Note: This story contains spoilers from “Stranger Things” Season 5, Volume 2.
“Stranger Things” marches toward its finale with the second batch of episodes for the fifth and final season. While “Stranger Things 5” Volume 2 certainly has its fans, it also drew a harsher response on social media than the highly popular series is used to seeing.
“Stranger Things 5 Volume 2 had its moments but that finale better stick the landing because a lot of this volume was …” said user @SammyJReacts.
Fans praised several of the show’s key performers, including Sadie Sink and Caleb McLaughlin. In particular, a moment shared between the two performers after Sink’s Max Mayfield wakes up at the beginning of the series’ penultimate episode drew strong emotional reactions from viewers.
“Best couple on the show,” said @girlsindelusion on X.
Sink was also praised for her chemistry with Nell Fisher, who joined the show’s final season as Mike and Nancy Wheeler’s younger sister, Holly. Another duo that received praise was Gaten Matarazzo and Joe Kerry, whose characters Dustin and Steve got back on the same page with an emotional breakthrough after being divided for most of “Stranger Things 5.”
“I’M NEVER RECOVERING FROM THIS SCENE MY HEART BROKE FOR DUSTIN 
” said @Davebarrerita on X.
While these performers got largely positive reactions, some of the show’s writing and pacing did not. Social media users criticized the massive cast of “Stranger Things 5,” pointing to scenes like Will’s emotional coming out as being too crowded for beats to fully land.
“Stranger Things really having scenes with FIFTEEN PEOPLE standing around,” said user @josh_snares on X.
Other fans criticized the amount of buildup and exposition in some of the show’s final episodes, with “Stranger Things 5” Volume 2 containing numerous lengthy scenes of characters coming up with plans and talking about them in a circle.
“most of stranger things season 5 is someone explaining a plan in a quippy manner and everyone calling it insane,” said user @DarkOfTheMovie on X.
You can check out more reactions for “Stranger Things 5” Volume 2 below.
new Stranger Things has some good moments but the vast majority of it is either a) characters having redundant heart to hearts, or b) characters explaining their “theory” or their “crazy plan that just might work”
— H. Coley (@artwithinpod) December 26, 2025
sadie sink and nell fisher out here carrying the whole season. pic.twitter.com/uQxP1WxUPN
— softie | st5 era (@softiealiaa) December 26, 2025
you’ll be watching stranger things thinking “damn this show is a lot dumber than i remember” then gaten matarazzo and joe keery will have a scene together and it’ll be the best piece of television youve ever witnessed
— izzy (@01NCUBUS) December 26, 2025
Stranger Things just has too many characters that they’re scared to kill off and it’s detracting from their best characters at times
— Sammy J Jonah Jameson (@SammyJReacts) December 26, 2025
When you realize stranger things is not a romance for any ship and you actually enjoy the show for what it is it is a great show pic.twitter.com/AFRCFs1zll
— chloe (@chloesarcher) December 26, 2025
most of stranger things season 5 is someone explaining a plan in a quippy manner and everyone calling it insane
— Alex Coleman (@DarkOfTheMovie) December 26, 2025
I’M NEVER RECOVERING FROM THIS SCENE MY HEART BROKE FOR DUSTIN
— Notearsleftdave
(@Davebarrerita) December 26, 2025
Stranger Things really having scenes with FIFTEEN PEOPLE standing around pic.twitter.com/7WyblxStXV
— josh snares (@josh_snares) December 26, 2025
Stranger Things 5 Volume 2 had its moments but that finale better stick the landing because a lot of this volume was… pic.twitter.com/0ZUZu0Ogul
— Sammy J Jonah Jameson (@SammyJReacts) December 26, 2025
Every episode of Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 2 pic.twitter.com/SxX2W3KECf
— Cam Walsh (@CamWalsh27) December 26, 2025
KAREN WHEELER THE MOTHER THAT YOU ARE #StrangerThings5 pic.twitter.com/SZWUcSRKYb
— stranger things scenes (@strangersceness) December 26, 2025
#StrangerThings5 #StrangerThings bro really said “your mom” right in the face of an evil inter dimensional sorcerer DEREK MY GOAT
— Amarrr
(@amruudd) December 26, 2025
nancy wheeles idea of fixing any problem #StrangerThings5 pic.twitter.com/xc9TV2FbAL
— OGBLESSED (@JohnPow240744) December 26, 2025
Best couple on the show#StrangerThings5 pic.twitter.com/hesPFE5W5L
— eda (@girlsindelusion) December 26, 2025
“He saved no one” People better not crucify him for this because he was right. Dustin was already safe when Eddie decided to go back and play hero for no reason #StrangerThings5 pic.twitter.com/XLmKheKDhO
— Shuahae
(@Mingoobies) December 26, 2025
DUSTIN sobbing like a child not to go steve, and steve as a big brother comforting him OMG I CANNO”T STOP CRYING, We all did#StrangerThings5 #StrangerThings pic.twitter.com/xJNfyhLYww
— sanmeyo (@oyemnassxo) December 26, 2025
“i saw you waiting for me, playing my song”…”you bored of it yet?”…”noo, are you?”…”yess!” stoppp don’t make me laugh when i’m still crying, you adorable little people
— Radz (@radz_sayz) December 26, 2025
The issue with Stranger Things 5 is that the Duffers bit off more than they could chew. Character arcs and relationships are not being meaningfully developed anymore because the supernatural plot is so convoluted, leaving scenes between characters to be too short or rushed
— paige
| st5 spoilers (@elmikewill) December 26, 2025
i am…not okay pic.twitter.com/TgEK0qObnJ
— “i just needed you.” (@nothtsonlywmn) December 26, 2025
The post ‘Stranger Things’ Fans Share Concern Over Satisfying Ending After Volume 2: ‘That Finale Better Stick the Landing’ appeared first on TheWrap.
