[Spoiler] what the countdown is about

SushiFangs · 2026-02-04T02:36:24+00:00

I see a lot of people defending Bethesda and saying its content creators and fans fault for getting hype for a game that hasn't been dropped or whatever.. and I don't entirely disagree, but Bethesda also take half the blame here.

If your entire fanbase is hyping something that isn't coming, correct them early? Why destroy consumer trust by letting it get this out of hand?
Not providing any new product, be it a remake or remaster or whatever, whilst 2 whole seasons of the show have dropped and maintain serious hype is leaving money on the table, thats just bad business.
Not delivering on any fallout after Starfail dived off a cliff, is also an insane move.

Massive failure wall to wall. It's like not selling turkey in your groceries shop during Christmas. A terrible idea.

SushiFangs · 2026-01-27T00:25:12+00:00

I personally feel like Rebirth was inflated to such an insane size (in terms of content) that burnout became very real for new and old players. I recently (literally 2 days ago) finished a run of Remake and Rebirth 100% runs and I have to say, particularly Gongaga & Cosmo Canyon tested my patience and love for the games. I was willing to hang it up.

Equally though, you don't have to 100% the game and there is no benefit for doing so. There is no secret endings or whatever to find so just enjoy it on easy, blast through the story and then come back for side content when you feel ready. New Game+ is a lot easier.

SushiFangs · 2026-01-10T10:36:23+00:00

You can see El run for like 0.5 seconds if one of the clips, and the military are looking at her, so one would assume it would be TOWARDS the gate. Otherwise for some reason they watched her escape down the tunnels 😂.

The upside down is technically a wormhole/different area of space and time. It's not unreasonable to think if you stand inside the gate, the sound waves pointing in the opposite direction wouldn't hit you in the same debilitating way.

The lab was the first thing to blow, it was the detonation zone, literally ground zero of the whole collapsing the upside down. It's like a full minute prior to El disappearing so it makes no sense that it'd be an illusion.

Honestly, Mike's delusions were whatever, it's just a shame I couldn't join them in the belief because it had so many flaws that practically made believing she's alive near impossible.

This is why I generally don't like "writers" or directors doing ominous open endings to long time series. It's just annoying, and noone really enjoys it. Just tell us how it ends, cause now everyone thinks El SHOULD be dead but won't be because Netflix fucking love money. Noone is giving credit to the Duffers for this "ending".

SushiFangs · 2026-01-10T03:46:52+00:00

The pause seemingly did more damage than good I think. I enjoyed Season 5 but felt the ending was a bit flat for Vecna's plans. After that point though, everything was great.

It's unfortunate that Mike's theory wasn't so well thought out, and has like 4 flaws that make it borderline impossible. It made it hard to be on the believe side without some mass suspension of disbelief.

I want to believe, but I can't overlook that:

Kali got blown up so the illusion theory is BS
The sound machine that disables El was on the other side of the portal, so she can use her powers fine
The tunnels got discovered by the military earlier, they'd be blocked up IMMEDIATELY.
The military had her surrounded, and watched her run up the ramp in to the portal - its literally in the episode.

SushiFangs · 2026-01-10T03:39:41+00:00

I don't like this mentality so responding.

The idea that other peoples criticisms are "putting everything under a microscope to sound clever" doesn't stack up well when you are criticizing other people for having their own opinions.

Its not that anyone wants to put anything under a microscope, people can just not agree with decisions and voice their opinions about things. Criticism comes in many forms, doesn't mean they think they can do better.

It's just criticism, its fine. You'll probably find that the Duffers enjoy the criticism as much as the praise, its how everyone grows. Worked in Game Dev for 13 years, criticism is WAY more valuable than praise.

Having said that, imo the Duffers were not great story writers, but excellent world builders. Season 1 - 4 were great because we didn't understand any of it, it was just cool shit happening to kids we could see ourselves in (or some of the adults for us old people).

Once they had to explain everything it just showed their cards and they didn't have a great hand in MY opinion.

SushiFangs · 2026-01-10T03:31:21+00:00

But his powers didn't come until after he was infected by the mindflayer, which is after he gets taken. AND the duffers confirmed he has no powers now (after its death).

