After ten long years, the epic saga following a group of 1980s children and the supernatural forces that change their lives has come to an end. With this closing comes the end of the community of fans who have turned this Netflix original show into a worldwide phenomenon. On both Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve, fans gathered around the world to experience the final four episodes of Stranger Things alongside the family and friends who began this journey with them. 

Preparing to reconnect Will (Noah Schnapp) with the hive mind, the group works through plans to finally defeat Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) and the energy field. Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and her sister Kali (Linnea Berthelsen) delve deeper into Dr. Kay’s (Linda Hamilton) intentions, including her plan to use their blood to create more children with powers. This opens up a conversation about Eleven possibly sacrificing herself to break the cycle of trauma. Max (Sadie Sink) and Holly (Nell Fisher) travel through Vecna’s memories, discovering increments of his origin story. This is also a time for powerful conversations to take place, including a discussion between Nancy (Natalia Dyer) and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) about the state of their relationship while they face death. There is also a much-anticipated and highly emotional moment between Steve (Joe Keery) and Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) as they work out their recent conflicts and confront the heartbreak that both of them are struggling to overcome. One of the most notable moments from these episodes was the reunification of Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) and Max. After almost two years of waiting, the couple finally shares a moment of gratitude and love, showing their joy at being together once again. Will also opens up to the group about his personal discoveries and identity, hoping to share his feelings on his own terms instead of at the will of Vecna’s manipulation. These scenes were just the beginning of the heart-wrenching moments that followed in the finale.

This season has gotten mixed reviews, with some people feeling that the ending is rushed or that the characters were not given enough individual time for personal development. Junior Maddy Portsmore says, “The final battle with Vecna was very cool, but the epilogue was too much and a lot was left unresolved.” However, others feel that the final episodes exemplified the true purpose of the show: love, acceptance, and friendship. Junior Stella Hancock says, “I liked how they all did something different with their lives and how all the main characters got their own happy ending.” I personally felt that these four episodes were spectacular. Each character was given a thoughtful ending that was both realistic and demonstrative of their development. The highlight for me was the beautifully heartbreaking scenes between many of the characters, including Lucas and Max, Dustin and Steve, Nancy and Jonathan, but most notably Eleven and Mike (Finn Wolfhard). It was astonishing to see that the foundation of Stranger Things has remained intact as it began and ended with the story of this couple and the friends who surrounded them. The group is made up of outcasts, children who struggle to find acceptance but who have found their true family in their tightly-knit relationships with the others. The finale tied the beginning of the show into these final moments, showing the kids’ transition into adulthood and watching the younger generation carry their legacy. 

As a viewer and huge fan of Stranger Things since 2017 with the release of Season 2, I can proudly (and sadly) say that this show has been one of the most unifying and communal experiences in our generation. Each season has individually defined the time period of its release, bringing people together to discuss theories and reflect on memories. We have watched the characters grow and evolve as we have grown and evolved, and seeing their journey has reflected our own. The final episodes of Stranger Things solidified and closed the lessons that have come to define it. The characters all end with love in their hearts and loyalty to the friends that have become their family. It is this love that was shared in the homes of millions of people on New Year’s Eve, showing that friendship will always persevere in the face of terror.