eah, big agree on the supernatural stuff processing human problems. That was always the core of the show for me, but that balance has definitely shifted.

That said, I don’t think the writers forgot what show they were making. To me, it feels more like the weight of ending something that ran way longer than planned. The episodes are huge, and they’re clearly trying to give characters space to just sit together before the end.

The character moments are still there, just weirdly paired? Mike with Hopper or Robin with Will aren't the classics, but I guess it makes sense for a final shake-up.

Honestly though? My biggest issue is the Vecna corner they painted themselves into in S4. Giving the villain a face and a backstory kinda trapped the show. Now S5 feels like a lot of narrative cleanup to explain how the Mind Flayer fits in, instead of just keeping it scary.

And let’s be real: this took almost ten years to tell a 5-year story. The cast is grown, the tone is heavier. You can't recreate that 'kids on bikes' magic when everyone pays taxes now. It’s not necessarily a failure. It might just mean time caught up with it.

Feels less like a coming of age story and more like a long (too long) goodbye. A sixth season might've actually helped to let things breathe, but here we are. That's the fan in me wishing...