It is likewise not the first to end in such a way, with such a dedicated fanbase, to inspire belief that the ending couldn’t be bad on purpose, its weaknesses so obvious that it must be a sign of a “real” ending to come that would make up for it all.

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The final season of Netflix’s Stranger Things ended on New Year’s Eve 2025, leaving viewers emotionally shattered and talking endlessly about one of the most unclear endings in television history.

The very last episode of Stranger Things aired on December 31, and it's either a masterclass in storytelly or another big show's fall from grace.