As “Stranger Things” enters its fifth and final season, Berkeley High School students are feeling a mix of elation, nostalgia, and anticipation. The show has been part of the lives of many students as they’ve grown up. The first season, following the paranormal disappearance of Will Byers, has developed into a complex plot and subsequent fanbase over the past 10 years. For many, “Stranger Things” isn’t just a TV show, it symbolizes their entire adolescence. Between theories, character debates, and final opinions, BHS students are more invested than ever going into the fifth season, released 9 years after the first.
Sophomore Ava Apelin has been watching the show since she was seven years old, when her cousins first introduced her to the series. She is beyond excited for the new season, but also admits she is sad to see the show end. Apelin connects most with the character Nancy, “because she’s an older sister like me,” as well as Steve whom she finds “funny and relatable.” She believes Will has stepped into his strongest role yet, saying he “really leveled up this season” after being treated like the baby of the group for so long. For Apelin, the emotional experiences of the characters keep the show grounded and relatable despite the supernatural setting. To her, the show is ending at the right time, “the characters are evolving and becoming their best selves.”
BHS Sophomore Aviv Elis, was introduced to the show by her aunt in sixth grade and watched the entire series with her. She says she loves the 1980s setting, especially the music and fashion. According to Elis, the aesthetic is one of the biggest reasons the show is so fun to watch. She doesn’t have predictions for how the show might wrap up, “there’s so much going on at this point,” but she imagines that if a portal existed in Berkeley, it would “obviously be at BHS.” While she feels Steve has one of the best character arcs in the show, she thinks all the characters contribute something great.
BHS Sophomore Ella Koepsell also rushed to watch the new episodes; she and her friend binged them the day they came out. She originally avoided the show because she thought it was overrated, but decided to try it one day when she had nothing else to watch. She quickly got hooked, even though the early episodes were frightening for her. Now she loves the sci-fi elements and especially Dustin, who she calls "definitely the best character,” along with Steve. Koepsell believes that Steve has the strongest character arc, though Will might rival him after season 5. Her theory for the final episode is striking: she thinks Dustin and another character might die, and she’s hoping that Vecna dies too. Koepsell believes “Stranger Things” resonates so strongly with teens because it’s fast-paced, eerie, emotional, and filled with typical teenager themes such as friendship, family, and school drama. Like others, Koepsell feels the timing of the ending is right: "Each season had a kind of open ending, so now is the perfect time to end it.”
As the season unfolds, BHS students are watching closely, not just for plot twists, but for the closure of a story they’ve followed for years. Whether they’re cheering for different characters, theorizing different endings, or arguing about potential plotpoints, one thing is clear: “Stranger Things” has left a lasting impression on BHS. And as the show reaches its final moments, students here are ready for the ending, even if they’re not quite ready to let go.