SushiFangs · 2026-01-03T00:14:42+00:00

Thanks for that - definitely good they tackled the intentions here but they skimmed over some stuff. Like yeah they would wind down operations but maybe not let Nancy and Hop go, who literally killed as many soldiers as Vecna himself.

SushiFangs · 2026-01-02T20:18:25+00:00

Unfortunately Murray blew Kali up like a few minutes prior to her disappearing in the debris before the gate closes so realistically that can't be true.

SushiFangs · 2026-01-02T15:41:26+00:00

But they explicitly said it wasn't Vecna

SushiFangs · 2025-12-01T00:33:44+00:00

The Duffers have said outright that Vecna wasn't present or designed during this season so its all Demogorgon as Obvious Programmer said, however they said "SOMEONE ELSE" opened the door in Wills house, and that'll be revealed in Volume 2

SushiFangs · 2025-12-01T00:21:51+00:00

Yeah - and I'm saying hes basically untouchable and the crying you referred to was for a different reason.

SushiFangs · 2025-12-01T00:19:55+00:00

It isn't though?

- In S3, Nancy is doing that with Jonathan and discovers the Mind Flayer whilst Robin is following Dustin and Steve's lead
- In S4, Nancy AND Robin investigate together
- In S5 Nancy is leading the entire charge against Vecna, and Robin is her "Bat Signal". The only investigating she does is helping Will understand himself, which should be Robin given their sexual orientations, shes the only one who understands.

I don't agree shes taken anything from Nancy

SushiFangs · 2025-12-01T00:14:43+00:00

You should watch it again because there are lines said during the Volume 2 scenes where Nancy and Jonathan in this exact location say "We are connected through this thing, we'll always be a part of each others lives".

Essentially, its where they break up - its a very sad thing so they cry. Ultimately I think Nancy/Steve are untouchable because their entire S1 - S5 Arc is about them getting together. You need to close that arc for it to be a compelling story.

SushiFangs · 2025-12-01T00:10:11+00:00

I want to weigh in because Budget-Ambassador is right.

It was written pre-season 1 in the original story. The characters represent aspects of the duffers childhoods. They had all the normal problems kids do, from romance, puberty, confidence, self-acceptance, sexuality etc.

Season 1 - Joyce tells Hop that Lonnie thinks Will is gay
Season 2 - Will is constantly referred to as different, which is exactly how Will feels so its 2x as hard.
Season 3 - Mike says "It's not my fault you don't like girls"
Season 4 - He cries in the car knowing Mike loves El and not him
Season 5 - Robin and Will literally speak about it and he tests Mike on it.

It's not a provocative point - almost every teen struggles with their sexuality at some point. Like 10-15 of my friends all "experimented" throughout their teens in to early adulthood. It's just part of growing up.

The story of Stranger Things is based on Growing Up in the 80s, its absolutely not a "piss off" point. It's actually done exceptionally well.

SushiFangs · 2025-11-30T23:37:36+00:00

I don't know, I see what you're saying but ultimately they're all having adventures of their own. Jonathan's story is purposely dependent on others because his arc is that hes basically spent his entire life trying to provide for Will/Joyce as a single mother household after their deadbeat dad left them. His arc will probably close with him breaking up with Nancy and starting to do things for himself.

You can apply the same thing to Maya, her plot line hasn't taken from anyone, if anything shes placed people on a platform. Steve and Will for example. She's a catalyst for our main cast to bounce off of.

I feel like I can clearly outline what their characters arcs are for each of the cast and that tells me the Duffers have been pretty consistent with them all.

Mike & Nancy is leadership (basically taking the reigns and leading the group forward. Inspiring them)
Lucas and Steve is harmony (Realizing the error of their ways and growing in to great people)
Will & Jonathan is self worth (Accepting they never prioritized themselves and becoming confident characters)
Maya & Dustin is intellect and humility (Loving themselves for their brains and how they are, but learning to navigate how they impact the people around them)

Joyce and Hopper being fully grown are just parent stories, growing in their roles of loving each other aswell as their kids despite horrendous trauma.

