It's hard to imagine what the Netflix landscape would look like without Stranger Things. Without question the biggest original series that the streaming service has ever produced, it very quickly became a global phenomenon after the launch of its first season in 2016. Since that moment, it has only grown in size - much like the content within each season.
Stranger Things has produced five seasons throughout its decade-long run, ranging from the compact, quiet, and thrilling first season to the expanded, ambitious, and larger-than-life sci-fi adventure of its fourth. No matter what hat it is wearing, it is capable of making viewers sit on the edges of their seats, scream at the TV, and quite possibly break out into an impromptu rendition of "Running Up That Hill" or "The NeverEnding Story". That's the impact of this juggernaut of a show.
The release of its fifth and final season has once again brought about the discourse as to when the show was truly at its best. Was it the darker days of season 2, the goofy fun of season 3, or the ambitiously enjoyable final chapter that season 5 offered up? Let's take this opportunity to answer that question once and for all.
Although there is no such thing as a "bad" season of Stranger Things, there have been some highs and lows throughout the Netflix show's run. And, with that, let's dive into our ranking to find out which one is truly the best of them all.
5. Stranger Things season 3
When season 3 of Stranger Things premiered on Netflix, some critics called it a comeback for a show that had stagnated in its second season – and in many ways it really was. It was bigger, bolder and badder than its predecessors, promising to take the story outside of Hawkins in the hopes of changing things up.
This time, the gateway to the Upside Down had been reopened by external forces and it’s once again up to Eleven, Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas, Max, Steve, Jonathan, Nancy, Joyce and Hopper to figure out what’s going on and put a stop to it. However, things get more complicated when Max’s brother Billy gets sucked into it and the town’s new Starcourt Mall houses a dangerous secret.
There was so much good in Stranger Things 3, including the emotional stakes, the friendship between Eleven and Max, the fresher approach to extending the story and the introduction of Robin. What ultimately lets it down is the fact that it often leans into some of the show’s goofier tendencies, resulting in what used to be moments of light comic relief overwhelming the story and resulting in questionable character decisions.
That said, its season finale, “Chapter Eight: The Battle of Starcourt”, may just be the greatest hour the show has ever produced.