The Legacy of Hawkins: Stranger Things’ End
PC: Elaine Saum ‘28
Stranger Things Volume 2 resumes 18 months after the ending of Volume 1 and pushes the series closer to its conclusion. Ending with Hawkins still under threat and Vecna’s influence growing, the new episodes focus on preparation, risk, and the cost of stopping the Upside Down once and for all.
Volume 2 was spread out throughout the holidays, with three episodes coming out on Christmas and the finale episode appearing on Netflix on New Year’s Eve. The finale has become such a token of controversy, while half the fans bawled their eyes at that last episode, the other half were found to be disappointed, especially with the high hopes they had in the Duffer brothers. Fan reaction was immediately split, they loved the immense bond between Hopper and Eleven that was shown countless times in the finale, showing their character development as dad and daughter. On the other hand, many argued that they liked the endings they had imagined and shared online, much more than what actually happened. Others felt the finale played it too safe, saying they expected a darker or more shocking conclusion after years of buildup.
Some fans agreed the best part of the finale was probably the battle against Vecna, which took place in the Abyss. Inside the Mind Flayer’s giant monster body, Eleven faced Vecna in a dramatic showdown while the rest of the group used every weapon they had to take down the Mind Flayer. The fight ended with Joyce killing Vecna with an axe, a moment many viewers found shocking and satisfying. However, some viewers felt the episode was too slow, especially with the long character conversations just before the fight.
Fans were also divided over character endings. Some felt certain characters didn’t get enough focus or closure, while others didn’t like how the Duffer brothers left an open ending that just felt poorly written. A big part of the show is the fandom. One of the main reasons fans were disappointed was that viewers had such high expectations and complex theories about the ending that didn’t seem to be met. When the finale aired, it went in a more emotional and straightforward direction. Some viewers felt let down and said fan-made endings were better. Regardless of how they felt about it, everyone was sad that it had to end.
Overall, the finale was about Hawkins on the edge of destruction and the Upside Down bleeding into the real world. El and the others finished their long-awaited battle with Vecna, taking him and the Mind Flayer down. However, when everything seemed over and perfect, the military showed up and ruined it. They hold everyone captive, wanting to capture El, but with a twist she decides to vanish along with the Upside Down, leaving her with an open ending and having the audience question whether they "believe" or not. The finale then jumps 18 months into the future to show how the characters’ lives have changed. Ending with the graduation scene of the teens of Hawkins all grown up, Dustin, the valedictorian, giving a speech reflecting all the battles and obstacles they had to overcome. Jonathan, Nancy, Robin, and Steve have moved on to new paths, like college and careers, while the younger kids, such as Holly and Derek, are taking over Dungeons and Dragons, hinting at a new generation of adventures. Reflecting how the show started with D&D, and it was going to end with the characters all in the basement, just as it started.