The fifth season has officially been branded the series’ lowest point, failing to impress both critics and long-time fans.
Following the debut of the second volume of *Stranger Things* Season 5, the show’s standing on major review platforms like IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes has taken a significant hit. The seventh episode, titled “The Bridge,” has plummeted to become the second-lowest-rated chapter in the franchise’s history, barely outperforming the notorious “The Lost Sister” from the second season.
On IMDb, “The Bridge” currently holds a mediocre 6.3/10 rating based on more than 33,000 user submissions, which has pulled the overall seasonal average down to 8.3.
The situation on Rotten Tomatoes is even more dramatic. Since the release of Volume 2, the audience score has collapsed from an impressive 92% to a disappointing 64%, while the critical consensus has settled at 84%. Both metrics represent unprecedented lows for the hit series.
A major point of contention among viewers involves a specific scene with Will, which many felt was tonally jarring given the apocalyptic stakes. Beyond specific plot points, the general consensus is that the second volume suffers from a bloated runtime, sluggish pacing, and underwhelming character development.
However, the final legacy of the season remains to be seen. A feature-length finale, spanning over two hours, is set to conclude the epic saga. This ultimate episode could either redeem the season in the eyes of the public or solidify its decline. Successfully concluding a decade-long cultural phenomenon is a monumental task—as evidenced by the lingering controversy surrounding the *Game of Thrones* finale.
The eighth and final episode, “The Right Side Up,” is slated for its Netflix premiere on January 1, 2026.
Source: iXBT.games