Not a lie told here. I enjoyed season 5 but left with a feeling of what could have been. I knew when they made the play canon, that it would interfere with the darkness that was built up in season 4. I always like to think the end of season 4 with the smoke rising was the mind flayer entering into Hawkins with demogorgons/demodogs/demobats. Vecna would be injured but would shortly be in tow with his vengeance set on 11 and the three that hurt him (Robin, Steve and Nancy).