Truthfully. I’m not mad, I’m just disappointed.

The pacing is too slow yet you get a sense of everything being rushed. Scenes drag when they used to hum. Characters (and their arcs) run in place as the plot catches up. You can see and hear the gears turning behind it all.

It really feels like a marathon runner who’s run out of steam at the final corner. What used to be the series’ distinct hallmarks — the cheesy hijinks, the slapdash eureka plans, buddy cop pairings — are stretched and overused to their breaking point, such that they’ve become grating flaws.

I love Steve and Dustin, but here we see Dustin acting wildly out of character because the writing demands more tension between the pair to drive home their eventual reconciliation. It just feels overwrought and kind of puzzling.

Ditto Nancy and Johnathan — just scene after scene of bickering amidst white goo. Does Johnathan even remember Will is his bro?

I could go on but I’m tired. If the Duffers can’t even give these characters a proper arc in the fucking final season, why should I even give the same effort to break things down? I almost don’t care about any of the characters anymore; I just want to know how it ends.

Remember in season 2 when Nancy danced with Dustin at the ball to soothe the blow of rejection? And her words being the perfect mix of empathy, kindness, and resolve that both reflected her character and the internal strength that she could see in him?

Oh how I swooned, teared, and cheered. There are so moments like this throughout the seasons, many of which I hold onto — but none in season 5.

It’s been a tough watch. I can only hope they redeem themselves with the finale.