With the final chapter of the hit Netflix series Stranger Things just days away, a wave of fan disappointment has emerged, targeting what many are calling the show's weakest instalment to date.
The Penultimate Episode That Missed the Mark
The second volume of Stranger Things season five landed on Netflix on Boxing Day, but viewer reaction has been mixed. While the four-episode first volume concluded with a major cliff-hanger involving Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) discovering new powers, the latest batch has left a portion of the audience dissatisfied. The penultimate episode, titled 'The Bridge', has borne the brunt of the criticism, becoming the lowest-rated episode in the show's history on IMDb.
According to the review aggregator, 'The Bridge' holds a rating of just 5.8 out of 10, based on over 47,000 user reviews. This score officially dethrones the previous record-holder, season two's controversial episode 'The Lost Sister', which managed a 6/10. Interestingly, both episodes feature the character Kali, also known as Eight (Linnea Berthelsen), and Eleven's (Millie Bobby Brown) connection to her, a storyline that has long divided the fanbase.
Fan Fury on Social Media
Viewers have taken to social media platforms to voice their frustrations in the lead-up to the grand finale on January 1st, 2026. On X, formerly Twitter, one fan declared: "If this last episode of Stranger Things isn't good I'm gonna crash out because episode 7 was pure nonsense." Another drew a bleak comparison, predicting: "We're on our way to experience one of the worst finale episodes ever," while a third agreed, citing fears of a "Game Of Thrones scenario."
The sentiment was echoed on Reddit, where a viewer lamented the episode's pacing, stating: "This is what the show has been building towards for 10 years. The second to last episode. And it was pretty slow and unimpactful." Some criticism has been directed at the Duffer Brothers' writing for the entire final season, with theories circulating that significant scenes may have been cut before broadcast.
Behind the Backlash: Storyline Disappointments
While many found the episode's narrative lacking, a segment of the backlash appears to be linked to specific character arcs. Throughout the series, it has been strongly hinted that Will Byers is gay and harbours feelings for his best friend, Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard). This dynamic spawned the popular fan pairing 'Byler', with many hoping for a romantic resolution in the final season.
However, a coming-out scene in the latest episodes, where Will hints at his feelings but Mike does not seem to reciprocate, has dashed those hopes. This has led some observers to suggest that the negative reviews are partially driven by disappointed 'Byler' shippers. As one fan noted online: "This episode was s*** but I won't be surprised if this review bombing was mainly due to homophobes and Bylers."
It hasn't been all negativity for the final season. Prior to the release of volume two, fans had crowned episode four, 'Sorcerer', as the best of the final run. All eyes are now on the series finale, 'The Rightside Up', which will be available to stream from 1am GMT on New Year's Day 2026. The pressure is on for the Duffer Brothers to deliver a conclusion that can win back disillusioned fans and provide a satisfying end to the decade-long phenomenon.
