Stranger Things has come to an end with a super-sized final episode filled with unforgettable moments. After five seasons, the Netflix hit series marked its conclusion with the episode "The Rightside Up". Like many series finales with a lot of expectations behind them, it has received a mixed response, but certainly delivered some memorable moments.
The series finale was filled with action as the heroes of Hawkins took on Vecna one last time. It was an emotional 2+ hours of television, as it served as a farewell to the characters we have come to love over the years. While there are aspects to complain about, these moments in the Stranger Things finale helped elevate the long-awaited ending.
Jonathan saves Steve
While many fans theorized which Stranger Things characters would die in the finale, all of the main characters ended up surviving. That doesn't mean that there weren't a lot of close calls in the final episode. Steve Harrington was one of the characters many fans were worried most about, but his near-death actually ended up being a crowd-pleasing moment.
As Steve falls from the radio tower, the screen cuts to black. It is a bit of a cheap filmmaking move that made it fairly obvious one of his friends was going to save him. However, instead of it being his best buddy Dustin, Steve's former romantic rival, Jonathan, is the one who grabs him, helping set the stage for these two finally burying the hatchet.
Vecna gets in Hopper's head
Vecna has proven he is quite effective at manipulating his victims, but when he targeted Hopper, it made for the most harrowing moment of the finale. When Hopper begins seeing visions of his late daughter Sara, he is smart enough to realize Vecna is toying with him, but not smart enough not to let his temper get carried away.
In a fury, Hopper opens fire at Vecna, who's not really there. Instead, he sees that the bullets penetrated the water tank Eleven is in, apparently hitting her. This causes Hopper to desperately break open the tank, severing Eleven's connection to the Upside Down and revealing that it was all another trick by Vecna. That split second where you think Hopper actually just shot Eleven is the most intense moment of the finale.
Joyce gets her revenge
If there is one character whose role in the show has diminished over time, it is certainly Joyce Byers. Winona Ryder was the biggest name in the cast when the series started, but over time, they never really figured out what to do with her beyond being a worried mother. So it was nice to see that Joyce got one of the most pivotal moments in the Stranger Things finale.
With Vecna defeated and dying, it is Joyce who finishes off the villain by chopping his head off. It solidifies her role as the protective mother, taking revenge for all the pain this monster caused her son and ending the nightmare. On top of it all, she even gets to deliver the show's only "F-bomb", telling Vecna, "You f**ked with the wrong family!"
Dustin's graduation speech
The final fight with Vecna and the Mind Flayer felt a little rushed, but that left plenty of time to spend time with the characters during happier times before having to say goodbye. Not surprisingly, this included a graduation scene. With the young heroes moving on from high school, Dustin felt like the ideal character to mark the occasion with the graduation speech.
It starts as a fairly typical speech about saying goodbye to the past and looking ahead to an exciting yet unknown future. However, it reaches the hilarious and epic climax when Dustin tells off the principal, condemns the authorities in general, and pays a final tribute to Eddie Munson. It perfectly captures the spirit of these kids who discovered their rebel hearts over the series and deserve this moment to celebrate their victory.
The campaign comes to an end
One persistent Stranger Things theory was that the series would end with the reveal that the entire show was just a Dungeons and Dragons campaign the kids were playing. In the end, the theory wasn't far off as the board game, which has been central to the series from the start, is returned to for the final scene. It makes for a fitting and emotional ending.
Mike uses the game to predict what the future will have in store for his friends, including Max and Lucas growing their relationship, Dustin excelling in college, and Will finding happiness as his true self. It also reveals the actual fate of Eleven, who seemingly gets her happy ending after all.
While the finale may have been flawed, getting to see these characters end their story in such a nice way is certainly satisfying.