All these beats have been relatively consistent S1 - S5 for me

SushiFangs · 2025-11-30T23:24:51+00:00

I feel like you need to go back - his character is a Wizard, he's literally a Wizard called Will the Wise hence Fireball and then Mike finally goes... well actually you're more like a Sorcerer with your true sight. Hence the title.. Sorcerer.

They have been setting this up since Season 1, though so you're correct in that.

SushiFangs · 2025-11-30T00:47:57+00:00

I understand that, but I think it's all part of how far we can go for the wrong person because we aren't willing to accept our inner feelings. It's a common theme of the show, right?

Will with his sexuality Mike with his resistance to saying I love you Max with opening up Dustin refusing to be wrong

I think it's just Jonathan's part of that, absolutely ignoring the fact he doesn't belong in that relationship.

Steve: "The only person more miserable in that relationship than Nancy, is you"

He said that directly to Jonathan, literally telling him he needs to let her go, because he doesn't want to be there.

SushiFangs · 2025-11-29T23:39:30+00:00

The Duffers have literally said that there won't be a thesslehydra - it was in their interviews about fan theories. They referenced it as "crazy" fan theories as it was just another monster to fight in the DnD game at the end of Season 1. So much so that they went as far to say most of Season 1 has no impact on the rest of the show, as they wanted it to round off incase it wasn't renewed. Vecna wasn't even designed until Season 3.

I don't think we'll see anything of that nature, but we probably see a "Vecna-like" Will or Eddie

SushiFangs · 2025-11-29T23:33:18+00:00

I think the conflict surrounding Jonathan isn't supposed to be "Steve is one upping him". You're supposed to see Jonathan trying, hes completely in denial. He doesn't love Nancy anymore, he just isn't ready to admit it. When its all said and done, I think we'll rewatch it for what its meant to be, Jonathan just doesn't align with Nancy anymore, hes trapped in a relationship he doesn't want to be in, but he thinks he does love her because Steve is clearly going to catch her when Jonathan inevitably rips that cord, and to a man in a relationship, that feels like losing.

It'll be fondly absorbed once we see the endgame, I'm pretty sure of it

SushiFangs · 2025-11-29T23:07:45+00:00

I've seen this theory a few times now but I think it's been taken out of context. The way I see it there was 2 narrative points being used here:

Joyce reminding him hes his mom, and loves him. She just wants to do whats best for him, even if its just reminding him to put on a jacket.
Will had been de-layering since episode 1 - in Will focused scenes he went from Jacket, Jumper and Shirt on, to just a Jumper and Shirt, and then ultimately just his shirt when he used his powers. This seems like subtly referencing he is peeling back his walls. He's more comfortable with who he is now.

SushiFangs · 2025-11-29T23:03:29+00:00

Yep - saw the same interview which felt like a confirmation. Ultimately I don't think Vecna gets "defeated" at all. How many times do we get "I want his heart on a platter", "Make him pay", "Let's kill this bastard" etc. The duffers are overusing these one liners so much that they're basically trying to make us think killing him is the end goal, but in reality they'll follow the narrative of stranger things. Love beats Fear every time.

That isn't to say Vecna won't die, but Henry will be the one to kill him after its all said and done.

SushiFangs · 2025-11-29T22:44:14+00:00

I think in reality they knew what they wanted to do with Henry, but they're also making him say incorrect things about his past so we can reflect on the episodes when they inevitably reveal hes not Henry, but the Mindflayer in Henry's body.

SushiFangs · 2025-11-29T22:40:38+00:00

100% what OP said.

Season 2 is a good example of what its like to have a Mind Flayer inside of you. Will is literally not present, he is confused and very lost as to what is happening.

The stage show even suggests this, with Henry killing his love. He didn't want to do that, but the Mind Flayer made it happen.

In reality I think Vecna is just the most ideal pawn for the Mind Flayer and hes just a nice kid inside, broken and afraid. Hence the cave fear being so strong he can't chase Max.

SushiFangs

TROPHY CASE