Stranger Things has officially returned with its final season. The hit show's season 5 will be released in two parts. Its fourth season aired in 2022. To watch the latest edition, fans rushed to stream the newly released episodes, which also caused Netflix to briefly crash.However, Stranger Things' Rotten Tomatoes debut has now become a topic of notable conversation on social media. Many viewers are calling the debut score surprising, while others differ.As of November 26, 2025, Stranger Things season 5 holds an 85% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes. It is based on 47 reviews so far. The show debuted with an 84% RT score. Rotten Tomatoes announced the rating via an official Facebook post, which read:"#StrangerThings: Season 5 is Certified Fresh at 84% on the Tomatometer, with 45 reviews"The score is the lowest critical rating in the show's nine-year run. However, it is worth noting that with the final episodes set to arrive on December 25, 2025, and the series finale scheduled for December 31, 2025, the scores are expected to fluctuate. Netizens reacted to the show's latest edition's debut RT score, saying:"deserves lower"CynthiaErivoCharts @CynthiaErivo1LINK@PopCrave deserves lowerNetizens' reactions to Stranger Things 5 debuting with its lowest critical score on Rotten TomatoesPop Crave took to its official X (formerly Twitter) page to announce that:"‘Stranger Things 5'bdebuts with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 84%."Netizens were notably quick to jump into the comment section of the X post as they penned their opinions on season 5's debut RT score. Below are some of their reactions:"How is this already scored when it dropped less than an hour ago and it’s 4 new episodes?", questioned an X user."If Netflix worked when it was supposed to, they would be finishing the first episode now. I am almost through and I am enjoying it. A good job of subtly explaining situations and happenings without a voiceover… The Duffer Bros had big expectation shoes to fill… #StrangerThings5", shared another."Yall do not know film critics exist, film premiers have them watch before everyone else does", noted a third.Others also chimed in:"Man, 84%? That is like when someone drops a track that’s supposed to “change the game” but it only charts mid on debut. Not terrible, just not the noise the hype promised. Still, for a show that has been dragging us through alternate dimensions and teenage stress since forever, 84% is calm. Folks will watch it anyway. Netflix knows you will click play even if the score nosedives.", penned a netizen."Stranger Things 5 lands at 84% on Rotten Tomatoes. Not elite, not embarrassing. Just… decent.", opined another."final season going bullish", declared a third.Stranger Things 5 Vol. 1 is currently streaming on Netflix.Also Read: Martha Stewart vs Sydney Sweeney: 2025 net worth compared as American Eagle unveils new holiday campaign starWhat is the presale code for Waterparks 2026 UK and European The Prowler tour? All you need to know