With a humdinger of a showdown expected from the Duffer Brothers, the final season eventually turned out to be a mixed bag. What was meant to end as an epic saga—a high-stakes battle between humans and interdimensional monsters—concluded with character arcs and plotlines tied up in a rushed manner, without providing all the answers to the show’s everlasting questions.
While the fifth season neither landed its emotional punches nor its action set pieces in a meaty way as its previous outing, it can be argued that the first lot of four episodes proved to be better than its second counterpart. The lore behind “The Upside Down” – resembling a wormhole devoid of space and time, acting as a bridge connecting Hawkins and another realm called “The Abyss” was technically marvellous to perceive.
The fact that the Mind Flayer was the emperor of “The Abyss” and Vecna was just a vessel for him to link his dimension to Hawkins evoked a surprising reaction. Even if we concur that the weight of the expectations weighing down a show’s quality is subjective and depends upon the viewer, it probes an unrelenting point of view: “How much of it is negotiable?” Here’s looking back at the eleven best episodes of “Stranger Things” (informally paying ode to Millie Bobby Brown’s character).
11. “The Battle at Starcourt” (Season 3, Episode 8)
Aside from Season 3 which might be the second weakest behind its fifth season in reconsideration, it can’t be entirely dismissed without appreciating the satire and theatrics it brought to the table. Bright summer vibes engulf most of this season, with the aesthetic beauty feeling overwhelming at times. What began as an exciting season, watered down by its sluggish writing, receives a thumping pay-off in “The Battle at Starcourt”. This episode realizes its seriousness and makes some bold choices without forgetting its basics, and that is why it waltzes its way into the ranking as the only deserving candidate of Season three.
While Billy sacrificing himself for the greater good causes a melancholic effect, it is Max’s reaction to her brother’s butchering that hits a nerve with the audience. The wonders this episode manages to pull off save an otherwise lacklustre season. The ultimate tearjerker moment arrives when Eleven reads Hopper’s letter that ends with “Keep the door open three inches,” which made us all bawl our eyes out. The climax mixes themes of loss, pain, and grief, letting those intricate emotions take center stage, not losing the show’s central parts, and leaving scope for it to develop in the later seasons.
Also Check: ‘Eleven’ Things We Loved About Stranger Things Season 3
10. “Sorcerer” (Season 5, Episode 4)
With Season 5 revolving around prolonged scenes of brainstorming and orchestrating master plans, it is in the fourth episode that a truly defining spectacle happens that flips the odds. Just when Mike and the crew’s tactics are panning out as they wish, a reality check shakes them and teases them of the avalanche awaiting in the upside down. As the highest-rated episode in Season Five, “Sorcerer” produces a staggering effect. Even though the pacing and acting were a bit off right from the start this season, Will’s transformation like a phoenix rising from the ashes injects fire into our veins as well as the narrative.
When Eleven discovers that her sister Kali (Linnea Berthelsen) — also known as “008”, last seen in Season 2- is the weapon the military is hiding, a quiet warmth fills the screen, which restores her valour and motive. An array of painstaking inner struggles burning inside Will from the beginning of the show are caressed impressively when he comes out of his shell and rains down like thunder on the Demogorgons, gaining maximum momentum from his childhood memories. It is disappointing that the final season, probably the weakest retrospectively, didn’t feature more standalone, powerful sequences like this in its later episodes. Most fans would agree that the magic of the show was lastly felt through Will coming to terms with himself.
9. “The Spy” (Season 2, Episode 6)
“The Spy” is when Will Byers undergoes a seizure and gets admitted to the Hawkins lab, diagnosed with memory loss. Will dons more of an antagonist role in this episode, acting as a messenger for the Mind Flayer. There’s a menacing shot where Bob and Joyce are talking to Dr. Owens, when Will stares at them from a point-blank range, signalling the vicious Mind Flayer is always watching. The sole reason this episode should have a spot in this list is due to the steadiness and clear conviction it has in its direction.
Directed by Andrew Stanton, the modus operandi of this subplot paints a darker shade to Noah Schnapp’s character, who stars as the all-around performer of this season. This is also the outing where the branches start to appear in the narrative — when Nancy and Jonathan admit their feelings toward each other, Steve steps up for the kids while trying to safeguard them from the Demodogs, and the chemistry and understanding between Max and Lucas deepens.
The conundrum of the Mind Flayer—now overgrown like a cancer beneath the Hawkins Lab yet impossible to burn—creates an intriguing narrative obstacle, one that elevates the tension and forces the story to expand in scope.
