As 8 p.m. approached on New Year’s Eve, eager fans awaited the release of THE episode everyone had been waiting for, the “Stranger Things” finale. Titled, “Chapter Eight: The Rightside Up,” the final episode covered the battle of the century. Vecna, a viney monster who feeds on the vulnerability of children to strengthen his powers, versus a bunch of nerds from a small Indiana town. Having gone through much worse, the main character, Eleven, and her gang battle Vecna for the last time. With the big part over with, but almost an hour left of the episode, I couldn’t help but wonder, “What is going to happen next?”

The Duffer Brothers, creators of the popularized TV show, had a lot on their backs. They must deliver the best, most satisfying ending to one of the most popular TV shows at the moment. Theories ran wild; the biggest one that I saw claimed that Netflix cut out 2 hours of content from Volume Two, which is the second half of the fifth season, excluding the finale. Though that has not been confirmed by…anyone. While many people became very critical of how the ending should go, I was never one to theorize. I typically sit back and let the professionals do their job. However, this episode is NOT what I had imagined, while simultaneously having imagined nothing at all. Many questions were left unanswered. If you have never watched “Stranger Things,” this will not make any sense, so stop, watch the entire show, and come back when you can explain what the Mind Flayer is. 

I was actually able to watch the last episode in the Regal Theater in Harrisonburg. It was a really special experience. The episode started off very strong. Vecna is defeated. That was what all five seasons have come to, the moment the viewers have all been waiting for. Yay! But wait, why is Eleven going back to the Upside Down? Oh man. Tears flowed, snot ran. That scene was a good one, and I have to admit, I cried a little bit, too. 

Moving on, though, I noticed a lot of plot holes and unaddressed items. For starters, there were no Demogorgons in the Abyss. To have them everywhere but where they’re from…interesting. Next, where did the military go? A bunch of civilians killed their soldiers, and they’re just let go to graduate and move on with their lives? The last one of many is what happened to Derek’s parents in the barn, and where is Dustin’s girlfriend, Suzie? I think a lot of these plot holes could have been filled in dialogue instead of a cutscene, but not even that was provided.

Personally, I am not as mad as everyone else. I can see the rushed writing present in the show, but some of these theories, like Max not being able to graduate, aren’t valid. She can make up her school work; it’s not that impossible. However, some people were in such denial that they were convinced a ninth episode was to be released Jan. 7. This idea was titled “Conformity Gate.” And…it didn’t happen. I think there were a lot of expectations, and not everything can happen. For example, I think the viewers (most of them) knew that Byler wasn’t going to happen, so for that, I understand. I think Will’s future was cute anyway. And Joyce and Hopper were always endgame. At the end of the day, nobody can change what happened. However, if I see one more sad edit on my For You Page, I might lose it.