Stranger ThingsThe final season disappointed many viewers, but the Netflix series could have received a much better reception if it had taken the same approach as Stephen Kingthe best show of 2025.
Despite a strong five-season run and remaining in critics’ good books throughout its run, Stranger Things is criticized for taking the same path as Game of Thrones. After being disappointed with season 5 of Netflix’s long-running sci-fi series, many expressed how its ending didn’t bring the results they wanted to see. Even the ambiguous story details in the series finale felt forced and unnecessary.
Interestingly, the best Stephen King series of 2025 was compared to Stranger Things as it shared many similarities with the Netflix series. Yet he avoided repeating his narrative errors.
If You Were Disappointed by the Ending of Stranger Things Season 5, You Need to Watch It: Welcome to Derry
Stranger ThingsThe final season is mainly criticized for having little to no stakes and not being bold enough to kill off characters on screen. As many have pointed out, even Eleven’s ambitious destiny felt more like a cop-out, where the writers settled for a more reversible, bittersweet conclusion. When compared to Stranger Thingsit’s hard not to see how This: Welcome to Derry does quite the opposite.
This: Welcome to Derry initially tricks viewers into thinking it’s next Stranger Things by presenting sequences in which its young actors cross their small town by bike and try to find their missing friend.
However, by the end of its first episode, Stephen King’s series establishes its true stakes by killing off nearly half of these “main” characters. Before the end credits even begin to roll, This: Welcome to Derry gives a tragic death to one of its most lovable characters and perfectly establishes how scary its main villain, Pennywise, is.
Stranger Thingson the other hand, seems to nerf Mind Flayer towards the end after previously depicting him as an almost cosmic, unstoppable force.
Similar to Stranger Things, This: Welcome to Derry delivers a cheesy, emotional conclusion where its young characters overcome a massive threat through the power of love and friendship. However, he carefully establishes that Pennywise is far from gone and will soon return for revenge. Thanks to how This: Welcome to Derry keeps the stakes of its story high without shying away from predictable genre tropes, it’s fair to say that it fixes everything that was wrong with it Stranger Things‘ final.
This: Welcome to Derry’s Future Looks Even More Exciting Than Stranger Things
THE Stranger Things the franchise will continue to develop in the near future, and its spin-off has already been confirmed. It seems likely that this spin-off will be just one of many sequels to the main series. As exciting as Stranger Things the extensions may however seem This: Welcome to DerryThe future looks much more exciting.
Even if This: Welcome to DerrySeason 2 of has not been confirmed, the return of the series seems likely after its final twist and its record performance on HBO.
Pennywise’s Time Travel This: Welcome to Derry establishes that he has only scratched the surface of his storytelling scale. In the meantime, Stranger Thingsfor now, has officially completed its run and anything that follows it will only serve as spin-offs or expansions that circle familiar ground.
Although it would be unfair to dismiss Stranger Things‘ future payments, This: Welcome to Derrytakes on the famous Stephen King The book seems to have more new and compelling stories to tell if it manages to return with more installments.
