Following the recent winter break, many Heritage students expressed excitement about the release of the final episode of Stranger Things, a popular show that has been around for quite some time. 

Over the years, Stranger Things has built up its fan base, becoming one of the most beloved and well-regarded shows. From great actors to great storytelling, it was a great show people could binge-watch with family and friends. 

“I really liked it because I watched it in middle school, so seeing a friend group together that was a little goofy, playing their games [was heartwarming]. It was definitely fun to see all the different people that are in middle school because [it] was such an awkward age when I watched it and I was like wow, I probably know people like that,” said Laney Wiebe, a 12th grader with a deep regard for this show, as she shows a relatable relationship to the acting within the show. 

As the storytelling developed, more and more fans tuned in to the seasons that came every one to three years, an amount of time which kept the people on their toes, ready for more. 

“I really enjoyed the first few seasons, so I was waiting for them to come out. But this fifth one, I feel like it’s really cheapened my view of Netflix and all their shows because it’s so different and they couldn’t uphold the same quality they had in the [previous] seasons,” said Ava Gladden, another 12th grader at Heritage who had a deep regard for the earlier seasons in the show. 

After the release of the third or fourth season, many lost interest in bingeing the show as they believed that the show’s production and writing quality had gone downhill. Still, many stood by and waited, believing that there was hope over the horizon for the ending of the show. 

“They fell off after season three. I wish it were better. But it was still a good ending, but I was probably just biased because my girl [Elevlian] died,” Laney said later in her interview. 

Even though the show had a rough ending in the eyes of many, Stranger Things still had its lasting impact on the hearts of its viewers, whether that be from the earlier seasons or the newer ones. In my opinion, the show’s ending was not the best and could have been better. There were a lot of pot holes and that overall ruined the proper conclusion it deserved.