The first half of the final season of ‘Stranger Things’ has garnered positive reviews from critics — on the well-known aggregator Rotten Tomatoes the series holds an 85% rating based on 47 published reviews. On Metacritic, the fifth season carries a score of 70 out of 100.
Still, those figures are comparatively modest for the show: every previous season earned higher marks. For example, season three received 89% positive reviews, while season two reached 94%. That said, the gaps between the percentages are not particularly large.
According to early viewers, the Duffer brothers lean back into nostalgia. The finale blends cozy warmth, sustained suspense, sharp dialogue and humor. However, several critics pointed out that the opening episodes drag and feel predictable, with limited development of the characters.
As a reminder, the second part of the fifth season of ‘Stranger Things’ is set to debut on December 25, and the third part on December 31.
