The Stranger Things franchise is continuing to expand, but this latest rating could prove to be its downfall.
Stranger Things became one of the most successful, influential, and most viewed series in Netflix history. Across five seasons, the sci-fi has had over 1.2 billion views globally and has become the most-watched English-language series on the streaming giant. However, its final season was met with some harsh criticism and divisiveness across its dedicated fandom, leaving many heartbroken to see how their favorite series ended after a decade.
Hawkins, Indiana · 1986
Which Stranger Things Character Are You?
“Friends don’t lie.”
🧠
Eleven
The Protector
📡
Mike
The Leader
🤓
Dustin
The Brain
🏂
Max
The Fighter
🪧
Steve
The Babysitter
ENTER THE UPSIDE DOWN →
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01
It’s Friday night in Hawkins. What are you doing?
ASetting up a radio tower in my room to pick up distant signals
BRunning a D&D campaign in my basement — it’s been planned for weeks
CWatching TV alone, eating Eggos — quiet is good
DDriving the kids somewhere and pretending I don’t care
ESkating at the rink with my headphones on, blocking out the world
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02
The lights start flickering and something growls in the dark. What’s your first instinct?
AStand my ground — I’ve faced worse than this
BGrab a weapon and put myself between the danger and the kids
CStay cool, assess the situation, figure out an escape route
DStart theorizing what it could be while everyone else panics
ERally the group — we’re stronger together, we need a plan NOW
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03
Your best friend is missing and nobody believes you. What do you do?
AComfort the group, keep morale up, and make sure nobody does anything stupid
BGo looking alone — I don’t need anyone else to believe me
CResearch everything — maps, records, science — find the pattern
DChannel the anger into action — someone is going to answer for this
EOrganize a search party, assign roles, lead from the front
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04
How would people at Hawkins High describe you?
AIntense and passionate — once I care about something, I go all in
BThe funny one who’s smarter than people think
CSurprisingly dependable — like, when did THAT happen?
DQuiet, misunderstood — I don’t let many people in
ETough as nails on the outside, but dealing with a lot underneath
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05
Someone at school is being bullied right in front of you. What do you do?
AGet in the bully’s face — I know what it’s like to feel powerless
BStand up and say something, even if my voice shakes
CStep in silently and stare them down — no words needed
DBreak it up, tell the bully to grow up, and walk the kid to class
EDefuse it with humor so nobody has to throw a punch
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06
You discover something impossible — a secret that could change everything. Who do you tell?
AEveryone. Immediately. This is too big to keep to myself!
BNobody — I handle things on my own until I know who I can trust
CMy inner circle only — the people who’ve proven themselves
DWhoever needs to know to keep people safe — I’m practical about it
EI’d keep it inside — I’m used to carrying things alone
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07
When things feel overwhelming and the world seems dark, how do you cope?
ATake care of other people — helping them helps me forget my own stuff
BShut down, go quiet — retreat into myself until I’m ready
CMusic. Loud music. It’s the only thing that drowns it out
DWrite it down, talk it out — I need to process with people I trust
EThrow myself into a project or problem — keep my brain busy
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08
When the Upside Down is finally closed and Hawkins is safe, what matters most to you?
ABelonging — finally having a place and people to call home
BFreedom — being able to just be a normal kid for once
CKnowing I kept everyone safe — even when I doubted myself
DThe adventure — I mean, it was terrifying, but also kind of awesome?
EThe bonds we made — nothing brings people together like fighting monsters
REVEAL MY CHARACTER →
Hawkins Lab Report Complete
Your Stranger Things Alter Ego
🧠
Eleven
“I can save them. I’m the only one who can.”
You’re quiet but powerful — and people underestimate you at their own risk. You didn’t have the easiest start in life, but that’s made you fiercely protective of the people you love. You don’t always have the words, but your actions speak volumes. When everyone else is running away from danger, you’re walking straight toward it. You carry more than anyone should, and you rarely ask for help — but you’re learning that vulnerability isn’t weakness.
Powerful
Protective
Resilient
Empathetic
📡
Mike Wheeler
“We never would have upset you if we knew you had superpowers.”
You’re the natural leader of your group — not because you’re the loudest or the strongest, but because you genuinely care. You’re passionate, sometimes to a fault, and when you believe in something (or someone), you go all in. You hold your friends to high standards because you hold yourself to the same. People might see you as intense, but that intensity is born from love. You’d go to the Upside Down and back for the people in your life.
