Every STRANGER THINGS Season Ranked From Worst to Best

The long-awaited Stranger Things finale’s conclusion may not have been satisfactory enough for everyone, it was exactly what it needed to be for others. Whichever side of the divide you stand on, it pained all of us to see the beloved series go—even if it did feel like a long time coming.

The Upside Down is now mostly dormant in the back of our minds as other shows grab our attention. In memoriam of all the happy and not-so-happy moments, it is a great time to take a stroll down memory lane. Here is a totally accurate, completely objective ranking of every season of Stranger Things from worst to best. (Disclaimer: Totally kidding. This is entirely based on my opinion, and you may disagree if you wish.)

5. Stranger Things 5

I don’t think anyone is shocked by this placement. Stranger Things 5 is objectively the worst season of the bunch. While I am not an avid hater of this era, I am not blind to its problems. I will confess that I am one of the many who fell into the black hole we call Conformity Gate. To clarify: No, I didn’t believe that there was actually a secret episode. But it sure was fun to play into it. That being said, the mountain of commentary uncovered some questionable plot holes.

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My biggest quibble with season five is how many storylines feel rushed or cut short. It’s bound to happen when you have so much happening at once. For example, the final face-off against Vecna being only twelve minutes long is beyond me—especially after all of the build-up over two entire seasons. Unfortunately, the surplus of characters and loose ends to tie off is to blame. Dare I say the Duffers tried to pack way too much into eight episodes? That being said, I do still enjoy season five. As a devoted fan, it is heartwarming to see the Hawkins’ crew finally achieve some semblance of peace.

4. Stranger Things 2

In fourth place, I have season two. Upon my preparatory rewatch of Stranger Things, I found myself liking season two a lot more than I remembered liking it the first time. Season two introduces the Mind Flayer and dips into the horror aspect a heck of a lot more than season one. Bravo to young Noah Schnapp for his work as a human vessel here. Nothing against season two, but I wouldn’t pick it first out of a lineup. There are simply other seasons that I enjoy more.

3. Stranger Things Season 1

Oooh, controversial. The nostalgia and simplicity of Stranger Things‘ first season is something quite unlike any other season. It is a time before the stakes feel impossibly high and before there are too many characters and happenings to keep track of. It is the season where it all begins. Just four friends, a telekinetic girl, and a Demogorgon. There’s something about that that you just can’t replicate.

What makes season one so great is that it doesn’t try too hard. It doesn’t feel the need to one-up itself, add unnecessary plotlines, or overcompensate with humor. It just is. Why didn’t I rank it higher? Truthfully, this is the point where things start to get tough because I like each remaining season for different reasons. Ultimately, season one comes in third because it wasn’t until the later seasons that I really became obsessed with the show.

2. Stranger Things 4

Really, one and four are interchangeable for me. But, alas, for the sake of this article. Stranger Things: Season Four revs up the horror with a pretty menacing humanoid. I personally love the direction it takes with Vecna and his slew of victims. It exudes Stranger Things to its core.

I’m going to be straight up. A huge part of why I like this season so much falls to one reason in particular. Any of my good friends who are reading this already know the answer because I do not shut up about it ever. Eddie Munson. I love him. I stand by the statement that his character is what makes season four so memorable. Eddie, Dustin, and Steve have my heart forever.

The one thing I don’t particularly like about season four is the location hopping. The constant back-and-forth between Hawkins, California, and Russia is a lot to keep track of. It gets very convoluted anytime we venture outside of Hawkins. No shade, but there are certain storylines that I just don’t care about. The Henry Creel/Vecna plot twist? Amazing. California? Meh. Regardless, season four is a biggie for me.

1. Stranger Things 3

This. This is everything. The best season of Stranger Things is…(drumroll) season three. The ’80s summer nostalgia, the fun mall vibe, everything about season three hits home for me. I am aware that this might be a controversial opinion, but there’s just something about it. It’s bright. It’s fun. It carries a sense of humor along with the nasty Mind Flayer flesh monster.

The highlight of season three is, by far, the Scoops Troop. The trio of Dustin, Robin, and Steve is hands down my favorite dynamic throughout the entire series. The bathroom scene between Robin and Steve remains one of my favorite scenes in recent television. If we’re ranking the seasons of Stranger Things solely on impeccable storytelling, sure, season three isn’t the strongest. But for the sake of enjoyment, it is my top.

And that’s a wrap on Stranger Things and this season ranking. Looking back at the wonderful journey, it’s easy to see the pros and cons of each season. And the reasons why people might drift to one era over another. Season one is the winner for best storytelling, season four for horror, and season three for overall vibe. One thing almost everyone agrees on, however, is that there is no competition for last place. Sorry, season five.

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