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When Stranger Things first dropped on Netflix in 2016, it wasn’t just a show - it was an event. Suddenly, everyone was talking about Hawkins, Demogorgons, and a girl with a shaved head who could crush Coke cans with her mind.
The mix of ‘80s nostalgia, supernatural horror, and lovable characters made it one of Netflix’s biggest hits. Over the years, Stranger Things has gone from a small-town monster mystery to a full-on interdimensional war, all while keeping the charm that hooked us in the first place.
The synth-heavy soundtrack blasted from speakers at every house party, Halloween turned into a parade of Elevens and Dustins, and group chats lit up after each finale because no one could keep those twists to themselves.
People binged Stranger Things with the lights off, argued about favorite ships, and fell weirdly in love with a world full of Christmas lights and black slime.
But like every long-running series, not all seasons are created equal - some are perfectly paced, filled with unforgettable moments and emotional gut-punches. Others...well, they’re still fun, but maybe dragged a little or got sidetracked by unnecessary plotlines.
With the final season on the horizon, now’s the perfect time to look back and see how each season stacks up, from the ones that were “pretty good” to the ones that completely blew our minds. It’s the TV equivalent of sorting your mixtapes: everyone has bangers, but a couple belong in the front of the stack. So let’s dive in!
Every season of Stranger Things, ranked
4) Season 2 - The slight sophomore slump
Following the phenomenon of Stranger Things Season 1 was never going to be easy, and Season 2 felt the pressure. While it gave us some fantastic moments - like the introduction of Max, Dustin’s unlikely friendship with Steve, and Will’s terrifying possession by the Mind Flayer...it also stumbled in pacing.
The stakes felt higher, sure, but some subplots didn’t quite land, most famously Eleven’s detour to Chicago to meet her “sister” Kali. That episode divided fans and slowed down the main story. The debate around “The Lost Sister” basically became a mini culture war in fandom for a week.
Still, the season had plenty of heart - the snowball dance scene in the finale was pure Stranger Things magic, and Sean Astin’s Bob Newby was the MVP we didn’t know we needed. Also, Bob’s heroic sacrifice still hurts to this day. Season 2 wasn’t bad by any means; it was just the weakest when compared to the rest.
And credit where it’s due: the Ghostbusters costumes were perfect, Hopper and Eleven’s cabin scenes added real warmth, and those pulsing tunnels under Hawkins were wonderfully gross in an old-school creature-feature way. Plus, “Will the Wise” gave Noah Schnapp room to crush it.
3) Season 3 - Summer lovin’, Soviet plots, and scoops ahoy
Stranger Things Season 3 cranked up the neon and mall culture to a hundred. It was bright, colorful, and overflowing with ‘80s vibes, as the gang faced a new threat: Russians building a secret base under Starcourt Mall and reopening the gate to the Upside Down.
The body-horror plot with the melted rats and the mind-controlled townspeople leaned into a gooey, The Blob-style vibe that felt daring for a summer set season.
This season gave us some of the show’s most beloved dynamics - Steve, Robin, Dustin, and Erica’s hilarious Scoops Troop adventures remain peak comedy. We also got Billy’s redemption arc, which ended in a tear-jerking finale as he sacrificed himself to save Eleven.
On the downside, the middle episodes sometimes felt bloated, and the Russian subplot was a bit cartoonish compared to the darker tone of other seasons. Yet even the goofier bits landed thanks to the character work: Joyce’s magnet mystery was classic Joyce, Murray’s translations added spice, and “Ahoy there” uniforms somehow made Steve even more lovable.
But when Season 3 of Stranger Things hit...it hit - the fireworks-filled final battle, the gut-punch of Hopper’s “death,” and Dustin and Suzie’s NeverEnding Story duet made it a summer we won’t forget.
Max and Eleven’s mall montage gave the show a breezy, best-friends energy it needed, and that final shot of a ruined Starcourt felt like an era ending in smoke and neon dust. Also, Erica Sinclair’s “You can’t spell America without Erica” lives rent-free in everyone’s head.
2) Season 1 - The perfect beginning
Where it all started, Season 1 of Stranger Things was lightning in a bottle - a small-town mystery dripping with Spielberg and Stephen King influences, anchored by a loveable cast of kids and a monster that was just the right mix of creepy and cool.
We were instantly hooked by Will’s disappearance, Joyce’s frantic Christmas-light communication with him, and Eleven’s introduction as the mysterious girl with powers and a love for Eggos.
The kids’ D&D campaign set the tone, “Castle Byers” gave the story a tender heartbeat, and Barb’s disappearance sparked the internet’s most unexpected justice movement.
The season’s tight storytelling kept us glued to the screen; there was no fat, no filler - just a perfect balance of horror, heart, and humor. Hopper went from grumpy cop to hero, Mike and Eleven gave us our first ship of the series, and the Demogorgon became an instant pop culture icon.
Mr. Clarke’s patient, nerdy science lessons were the exact sprinkle of realism the supernatural needed. The use of “Heroes” over a crucial scene still gives goosebumps, and those glowing light bulbs will forever mean “someone’s trying to reach you from the other side.”
While later seasons would expand the scope, there’s something special about how grounded Season 1 felt. It was spooky, emotional, and endlessly rewatchable - the season that made Stranger Things a household name.
Even the production design - bikes, walkie-talkies, wood-paneled basements- felt hand-picked from your favorite dusty VHS tape. It’s the kind of first chapter that makes the rest possible.
1) Season 4 - Bigger, darker, better
Season 4 of Stranger Things took everything the show had done before and turned the volume way up. The storytelling was split across multiple locations - Hawkins, California, Russia, and the Upside Down...but somehow, it all worked.
Enter Vecna, the most terrifying villain the series has ever had, whose origin is tied directly into the show’s mythology in a way that made our jaws drop. The reveal connecting him to Henry/One took the lore from cool to chilling, and suddenly every previous mystery felt like it had a shadowy hand behind it.
The horror elements were on another level - Vecna’s curse and the bone-snapping, levitating deaths were nightmare fuel, and the stakes felt genuinely life-or-death.
The character arcs were also at their peak - Max’s grief and bravery made her the heart of the season, while Eddie Munson’s “Master of Puppets” scene became instantly iconic.
Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” wasn’t just a needle drop; it was a lifeline, and “Dear Billy” played like a mini horror movie with a cathartic scream. Meanwhile, Hopper’s Kamchatka storyline gave us grim prison grit, a demogorgon arena that felt like gladiator horror, and a reunion that earned its tears.
Sure, the episodes were long (some almost movie-length), but the payoff was worth it. The finale left Hawkins split open, setting the stage for an epic conclusion.
Nancy and Robin’s team-up, Lucas’s showdown with Jason, and the Surfer Boy Pizza rescue mission balanced dread with scrappy humor. And the two-volume release turned each drop into an event night, complete with group countdowns and spoiler-dodging marathons.
Season 4 wasn’t just Stranger Things at its best; it was one of the most thrilling seasons of TV in recent memory. It felt confident, cinematic, and genuinely scary - the rare later-season leap that sticks the landing and then some.
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Conclusion
Stranger Things has had its highs and lows, but even at its weakest, it outshines many shows at their peak. From the eerie, small-town mystery of Season 1 to the explosive, big-screen spectacle of Season 4, the journey through the Upside Down has been nothing short of thrilling.
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