Be warned: this article reveals key plot points from the final season of Stranger Things. Now that the show has concluded, one issue remains particularly annoying, and the fifth season really highlights it. The Stranger Things finale premiered on Netflix on December 31, 2025, delivering the climactic showdown between Eleven and Vecna. The season also featured a thorough exploration of the Mind Flayer, plenty of humor thanks to Erica and Murray, and several emotionally powerful scenes.
Although Stranger Things provided a pretty satisfying conclusion and expanded on the mysteries of the Upside Down, the final season wasn’t perfect. Viewers appreciated the emotional moments between beloved characters, but many wished there had been more action and less dialogue. While most fans felt the last episode delivered on their expectations, there’s still one issue that stands out.
‘Stranger Things’ Season 5 Didn’t Give Lucas a Real Character Arc
Netflix
Season 5 of Stranger Things has some great scenes of the friend group working together, such as their journey into The Abyss and confronting The Mind Flayer. However, some characters don’t get enough focus, which is disappointing. Lucas Sinclair (Caleb McLaughlin) is unfortunately sidelined again, a recurring issue that’s been present since the very beginning of the show in 2016.
Lucas is an important character, so it’s disappointing that he doesn’t have a major role in the final season. While other characters like Will Byers and Mike Wheeler have significant storylines – Will coming out and Mike dealing with Eleven’s loss – and even Jonathan Byers gets a lot of development with his breakup and passion for film, Lucas feels sidelined.
It was wonderful to see Lucas and Max (Sadie Sink) find a positive ending, and the moment when he continued playing Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” to help bring Max back was really touching. The humor when he checks if she’s tired of the song is great too. However, wouldn’t it be good to see Lucas experience a significant and independent storyline, something that wasn’t connected to Max or the rest of the group?
It’s frustrating that Lucas had a slightly bigger role in Season 4 of Stranger Things, only to be sidelined again. He spent time trying out basketball and making new friends, eventually realizing how much he valued his original group. Wouldn’t it be great if, in Season 5, Lucas got his own important task or came up with a clever solution to a problem, just like Dustin often does?
The first part of Stranger Things Season 5 creates tension in Dustin and Steve Harrington’s friendship, but they reconcile by the end of the season. Steve shows a more vulnerable side, confessing his jealousy over Dustin’s bond with Eddie Munson, and Dustin understands Steve’s fear. Meanwhile, Lucas doesn’t have much to do in the first part, mostly staying on the sidelines and trying to reconnect with Max.
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Even the very end of the show doesn’t reveal what Lucas plans to do with his life. We don’t find out about his interests, what job he might have, or what his life is like after leaving Hawkins. While it’s good to see Lucas and Max are happy together, the show leaves a lot of his future unexplained.
The release timing for the latest season of Stranger Things wasn’t ideal, but the finale delivers action, romance, and a sense of hope despite everything the characters have been through. The supporting characters all contribute to the big showdown, and even Nancy gets a chance to shine as a classic ’80s hero. While the season was strong overall, Lucas deserved a more exciting story arc, and it’s disappointing he didn’t get one.
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2026-01-02 21:33