Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 2: A Disappointing Slog

After a mixed but promising start with Volume 1, we went into Stranger Things Season 5, Volume 2 (Episodes 5, 6, and 7) expecting the Duffer Brothers to hit the gas. We are, after all, hours away from the series finale of one of the biggest shows in television history. The pieces were on the board, the stakes were set, and we were ready for the endgame.

Instead, we got three hours of spinning wheels, bizarre narrative choices, and a distinct lack of tension. Our team at TheBigBois sat down to watch the penultimate chapter of the Hawkins saga, and to put it bluntly: we are disappointed.

The Hawkins Slog

The biggest issue with Volume 2 is its refusal to focus on the characters we actually care about. We have spent a decade investing in Mike, Eleven, Dustin, and Lucas. Yet, significant chunks of the runtime are dedicated to side characters like Mike’s younger sister, Holly, and newcomers like Derek. Watching Holly navigate Dimension X while Eleven feels sidelined in her own show is a baffling creative decision this late in the game.

The pacing repeatedly comes to a screeching halt. The most egregious offender is the “un-proposal” scene between Nancy and Jonathan. As a room fills with deadly “exotic matter” (which looks suspiciously like white paint), the action pauses for a 20-minute relationship drama that feels like it should have been resolved two seasons ago. The goo literally stops rising so that they can have their chat. It’s lazy writing that kills the urgency.

Where Did the Danger Go?

For a show about an apocalyptic dimension bleeding into our own, Stranger Things has lost its teeth. The “plot armor” surrounding the main cast is now so thick it’s bulletproof. We watched Mrs. Wheeler take down a Demodog with a wine bottle, and Nancy go full Rambo on trained soldiers. The military, portrayed as a serious threat, acts with cartoonish incompetence.

The stakes feel non-existent. Even the Upside Down, once a terrifying mystery, has been explained away in a reveal that changes almost nothing about the dynamic. Vecna, who was a menacing force in Season 4, has been reduced to a vaguely creepy, almost “Mr. Rogers-esque” villain who wanders around failing to kill characters he has in his grasp.

Timing is Everything

Episode 7 features a significant character moment where Will Byers finally comes out to Mike. While we appreciate the intent and the closure for Will’s arc, the execution leaves much to be desired. Placing a long, emotional monologue moments before a life-or-death battle destroys the narrative momentum. It feels forced into a slot where it doesn’t belong, turning what should be a poignant moment into a pacing speed bump.

We wanted to love this. We wanted to be on the edge of our seats. Instead, Volume 2 feels like the show is stalling for time until the finale. The writing has taken a nosedive, relying on conveniences and forced drama (like the tiring friction between Steve and Dustin) rather than organic storytelling. If this is the lead-up to the end, we are genuinely worried about how this plane will land.

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The Good	The Bad
Cast Chemistry: When the writing allows it, the core group (like Steve and Dustin) still has sparks of the old magic.	No Stakes: Plot armor is out of control; characters survive impossible situations with ease.
Will’s Moment: Will finally gets to express his feelings, even if the timing was botched.	Pacing: The plot grinds to a halt for forced relationship drama and focus on minor characters.
Visuals: The show still looks expensive, even if the “white goo” effects are a bit silly.	Villain Decay: Vecna is less scary and more confusing; his motivations feel muddled.
	The “Un-Proposal”: A low point for the series’ writing, pausing a death trap for a breakup scene.