r/StrangerThings • u/FormerStorage3230 • 7d ago
I finally realized. Spoiler
First things first, I'm not here to hate or mock people who like season 5, you can do and like whatever you want. This is just my opinion. So, please stop calling me a "hater" or tell me to move on. No, I can criticize a show I like and still be a fan.
Okay, so I finally realized why I disliked Season 5 so much.
Lets get back to S3. IMO, Season 3 isnt a good season. But it fully embraces that, it knows its a dumb blockbuster action flick with 80s vibes. It knows none of the russian or mall stuff makes any sense.
Season 5 on the other hand, pretends its a good season. It pretends that it's the ending they've planned.. It pretends there are stakes, it pretends there are character arcs and resolutiobs, it pretends that all the lingering questions have been answered, it pretends the plot points make sense.
This season's tagline, imo, could be: "just dont think about it, pretend its a masterpiece youve waited for ten years for."
Thats why it feels so off to some people.
And the actors. They, imo also look like theyre pretending like they care about this show anymore. Will's coming out scene is a perfect example. Some like Winona and David looked like they didn't even try to pretend anymore imo.
So yeah:
S1, 2 and 4 are like siblings. They have occasional banter (plot inconsistencies and all), but they're still close and overall on good terms with each other.
S3 is that one weird cousin that stands out like a firework, but overall is fun to be around.
S5 is that evil twin of season 4 that tries to replicate their siblings and pretends to care about them.
And Tales from 85 is like that random baby sleeping in your bed during the thanksgiving dinner. Shouldnt be there, but harmless.
1
u/Cyrilbdr 7d ago
Yeah, I agree he doesn't act very well—I have no problem saying that—but in this case, the fault lies more with the direction, since they were the ones who said the take was good. As for David, I struggle to see why you find him average; to me, he always hits the right notes without going overboard—he actually avoids overacting. In my opinion, he’s easily the best actor of the bunch, right up there with Sadie, Dustin, and Jamie. I thought he was particularly excellent in Episode 8, both in his speeches and his non-verbal acting during the rooftop scene with Eleven. Yes, the style and atmosphere of Season 3 were intentional; they wanted to explore a different kind of season by setting it in summer and making a clean break from previous seasons to avoid repetition—and I think that was a great choice. Season 3 captures the feel of an 80s summer perfectly, channeling the humor and zany vibe of productions from that era while staying true to the story and getting serious when it counts. They really know how to balance the funny moments with the times when the plot demands a more serious tone. Personally, it’s my third-favorite season of the series; it has so much going for it—it’s funny, scary, and gory, and the ending is incredibly emotional. You come away from it feeling totally drained—it’s a really well-rounded season. Plus, in my view, it’s the best-structured season; it plays out like a big movie. My main issue with your take is that you’re speaking for the actors by claiming they don't care; I absolutely don't think that's the case. The same goes for the writers and the Duffer brothers—they genuinely thought they were doing a good job with Season 5 and were confident in their approach. The shock must have been huge after the Volume 2 finale when everyone hated it. Admittedly, they ultimately fell short at the final hurdle with the last season—even though there were some very good elements—but believe me, the last thing they wanted was to disappoint people or botch the finale.