8. “The Upside Down” (Season 1, Episode 8)
The Season 1 finale lives up to its billing with Eleven going berserk with her powers, Joyce and Hopper getting to Will and resuscitating him, and Steve and Nancy patching up by settling their differences. While the writing is a bit ordinary and cuts corners (especially when Hopper gives up Eleven’s location in exchange for finding Will), it ticks most of the boxes to save the day. “The Upside Down” not only rides high on action set pieces but also has its gut-wrenching sequences by showing Hopper’s past, where he loses his child to cancer, amplifying the pain and heartbreak he endured.
Even though the scenes involving Jonathan, Steve, and Nancy fighting the Demogorgon feel protracted, it doesn’t feel unnecessary, making us look past the minor glitches it has in store. When the boys are reunited in the climax, it evokes a deep-seated feeling of knowing the group for a long time, which drives home the purpose of what the writers tried to build in its first season. The episode convincingly balances its emotional and thriller quotients, with Eleven almost sacrificing herself while defeating the Demogorgon and Will coughing up a slug in the dying moments before the screen cuts to black, marking this season as one of the promising ones.
7. “The Mind Flayer” (Season 2, Episode 8)
Heartbreaking episodes in “Stranger Things” are incomplete without the penultimate episode of Season 2. While some might not include “The Mind Flayer” in their roster, it earns its place through the heart-rending scene where a Demodog pounces on Bob and bites him on the neck, killing him on the spot. Even though Joyce maintains her poise throughout the season, we witness a rare moment when she screams in agony, feeling utterly helpless, losing her emotional pillar in front of her eyes — breaking into pieces.
Another aspect this episode cautiously balances is cracking the code of communicating with Will and using him to set a bait without alerting the master, driving his mind. One-third of this episode is preoccupied with nerve-wracking moments, making this a fitting pre-climax going into the season finale.
When the inherent traits of the Mind Flayer are discussed in the Byers residence, the writing cleverly theorizes that the true lord of “The Upside Down” may be the monster who’s hungry for brains rather than Vecna, who we see in Season four. The silent re-entry of Eleven feels like an underrated euphoric occurrence — having a unique boost of its own even on a couple of re-watches.
6. “The Piggyback” (Season 4, Episode 9)
Clocking a steep runtime of 150 minutes, “The Piggyback” cemented its name in the record list of the longest TV episodes of all time. Surprisingly, it currently holds a rating above 9 on IMDb as well. So, it’s not an overstatement to call it earned that reputation and rightly so by the sheer brilliance of it. The simple answer to how it created a wave when it aired can be attributed to its overarching writing and screenplay, delivering a sumptuous meal without experimenting too much with its ingredients. The episode fires on all cylinders and carefully teases the magnum opus awaiting us in Season five.
The scintillating rockstar performance by Eddie in “The Upside Down”, the stern clocking of a shotgun in slow-mo by Nancy while landing a bullet in Vecna’s chest, and Eleven going beast mode in the duel with her nemesis, accelerate the blood flow at a rapid rate. The solidarity is reinvigorated when Hopper, Joyce, and Murray support in closing the gate by killing the Demogorgons.
Nonetheless, one can’t help but feel mixed emotions when Eleven resurrects Maxine, leaving a crack in the dimensional gates, connecting the bridge for the monsters to slip over to the flip side. Encompassing a lot of elements, “The Piggyback” remains one of the remarkable strides in its adventure.
5. “The Gate” (Season 2, Episode 9)
Aptly placed at a duration of 60 minutes, “The Gate” surpasses the standards set by the closure episode of Season 1, anchored by its deft screenplay. King Steve announces himself in style by standing up to Billy, where the courage he displays lays the groundwork for his character to attain towering heights in the later seasons. The elaborate sequence of Eleven closing the gate goes down as one of the celebrated victories in the story and feels extremely personal, considering the huge responsibility she had on her shoulders.
The scene where Will’s body undergoes a turbulent ride to eradicate the Mind Flayer from his soul, shaking with scorching heat, is a masterclass in clenching tension — demanding a breather for the audience when it gets over. The adorable school dances shower the audience with bliss when Lucas and Max kiss; Nancy chooses Dustin as her dance partner; Mike and Eleven ultimately collide into each other’s eyes.
The screenplay and music dramatize the scene when Joyce rests on Hopper’s shoulders, where less is said and more is understood. The camera smartly pans to “The Upside Down” before it pulls the curtains where the Mind Flayer is biding its time to attack, hinting this plot is far from over.
