The highly anticipated final season of Stranger Things landed on Netflix on Thursday, and while it has been widely praised by critics as a television masterpiece, a significant plot decision has ignited a fiery backlash from the show's dedicated fanbase.
Fan Fury Over a Resurrected Rivalry
After five series spanning nine years, viewers have taken to social media platform X to voice their exhaustion with the rekindled love triangle between Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer), Steve Harrington (Joe Keery), and Jonathan Byers (Charlie Heaton). Many accused the show's creators, the Duffer brothers, of what they deem a 'lazy and stupid' narrative choice, arguing it undermines Nancy's character development.
Fans expressed that the focus on the petty competition between Steve and Jonathan has come at the expense of exploring Nancy's personal trauma and growth. One viewer wrote on X: 'Making Nancy and Jonathan’s failing relationship a big plot point and this stupid a*s rivalry between Steve and Jonathan… instead of letting the show focus on NANCY and her trauma and what she’s going through. The duffers fumble a character arc again. Shocking.'
The criticism centres on the season's opening, where Steve and Jonathan are seen racing up the WSQK 'The Squawk' radio tower, seemingly to prove their worth to Nancy, a dynamic that continues throughout the first four episodes released.
Critics Echo Viewer Sentiments
Professional reviewers, while largely celebratory of the season, have concurred with fans on this particular point. Charley Ross from Glamour questioned the plotline's longevity, writing: 'My question is: why is this love triangle still a thing? And can it please die a Stranger Things-related horrific death already?'
Similarly, Neela Debath of The Mirror noted that in a season where the fate of the world is at stake, 'the constant bickering and competition between Steve and Jonathan feels so unnecessary.' This sentiment highlights a growing frustration that the romantic subplot detracts from the higher-stakes supernatural conflict.
A 'Masterpiece' Amidst Controversy
Despite the uproar over the love triangle, the final season has received glowing reviews for its overall execution. The series sees the return of Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven, alongside her friends in the beleaguered town of Hawkins for one last stand against the show's villain, Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower).
Netflix has promised 'bone-chilling' scenes, teasing that 'Hawkins has never faced anything like what’s coming next.' The first part of the season concludes with three episodes set to be released on Boxing Day, and the grand finale arriving on New Year's Day.
Critics have been effusive in their praise. The Metro's Sabrina Barr declared the finale gave her 'full-body chills', while The Guardian's Jack Seale stated the final run will have you 'standing on a chair, yelling with joy.' This creates a stark contrast between the professional acclaim for the season's epic scale and the vocal disappointment from a segment of the audience over a specific character dynamic.
