As Netflix’s hit series “Stranger Things” prepares to return for its fifth and final season, excitement is growing among GCSU students who have followed the show since its 2016 debut. After nearly a decade, this upcoming season marks the end of an era for one of Netflix’s most iconic series.
The sci-fi drama, created by the Duffer Brothers, became a fan favorite through its mix of horror, humor and 1980s nostalgia. Set in the small town of Hawkins, Indiana, “Stranger Things” follows a group of kids who uncover a hidden world known as the Upside Down. Over the years, viewers have seen the characters mature and the storyline grow darker and more complex each season.
For many GCSU students, the final season brings both anticipation and nostalgia.
“I was excited but sad that it’s the end,” said Della Goines, a senior mass communications major. “I feel like ‘Stranger Things’ has been a constant in my life for the past ten years.”
Season four of the show was released in the summer of 2022. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2023 SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) strike, filming was delayed and caused the final season to be released in 2025.
“I think the wait has made fans more excited about the new season,” said Caitlyn Samples, a freshman exercise science major.
Netflix has also announced that the last season will be divided into three parts, a strategy that has mixed reactions among fans.
“I don’t love the three-part release, but I understand why they do it.” Goines said. “I honestly would have preferred a weekly release because it builds more suspense and community, similar to how this summer’s craze with “The Summer I Turned Pretty” did with its release schedule,”
Volume One will be released on Nov. 26, Thanksgiving, containing four episodes. Volume Two will be released on Dec. 25, Christmas, containing three episodes. The series finale will be released on Dec. 31, New Year’s, with one final episode.
“I’m planning on watching the episodes right when they come out for each release date,” Samples said.
Actor Gaten Matarazzo, known for his role as Dustin, gave his input on the release schedule to SFX magazine.
“I’m glad they’re parcelling it up over the course of several release dates. I think that’ll bring a sense of engagement to the show over time that we don’t really see a whole lot of in the streaming era. I miss when there were weekly Game of Thrones and weekly Breaking Bads and engagement online and talking with friends about what’s happening, and watch parties.”
Students at GCSU have been rewatching past seasons to prepare for the finale and refresh their memories.
“I think the long wait impacted viewership.” Goines said. “I’m rewatching the show right now because I genuinely don’t remember what happened in the past season, but I feel like most audiences won’t put in that effort,”
The finale premiere will also be available in theaters on Dec. 31, giving fans the chance to watch it on the big screen.
On Tadum (Netflix’s official site), the Duffer brothers said, “We’re beyond excited that fans will have the chance to experience the final episode of “Stranger Things” in theaters. Getting to see it on the big screen, with incredible sound, picture, and a room full of fans, feels like the perfect — dare we say bitchin’ — way to celebrate the end of this adventure.”
For many students, the combination of rewatching old episodes, discussing plot theories, favorite characters and potential outcomes has helped build anticipation and community around the series.
As the countdown continues, fans are not just waiting for answers to the story, they are preparing to celebrate the end of an era together.
Whether watching at home, in a dorm room, with friends and family or in theaters, the final season of “Stranger Things” is set to be an event that brings the Hawkins adventure to a memorable close for viewers at GCSU and around the world.