Stranger Things Season 5 Tumbles To Series-Low Rotten Tomatoes Score As Reviews Falter

Stranger Things is back for its last lap, and the first wave of reviews lands in the sweet spot: mostly positive, Certified Fresh, and still sparking debates. Season 5 opens with strong notices and an 85% on Rotten Tomatoes. That is actually the lowest score the show has ever had, but the general vibe from critics is that the Duffers know where they are going and, for the most part, how to get there.

The early verdict

This is the final season, and the reaction so far is a mix of warm nostalgia and a few raised eyebrows. A lot of critics are sold on the big emotions and the classic adventure feel. Some are less thrilled with the execution of this first drop (yes, Season 5 is rolling out in volumes), arguing the show feels a bit sealed off from the outside world at this point. Here is the spread:

• Jen Chaney (TV Guide) scored it 9/10 and praised the show for still pulling off its rare trick: appealing across generations without dumbing anything down.
• Lili Loofbourow (Washington Post) notes the series carries a ton of cultural baggage by now but says it mostly avoids getting buried beneath it.
• Vicky Jessop (London Evening Standard) calls it classic 80s adventure energy, says she devoured the new episodes, and wants more, landing at 4/5.
• Laura Martin (BBC.com) goes 4/5 and says fans are not walking away disappointed.
• Ed Power (Daily Telegraph UK) slots it as top-tier comfort viewing and even suggests the signs point to an endgame that could outdo Game of Thrones.
• Ed Potton (The Times UK) gives it 4/5 for being richly entertaining, with real stakes and plenty of feeling.
• Bob Strauss (TheWrap) highlights the show’s straightforwardness as a strength, letting the character beats, period flavor, and creeping mythology stand out.
• On the dissenting side, Sam Adams (Slate) goes rotten, arguing the series now feels trapped in its own bubble.
• Ben Travers (IndieWire) gives a C+, saying this first volume stumbles in execution even if the intent is there.
• Roxana Hadadi (Vulture) thinks it is less scary and less distinctive at the exact moment it should be peaking.

Where the Tomatometer lands (for now)

Season 5 sits at 85% on Rotten Tomatoes from 47 critic reviews. That is Certified Fresh, but it is also a series low compared to earlier seasons: Season 1 at 97%, Season 2 at 94%, and Seasons 3 and 4 both at 89%. With only 47 reviews in, that number can still move as more critics weigh in.

"Stranger Things plays its cards just right in Season 5, solidifying its pop culture classic status with genuinely captivating genre fare."

Bottom line: even with the slightly softer Tomatometer, the consensus leans positive. The Duffers are steering into the final act, fans seem engaged, and most critics say the show still knows how to push the big emotional buttons. The interesting wrinkle is that this season is getting strong praise while posting its lowest franchise score to date. Translation: the TV giant is still standing tall, just with a few scuffs from the landing gear coming down.

(First reported by Anubhav Chaudhry at SuperHeroHype; picked up via ComingSoon.)