The wait is over for fans of Stranger Things, but are the new episodes up to par? The first four episodes of Season 5 have been released, and critics are weighing in with their reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.
While some reviewers have praised the show's ability to deliver classic '80s adventure fare without losing its edge, others have noted that it feels like a rehashing of familiar storylines. Vicky Jessop from The London Evening Standard writes, "It's classic '80s adventure fare, in the best way: kids outsmarting adults, lashings of humour and a surprising amount of heart." However, she also cautions that the season seesaws between thrilling and annoying, which may not sit well with all viewers.
On the other hand, Bob Strauss from The Wrap praises the show's simplicity, saying it allows rich behavioral, cultural and mythically unnerving elements to shine without slowing things down. This sentiment is echoed by Kelly Lawler from USA Today, who notes that the season feels like the Stranger we've come to know and love over nearly a decade.
However, not all critics are convinced. Angie Han from The Hollywood Reporter gives the first part of Season 5 a "rotten" score, citing the hit to the characters as the biggest problem. She argues that the show's focus on big stakes comes at the expense of smaller details needed for emotional impact.
Alison Herman from Variety also expresses disappointment with the season, writing, "By declining to enrich its characters as they age, Stranger Things traps itself in arrested development." Chase Hutchinson from The Seattle Times agrees, saying that the show feels written for an audience that's only half paying attention and ultimately punishes those who are following each sentence.
Overall, it seems that while some critics have praised Season 5, Volume 1, others have noted its imperfections. Whether these issues will be addressed in future episodes remains to be seen. With two more volumes of the season to come, fans will have to wait and see if Stranger Things is able to recapture its magic.
As for the Rotten Tomatoes critics' score, it stands at 85%, with the Critics Consensus reading, "Stranger Things plays its cards just right in Season 5, solidifying its pop culture classic status with genuinely captivating genre fare." While not all reviews are glowing, this score suggests that the show is still on a roll.
Ultimately, whether or not Stranger Things is able to go to 11 (a reference to its iconic theme music) will depend on how well it addresses its flaws and continues to deliver on its promise of thrilling adventure and heart. One thing's for sure: fans are eager to see what's in store for the final season.
While some reviewers have praised the show's ability to deliver classic '80s adventure fare without losing its edge, others have noted that it feels like a rehashing of familiar storylines. Vicky Jessop from The London Evening Standard writes, "It's classic '80s adventure fare, in the best way: kids outsmarting adults, lashings of humour and a surprising amount of heart." However, she also cautions that the season seesaws between thrilling and annoying, which may not sit well with all viewers.
On the other hand, Bob Strauss from The Wrap praises the show's simplicity, saying it allows rich behavioral, cultural and mythically unnerving elements to shine without slowing things down. This sentiment is echoed by Kelly Lawler from USA Today, who notes that the season feels like the Stranger we've come to know and love over nearly a decade.
However, not all critics are convinced. Angie Han from The Hollywood Reporter gives the first part of Season 5 a "rotten" score, citing the hit to the characters as the biggest problem. She argues that the show's focus on big stakes comes at the expense of smaller details needed for emotional impact.
Alison Herman from Variety also expresses disappointment with the season, writing, "By declining to enrich its characters as they age, Stranger Things traps itself in arrested development." Chase Hutchinson from The Seattle Times agrees, saying that the show feels written for an audience that's only half paying attention and ultimately punishes those who are following each sentence.
Overall, it seems that while some critics have praised Season 5, Volume 1, others have noted its imperfections. Whether these issues will be addressed in future episodes remains to be seen. With two more volumes of the season to come, fans will have to wait and see if Stranger Things is able to recapture its magic.
As for the Rotten Tomatoes critics' score, it stands at 85%, with the Critics Consensus reading, "Stranger Things plays its cards just right in Season 5, solidifying its pop culture classic status with genuinely captivating genre fare." While not all reviews are glowing, this score suggests that the show is still on a roll.
Ultimately, whether or not Stranger Things is able to go to 11 (a reference to its iconic theme music) will depend on how well it addresses its flaws and continues to deliver on its promise of thrilling adventure and heart. One thing's for sure: fans are eager to see what's in store for the final season.
and angie han is literally crying over the character development 
its def gonna be a wait and see situation for me 
but tbh some ppl r saying it feels like a rehash of old storylines lol what do u guys think tho? is the show still delivering on its promise or did they kinda phoned it in this season? im personally loving the nostalgia vibes and the way it's handling the characters' growth (or lack thereof) 
. Some of the reviews I read seemed super positive, like they were riding a nostalgia wave 
, while others felt kinda meh. Angie Han's review was pretty scathing about how the show prioritizes big stakes over character development 
.
. Part of me is still loving every minute of this '80s adventure thing 
, but another part is like, "wait, didn't we get this last season? 
". I guess only time will tell if the show can course-correct and deliver on its promise.
. Vicky Jessop's comment about it feeling like a rehashing of familiar storylines kinda hit home for me, you know? And Angie Han's "rotten" score is fair play - I've noticed that the character development has been pretty one-note lately 
. Plus, Chase Hutchinson's criticism about the show feeling written for an audience that's only half paying attention feels spot on 
The show still knows how to deliver some serious laughs and thrills, especially in those classic scenes with the kids outsmarting adults. But at the same time, it feels like we've seen some of these storylines before... don't get me wrong, I love a good '80s adventure every now and then! 
The real test will be whether they can balance out the highs and lows over the next two volumes – fingers crossed for a finale that'll really go to 11 (just like the theme song)! 
and i love how they're keepin it real with the characters too 
but yeah, some critics r sayin its got some major flaws 
[
On the other hand, the new episodes are still getting that Stranger Things magic 
, so fingers crossed that the show can address its flaws and deliver on more thrilling adventures and heartwarming moments. 
Two more volumes to go, let's see how it all shakes out! 
I mean, who doesn't love a good '80s adventure? The way they're still delivering on that classic vibe is everything 
But, at the same time, I think some of the critics are right to say it's a bit of a rehash... maybe they need to shake things up a bit more? 
I don't get why people are saying it feels like a rehash of old storylines... it's still got that same nostalgic '80s vibe and the kids are still so adorbs 
. I'm curious to see how they fix those flaws in the next two volumes... if it recaptures its magic, that would be lit! 
.
. Can't wait to see how it all plays out! 
. The kids still rockin' those retro outfits and the nostalgia is real, but at times it feels like we're seeing the same old storylines repeated 
. Don't get me wrong, I love Eleven and the gang as much as the next person, but come on, can't they mix it up a bit? 
and I'm excited to see how it all comes together for the final season 
, like, I get it, 80s vibes are cool and all, but can't they just come up with something fresh? The whole "kids outsmarting adults" thing is been done a million times before. And don't even get me started on the nostalgia factor... if you're gonna rely on that to carry the show, you're not really pushing the boundaries of storytelling. I mean, I loved Season 4 but this season just feels like more of the same. Maybe they should take some risks and try something new? 
. The whole "arrested development" thing really gets me 
Anyway, I'm still gonna keep watching and see if the show manages to get its act together 
.
i'm low-key hyped to see what they come up with tho, maybe they'll finally make some changes and take the show in a new direction 
. The writing can be a bit wonky too, especially when it comes to character development... it's like they're neglecting the people you care about and only focusing on the big plot stuff 
. Still, I'm kinda curious to see how it all turns out in future episodes 
. Still, I'm excited to see where the rest of Season 5 takes us...and hopefully, the flaws are addressed 
!