4. “The Monster” (Season 1, Episode 6)
In hindsight, “The Bathtub” (the next episode after this one) might possess a few daring scenes; however, this episode draws its significance mainly due to the light it sheds on Eleven’s (also referred to as “El”) origins. When Hopper and Joyce find El’s mother, Terry Ives, in a catatonic state and get apprised of the powers of Eleven via her sister Becky, the gravity of the whole picture starts to dawn upon them. This episode works as a fierce character study of Eleven, attaining new lengths by Millie Bobby Brown’s standout acting.
One of the most heartwarming moments in “The Monster” occurs when Mike Wheeler and Dustin Henderson, cornered by their bullies, are saved by Eleven—an act that cements her place among them. “The Monster” deserves to be in the top 5 because of how unapologetically it portrays the heavy weight of the mental scars Eleven carries, when it is finally revealed that the title refers to her as the monster who opened the floodgates for the creatures. When Will pacifies her by reassuring her that she saved him and is not a monster, those words serve as a soothing balm for El, allowing us to realize that she is just a kid who yearns for love, just like every other human being.
3. “The Vanishing of Will Byers” (Season 1, Episode 1)
While the pilot episode may not immediately spring to mind while rating the show’s finest ones, the series premiere stands tall as one of the gripping pieces of television. The screenplay and dialogue are right on the money from the beginning. Ever since Will Byers rolled the dice while playing Dungeons & Dragons and almost quietly confessed his destiny to Mike Wheeler, the vibes of a Stephen King novel start to settle in. Although every major character is introduced in “The Vanishing of Will Byers”, it never feels clumsy or overstuffed.
The spontaneity with which the story flows in this episode is a textbook example of how to make the audience care deeply about a fictional person they just met. It sets the rhythm to divulge a shocking science expedition that will decide the course of fate for the world. Winona Ryder, who hadn’t acted since her last role for an HBO miniseries in 2015, appears ageless in her role of Will’s mother, showing prowess effortlessly in her performance. Millie Bobby Brown gives a jolt by emerging in the last frame as Eleven, running into “The Party” boys’ search for Will, thereby sparking a chain of events that will decide their future.
2. “The Massacre at Hawkins Lab” (Season 4, Episode 7)
Unanimously heralded by fans as the best episode of Stranger Things, “The Massacre at Hawkins Lab” reaches some of the peak notes in its narrative. The Duffer Brothers place Henry’s (Jamie Campbell Bower) monologue at the centre of the episode, effectively linking the events at the lab to the night of Will’s disappearance. On the other side of the world, the chief of Hawkins is involved in a searing battle with the Demogorgon, breathing fire like a dragon. The Russian prisoners, along with Hopper, engage in a deadly square-off with the Demogorgon and Demodogs, escalating the friction to the roof.
Joyce rejoins with Hopper after the monstrous creatures bite the dust, making their reunion one of the most personal wins of this season. The apocalyptic version of Hawkins induces deep unrest through its daunting visions, and Nancy gets thrown into the devil’s ordeal. The core ideology behind 001’s cruel acts strikes hard as his undertones contain something far more sinister: immortality. The blistering face-off between little Eleven and 001 gives off a profound high, showcasing the inevitable dichotomy of good vs evil and the eternal conflict for autocratic authority — placing the fundamentals of the show on a firm pedestal.
1. “Dear Billy” (Season 4, Episode 4)
A solid 10/10 episode, it unfolds as an emotional rollercoaster that elevates the show to a new pinnacle, drawing its power from the sheer sanctity of art. Written by Caitlin Schneirderhan and directed by Shawn Levy, “Dear Billy” perfectly encapsulates the emptiness in loneliness, the void of grief, the bleakness of mental agony, and the vigour of friendship. When Nancy and Robin figure out a brief remedy to escape from the clutches of Vecna, it unearths a buried treasure that will act as a substantial weapon in their arsenal.
The Amityville Horror–esque energy saturating this episode infuses the storytelling with an unmistakable sense of terror. When Victor Kreel (Robert Englund) reveals his disfigured face—its scars a testament to his emotional torment and Vecna’s sadistic games—the true depths of the abyss come into view. Meanwhile, Murray and Joyce fall into Yuri’s clutches, and a home invasion puts Jonathan, Mike, and Will in immediate danger, pushing the tension to its breaking point. And when Max summons every ounce of strength and sprints for her life, with Kate Bush’s iconic “Running Up That Hill” surging through the scene, the resulting adrenaline is impossible to resist.