Passionate
Loyal
Determined
Emotional
🤓
Dustin Henderson
“I am on a curiosity voyage, and I need my paddles to travel.”
You’re the glue that holds everything together, even if nobody realizes it. Your brain never stops working — you see connections other people miss, and you’re not afraid to geek out about it. Sure, people might laugh at your enthusiasm, but you don’t care because you know who you are. You bring heart and humor to every situation, and when things get dark, you’re the one who reminds everyone that there’s still something worth fighting for.
Brilliant
Optimistic
Authentic
Heart
🏂
Max Mayfield
“I’m not afraid of you.”
You’re tough — not because you want to be, but because life made you that way. You’ve built walls higher than Castle Byers, and you don’t let just anyone past them. But beneath that armor is someone who feels everything deeply and fights harder than anyone for the people she loves. You cope through independence and sometimes push people away when you need them most. But when you finally let someone in? That bond is unbreakable.
Fierce
Independent
Brave
Complex
🪧
Steve Harrington
“How many times do I have to save you people?”
You’re the unlikely hero — the person nobody expected to step up, least of all yourself. You started out focused on your hair and your reputation, but when it mattered, you discovered something more important: protecting the people who need you. You’re brave, selfless, and way more capable than you give yourself credit for. You might downplay your role with a joke, but everyone knows: when the Demogorgon shows up, you’re the one grabbing the nail bat.
Selfless
Brave
Loyal
Underestimated
↻ PLAY AGAIN
The animated spinoff Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 premiered on Netflix and was delivered to some hesitant fans as it came with a whole new cast, new characters, and a new story seemingly taking place between seasons 2 and 3 of its flagship series. The worrying trend comes in with its season 1 Rotten Tomatoes score, which is a shockingly low rating and actually the lowest rating this franchise has seen since its release. Tales from ’85 received a 61% rating from critics and a shocking 55% rating from audiences.
Series/Season
Critics Score
Audience Score
Stranger Things — Season 1
97%
96%
Stranger Things — Season 2
94%
90%
Stranger Things — Season 3
89%
86%
Stranger Things — Season 4
89%
88%
Stranger Things — Season 5
82%
52%
Tales from ’85 — Season 1
61%
55%
Season 5 of Stranger Things brings in the lowest audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes for the entire franchise, and yet its spinoff Tales from ’85 manages to have a majorly low rating across the board. Compared to Stranger Things season 1, which is a franchise high at 97%. Season 5 was certainly divisive for fans, with reviews stating that it “fails to nail the landing” and was “a major flop.” Audiences for Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 stated that it was “absolutely terrible” and was full of “sheer cringeyness.”
However, not everyone hated the first season of the animated series and even stated that it isn’t as bad as everyone says. So much so that showrunner Eric Robles announced they would be returning for a second season later this year. When asked if Tales from ’85 would have many seasons, the showrunner stated that:
“I have a number in my head. This is going to be a really fun ride for the story that I want to tell. But I don’t plan to overstay my welcome. I’m giving you a very vague answer, but I have an idea of what feels right for me, creatively, in terms of the story introducing Nikki Baxter — her not being around anymore and what that means. Technically, she doesn’t fit into the timeline. It’s not in the cards, in the sense that this was developed when the Duffers were in season four post[-production]. What I can say is that I understand the responsibility of ending this story for this series correctly — what the kids process, how they move forward after that, how it connects perfectly to season three and why they don’t talk about her.
Is it going to be perfect? I don’t know. But I’m going to do my best with my team. It’s not going to satisfy everybody. That is the most impossible task ever.”
Obviously, there was an introduction to a new character named Nikki Baxter (voiced by Odessa A’zion); however, she was not seen during the flagship series. It’s unclear how multiple seasons of Tales from ’85 will work in tandem with its flagship series, but as far as audiences are aware, the animated spinoff is canon with Stranger Things. Robles has stated that Baxter’s storyline will be explained more, and only time will tell how it plays out.
Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 is available to stream on Netflix.
Video Game(s)
Stranger Things: 1984
Cast
Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Sadie Sink, Maya Hawke, Joe Keery, Jamie Campbell Bower
Created by
Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer
Latest TV Show
Stranger Things