The final episode of Stranger Things Season 5 concludes the series with a focus on resolution and emotional closure over surprise. While delivering a climactic battle against Vecna and the Mind Flayer, the episode's pacing is noted as uneven, with an extended aftermath that some critics found overextended. Performances, particularly from Millie Bobby Brown and David Harbour, are praised. The finale addresses mythological clarifications and thematic threads, aiming to honor the characters' journeys and the cost of growing up, though some felt revelations arrived too late or were not fully explored.