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Stranger Things released part one of its final season on Thursday.
And while it has been widely hailed as a ‘masterpiece’, one plotline was torn into by fans who deemed it ‘lazy and stupid’.
After five series spanning nine years, viewers ranted on X that they had grown tired of the love triangle between Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer), Steve Harrington (Joe Keery) and Jonathan Byers (Charlie Heaton).
Fans even accused the show’s creators of ‘fumbling Nancy’s character arc’ to focus on the rivalry between Steve and Jonathan.
The series started with the duo racing up to WSQK ‘The Squawk’ radio tower, trying to prove their worth to Nancy and the competition continued over the four episodes.
Viewers wrote on X: ‘Making Nancy and Jonathan’s failing relationship a big plot point and this stupid a** rivalry between Steve and Jonathan… instead of letting the show focus on NANCY and her trauma and what she’s going through. The duffers fumble a character arc again. Shocking.’
After five series spanning nine years, Stranger Things viewers have grown tired of the love triangle between Nancy (Natalia Dyer), Steve (Joe Keery) and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton)
Fans even accused the show’s creators of ‘fumbling Nancy’s character arc’ to focus on the rivalry between Steve and Jonathan
‘The one thing I’m gonna dread this season of ST in the romance department is if they make Steve and Nancy date again because that is sooooo lazy and stupid.’
‘I really liked #StrangerThings5 But i didn’t like they changed Steve’s character a little bit! I don’t know why he was not interested in listening plans, I know he was frustrated but still! Why writers have make him go after Nancy, trying to impress her! Like bro move on For god sake!’
‘I hate that they brought back the dead love triangle & they are ruining their characters by having them compete again. But I enjoy seeing them being so silly together.’
Critics echoed viewers sentiments. Glamour’s Charley Ross wrote: ‘My question is: why is this love triangle still a thing? And can it please die a Stranger Things-related horrific death already? As the franchise is set to end, I’d like to see all three characters with a better ending than this petty, uninteresting emotional tug of war.’
The Mirror’s Neela Debath commented: ‘Despite being close to perfect, there’s one thing that’s really irked me about season five: the love triangle between Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer), Steve Harrington (Joe Keery) and Jonathan Byers (Charlie Heaton).
‘Yes, it was key to season one and has helped to build on Steve’s redemption arc, making him one of the most cherished fan-favourites, along with his surprising friendship with Dustin Henderson (Gaten Matarazzo).
‘But by season five and the fate of the world at stake, the constant bickering and competition between Steve and Jonathan feels so unnecessary.’
The series started with the duo racing up to WSQK ‘The Squawk’ radio tower, trying to prove their worth to Nancy and the competition continued over the four episodes
Viewers wrote on X: ‘Making Nancy and Jonathan’s failing relationship a big plot point and this stupid a** rivalry between Steve and Jonathan…’
The sci-fi series comes to an end with three episodes set to be released on Boxing Day, and the last instalment on New Year’s Day.
The series sees the return of fan-favourite character Eleven, played by Millie Bobby Brown, alongside her band of friends, Mike, Lucas, Dustin, Max and Will in the fictional town of Hawkins, which has been plagued by dark forces from the Upside Down.
The cast will take on show villain Vecna, portrayed by Jamie Campbell Bower, a final time in scenes that Netflix promised to be ‘bone chilling’.
‘Hawkins has never faced anything like what’s coming next,’ the streaming service teased to viewers on the release of the season’s final trailer this month.
The IMDb synopsis adds: ‘In 1980s Indiana, a group of young friends witness supernatural forces and secret government exploits. As they search for answers, the children unravel a series of extraordinary mysteries.’
It’s only been a matter of hours since the final season of Stranger Things dropped on Netflix – and already, it’s being hailed as a ‘masterpiece’ by critics
The drama has already been streamed by many, including critics, who have shared their rave reviews online – saying the series left them ‘yelling with joy’.
The Metro‘s Sabrina Barr wrote: ‘This finale is a TV moment that will be remembered for years to come, especially if the sensational first four episodes of the season are anything to go by.
‘It gave me full-body chills and honestly had me on the verge of screaming.
‘Stranger Things season five, volume one, is epic, and will remind you why you fell in love with TV in the first place.’
The Guardian‘s Jack Seale’s headline states: ‘This luxurious final run will have you standing on a chair, yelling with joy.’
He added: ‘It has successfully patchworked its own unique genre vibe, a formula that can be profitably re-run, at least once more.’
Meanwhile, the The Independent‘s Nick Hilton writes: ‘The stakes are never lower than critical.
‘The Duffer brothers have created something, in the beleaguered town of Hawkins and its luckless citizenry, that is admirably immersive.’