Stranger Things: Mind-Flaying 🤯 Tears & Triumph! ✨
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A Stunning Finale Masking a Frustrating Journey
The conclusion to Stranger Things 3 is undeniably spectacular television, yet before that exhilarating finale, viewers endured nearly seven episodes dominated by the “mind-flaying” storylines. The final episode itself is a blockbuster – exciting, spectacular, funny, and profoundly affecting, prompting approximately fifteen minutes of tears. This final episode represents a flawlessly executed and truly beautiful piece of television.
The Season’s Origin: A Missing Boy and a Monster
Initially conceived as a self-contained story about a missing boy and a monster, with a charming cast led by Winona Ryder, Stranger Things unexpectedly expanded beyond its original scope. Had Will not produced the “little devil slug” in the final scene – a seemingly arbitrary addition born more of commercial strategy than artistic vision – Stranger Things could have concluded there, or evolved into something entirely different, recalling its origins as an anthology series and its somewhat perplexing title.
A Lengthy, Frustrating Expansion
The anthology format was abandoned in favor of a continued series, but the resulting installments proved a significant dilution of *Stranger Things*. The new direction was noticeably louder and more overtly dramatic, featuring an unusually complex standalone episode that could have concluded the season, and yet here we are again. *Stranger Things 3* contains one episode fewer than its predecessor, but the series still feels four episodes too long.
The Season’s Slow Burn – And Repetitive Themes
Prior to this point, the series largely operates as *Stranger Things*: The Soap Opera, characterized by repetitive and often tedious scenes of Hopper and Joyce engaging in protracted bickering reminiscent of an old married couple, while Will cautiously navigates questions surrounding his sexuality and Eleven indulges in a shopping spree. Jonathan’s attempts to properly develop photographs are repeatedly interrupted. It feels as though viewers are subjected to nearly a decade of observing characters serving ice cream.
Creative Exhaustion or a Masterful Conclusion?
“The series ultimately lacked the momentum of its final three episodes, leading some to believe the Duffer Brothers had exhausted their creative resources. In 2017, Matt Duffer and Craig Myers debated the appropriate length for the show, stating, “Four seems short, five seems long.” However, based on the success of Stranger Things 3, it’s clear that “less is more.”
A Film Adaptation: The Perfect Ending
Considering the series’ trajectory, a film adaptation would be a sensible conclusion. If given two hours to condense the narrative into a succession of impactful, blockbuster-style moments—a format the Duffer Brothers have demonstrably mastered—Stranger Things could conclude on a truly exceptional note.