4. Stranger Things season 5
After 10 years on the air and the type of buzz that most TV shows could only dream of, there was a lot of intrigue to see whether Stranger Things could close out this chapter of television in a satisfying way (and potentially avoid the Game of Thrones mishap of alienating its fanbase). We're happy to report that it did just that.
The truth is that the fifth season has a lot to contend with and it deals with it all efficiently. It's not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but it does pull it all together nicely. After all, this is a season that has the military once again chasing Eleven, Vecna planning something worse than ever involving a whole new generation of kids, new characters entering the fray, and aftermath from the previous season in droves. It also has been tasked with answering the long-standing mysteries surrounding the Upside Down. It's ambitious and the stakes certainly feel high.
The renewed focus on Will Byers is where this season thrives. It all started with Will so, of course, he had to be there at the end, and the creative team finally give Noah Schnapp's beloved character the spotlight he deserves. And that, more than anything, is one of the most fulfilling aspects of the season.
Although Eleven should have more to do in the "Volume 2" portion of the season, Stranger Things season 5 really embraces the ensemble at the heart of the show, and that's one of the elements where it has always thrived in: The characters, and their hearts. Even with the odds stacked against them in a way that they never have been before, they are determined to save the day. And you honestly couldn't ask for more than that!
The season finale is larger than the show has ever been, and it's nothing short of thrilling as a result of that.