? Not quite. Henry already knows he was manipulated, yet he willingly seeks power through the creature—a choice that ultimately leads to his demise in the series finale (explained here: [link]). So why the fear? If he saw it as a triumph, why suppress it? It’s a contradiction that leaves us scratching our heads.
But Vecna’s storyline isn’t the only head-scratcher in The Rightside Up. Take Dustin’s (Gaten Matarazzo) valedictorian moment, for example. He pulls off a rebellious stunt straight out of Eddie Munson’s (Joseph Quinn) playbook—flipping off the principal and rocking a Hellfire Club tee under his gown. The crowd erupts in applause, with not a single dissenting voice, not even from the parents. It’s a small detail, but it feels forced and out of place. Here’s the real question: Did the finale play it too safe, or did it try too hard to please everyone? Let us know in the comments.
If you’re craving more of these eyebrow-raising moments, click the video above for a full breakdown. Love it or hate it, the Stranger Things finale is a conversation starter—and we’re here for it.
