5 Stranger Things episodes that pushed the Netflix drama to its peak (& 5 that almost made it hit rock bottom)

We are about to say goodbye to this year, and with it, Stranger Things too. The top-notch show will drop its grand finale called The Rightside Up on December 31, 2025. Fans are curious to know the fate of Hawkins and its heroes, who are up against Jamie Campbell Bower's Vecna, aka One, aka Henry Creel.

There were episodes that made us feel the emotions brewing. Some made us laugh, some made us cry, and some gave us goosebumps. However, there were also a few that gave us disappointment. That's all we can say about them.

So, I looked back at them and picked five that almost rolled it back down the hill and five that made it running up that hill. Feel free to add more to the list after you've read it.

Disclaimer: This article contains the author's opinions. Reader discretion is advised.

---

5 best episodes in Stranger Things

5. Season 1 Chapter Six: The Monster

With this episode of Stranger Things, Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) truly found her group as she saved Mike (Finn Wolfhard) and Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) from those bullies trying to kill the former.

---

4. Season 3 Chapter Eight: The Battle of Starcourt

You can't simply love a character like Billy Hargrove (Dacre Montgomery) when he is bullying her sister, trying to stay in control. But this episode will make you love him as he sacrifices himself to save Eleven from the Spider Monster.

---

3. Season 5 Chapter Six: Escape From Camazotz

The reason this episode is in the list is that we see Holly Wheeler (Nell Fisher) becoming Holly the Heroic for the very first time. Though she wakes up in a strange land, we still have one episode to go. She'll be fine, hopefully.

---

2. Season 5 Chapter Four: Sorcerer

A lot is going on in this episode as our heroes have gone full military mode. But wait until Will Byers goes into beast mode. Or shall we say, the 'Sorcerer' mode? That sequence is just pure chills.

---

1. Season 4 Chapter Four: Dear Billy

Now, if you need more chills and a scene that would break the internet, it is this. Vecna is about to claim his last victim in Stranger Things, who is Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink). This one's in the list for the same reason as the 3rd best in the list. It's just more intense than that.

---

5 worst episodes in Stranger Things

Season 4 Chapter Nine: The Piggyback

While Eddie Munson's (Joseph Quinn) electric performance in the Upside Down was a pure metal moment in Stranger Things, I didn't like it because that was the last time we saw him. He was simply one of the best characters in it and could've easily been a part of future stories.

---

Season 2 Chapter Eight: The Mind Flayer

Again, a character dies after he saved people in the Hawkins Lab. Like Eddie Munson, Bob's (Sean Austin) death also killed the buildup of this Stranger Things episode.

---

Season 3 Chapter One: Suzie, Do You Copy?

Okay, Dustin's got a mystery girlfriend, but he is unable to prove that to his friends. It's a fun part of the episode, but it was more about Billy trying to get to Mike's mom, Karen Wheeler (Cara Buono), which is something I didn't really like (maybe because I am secretly in love with her).

---

Season 3 Chapter Three: The Case of the Missing Lifeguard

Seriously, the kids have grown up, and Stranger Things didn't need Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) literally dressing himself as Will the Wise, who wanted to play D&D the first thing in the morning. Also, what's with eating fertilizers? Ew, gross.

---

Season 2 Chapter Seven: The Lost Sister

In my opinion, this Stranger Things episode existed just to introduce Eleven's sister, Eight (Linnea Berthelsen). The creators could've done that any time in any episode. There literally wasn't a need for this episode. That almost made Eleven a criminal, too.

---

What do you think of this list? We would like to know your thoughts in the comments section below.