Ahead of the finale, the Stranger Things fandom was brewing with speculation as to how the long-running series would conclude. "Stranger Things" comes to an end on New Year's Eve. Netflix has released a trailer for the final Stranger Things episode. "Stranger Things" will have an animated spin-off drop on Netflix in 2026.

The Stranger Things Season 5 finale has kicked off a surge of online discourse, with fans pointing out narrative gaps. In the days following the episode’s release, three specific complaints have surfaced as the common points of criticism.

The Duffers spill more details about that Max and Lucas date scene in the Stranger Things series finale, revealing what movie they're watching.

Starting with the very first episode of Stranger Things, the series creators Matt and Ross Duffer used Dungeons & Dragons to both foreshadow the show’s biggest villains and explain their powers. The protagonists refer to themselves as “the party” and the metaphors have been laid on so thick there was even speculation the series finale would reveal that the entire show was actually just a fantasy cooked up by the group’s Dungeon Master,

Max made "a deal with God" and ran straight up the hill into Lucas' arms. It was magic. We talk about it ahead of the Stranger Things finale.

The "Stranger Things" series finale epilogue leaves out Vickie, leaving fans wondering what happened to her. Now, there's finally an update on her fate and relationship with Robin.

Stranger Things' director Shawn Levy on directing Max's return, that Jonathan-Nancy scene, Will's big moment and his final day on the set.

The Stranger Things series ends by mirroring its beginning, returning to a Dungeons & Dragons game in the Wheelers’ basement. Will, Dustin, Lucas, Max, and Mike reunite for one final role-playing campaign before putting away their D&D books and leaving the basement one by one, symbolizing the close of their shared childhood chapter.

The 14-year-old newcomer to the Netflix mega-hit talks about Holly’s big final season arc and the “perfect” series finale: "When we finally read the script, everyone was in floods of tears."

Stranger Things Season 5 ended with the show giving all the characters their happy endings as the sinister battle at Hawkins finally comes to a close.

A breakdown of the ending of Stranger Things Season 5, including who dies in the finale and what happens to the Netflix show’s characters.

Sadie Sink has weighed in on how stepping back into the Stranger Things character now feels completely instinctive.In a candid new interview with Elle Australia, the actress reflected on growing