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When Stranger Things premiered in 2016, none of us knew we’d be waiting almost ten years for the finale.

While the show took its sweet time between all the five seasons, fans found their own ways to prepare for the last season before the first volume dropped this November.

Some people did full rewatches, others watched quick recaps online, while some of us just trusted our memory and hoped everything would come back once the theme song played.

Most of our parents chose the third option, but with a new approach — asking their children who’s who like it’s their first time in the Upside Down, while giving a running commentary at the same time.

From forgetting who is related, to mixing up names, inventing new ones, and not knowing who is dating whom, the parents are still stuck somewhere between season one and season five. Luckily for us, it has left us with endless meme gold.

#1

Young man crying emotionally in a dimly lit room captured from Stranger Things Season 5. “So he’s not a wizard or a sorcerer, he’s a fairy” -my dad after Will’s coming out speech

alexander , Netflix Report

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    #2

    Demogorgon monster from Stranger Things Season 5, highlighting funniest things parents said while watching the show. “Someone needs to stop these tulips” my mom talking abt demogorgans

    Sahara , Netflix Report

    Nils Skirnir
    Community Member
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    1st season good, 2nd watchable, 3rd laughable, but now just dumb

    #3

    Horrific creature from Stranger Things Season 5 reaching forward in a dimly lit industrial setting. my mom cannot stop calling vecna “vespa”

    alex , Netflix Report

    Created by Matt and Ross Duffer, better known as the Duffer Brothers, Stranger Things arrived at a time when Netflix was still finding its footing — and it quickly became a defining moment for the platform.

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    “People always talk about Netflix and [say] our big moment was when we’d put on ‘House of Cards,’ and that was a big deal. But our real moment was when we put on Stranger Things,” co-CEO Ted Sarandos said during the season 5 premiere in Los Angeles recently.

    #4

    Young man with light brown hair wearing a green jacket, captured in a dimly lit scene from Stranger Things Season 5. my mom said that jonathan is in love with will because he smiled while will was coming out

    . , Netflix Report

    #5

    Smiling elderly man enjoying a moment, representing funny things parents said while watching Stranger Things Season 5. my dad said “so how was the new season of Dangerous Things?”

    swiss , Getty Images/ Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    The first four episodes of the new season, released as Volume 1 over Thanksgiving, pulled in 59.6 million views in their first five days — the biggest launch for any English-language series on Netflix.

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    And the hype hasn’t died down since Volume 2 was released with three more episodes this Christmas. According to FlixPatrol, Stranger Things is currently the number one show on Netflix both in the US and around the world, proving that fans everywhere are still completely hooked on the Upside Down.

    #6

    Close-up of a young man watching Stranger Things Season 5, capturing moments of parents' funniest reactions. “ok wrap it up” - my father as Will’s coming out

    kat , Netflix Report

    #7

    Close-up of a surprised person reacting to Stranger Things season 5, highlighting funny things parents said while watching. my dad said that johnathan looked like a cpr doll

    lauren , Netflix Report

    #8

    My dad still calls it strange kids

    Simone Report

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    It’s not just the new season keeping fans glued to their screens. Many went back to catch up, and season 4, which dropped in 2022, still holds strong — sitting at number two on Netflix’s list of the most popular English-language TV shows of all time.

    Maybe that’s part of the Duffer Brothers’ strategy to get more viewers revisiting earlier seasons — by spacing out releases over long periods.

    "If TV shows come out every year, it’s diminishing return," Matt Duffer said at Variety’s Entertainment and Technology Summit. "I like the build-up."

    Netflix says each of the previous four Stranger Things seasons saw viewership jump week by week, as fans went back to rewatch older episodes before the new season dropped.

    #9

    Young man carrying unconscious girl in hospital gown, a scene from Stranger Things season 5 with parents sharing funny moments my grandpa asked if lucas was the demon

    alima , Netflix Report

    #10

    Close-up of a smiling man wearing glasses and a brown hat, related to Stranger Things Season 5 scenes. I asked my mom who her favorite was and she said mr whatsit

    ghostface , Netflix Report

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    #11

    Close-up of a creature from Stranger Things season 5, highlighting horror elements that inspired funny parent reactions. My dad is trying to convince me vecna is wills dad

    User5352673373837 , Netflix Report

    #12

    Close-up of a terrifying creature from Stranger Things with detailed horror makeup and textured skin in a dark scene. My mum thought vecna became cancer to k**l hoppers daughter

    Darcey , Netflix Report

    But it’s not just parents asking the questions — many people online admit they are having trouble keeping up, especially if you have not revisited the earlier seasons.

    There were also complaints that Volume 2’s episodes felt rushed, and relied more on explanation rather than moving the narrative forward.

    But not everyone felt that way. Some fans defended the new season, saying its focus on character development and emotional moments is part of what makes it special. And that the explanations helped them fill in gaps from previous episodes

    #13

    Young man watching Stranger Things season 5, capturing reactions to funniest things parents said during the show. “did they ever find will?” dad will is RIGHT THERE

    savannahphernelia , Netflix Report

    #14

    A young man wearing a beanie and camo jacket smiling during a Stranger Things Season 5 scene. "He’s new right?" And it’s Mike

    spilledteaonmycoaster , Netflix Report

    #15

    Two people hugging emotionally, capturing a heartfelt moment from Stranger Things Season 5 watching experience. when Jonathan got up to hug will after he came out my dad said “kiss him” bby that’s his BROTHER

    elle , Netflix Report

    #16

    Scene from Stranger Things Season 5 showing a tense moment between a character and a monster in a dark, eerie setting. My mom keeps calling vecna vector

    Kenadie , Netflix Report

    Whether you are a parent catching up or a longtime superfan, part of the fun this season has been piecing together the story and the characters.

    Stranger Things is definitely a show that keeps on giving, with plenty of surprises and meme-worthy moments that make each episode just as enjoyable as the first.

    #17

    Scene from Stranger Things Season 5 showing a character wearing a hat and glasses, capturing parents' funny reactions. after literally watching Mr whatsit turn into vecna to attack max, my dad kept saying his theory is Mr whatsit is evil

    cherry , Netflix Report

    #18

    Young man from Stranger Things Season 5 scene, capturing reactions and funny comments from parents while watching the show. my dad asked why is mike hugging hollys mom

    charley , Netflix Report

    #19

    Man in suit with serious expression in dimly lit room, related to funny things parents said watching Stranger Things Season 5 My dad stopped caring after they ended Matthew Modine

    juliancoms , Netflix Report

    #20

    Smiling character from Stranger Things Season 5 outdoors with blurred background during a daytime scene. My mom thought will had a crush on robin

    𝙹𝚘𝚊𝚗𝚗𝚊 , Netflix Report

    #21

    Character from Stranger Things Season 5 in a dark, intense scene, capturing emotions shared by parents watching the show. they forget major character names but my mom is still asking where’s barb

    Jenna , Netflix Report

    #22

    Teen boy reacting emotionally while watching Stranger Things Season 5, capturing funniest things parents said moments. my mom thought he was confessing that he had anger issues

    tomie , Netflix Report

    #23

    My mother won’t stop calling the upside down the nether

    Hallecake Report

    #24

    Two characters from Stranger Things season 5 share an emotional hug, highlighting memorable moments from the series. My dad asked me if Steve and Dustin were dating

    іsᥣᥲ 𝖿ᥲᥣᥣ᥆ᥒ , Netflix Report

    #25

    Woman with red hair and glasses looking stressed while thinking about funny things parents said watching Stranger Things Season 5 “what’s the upside down” We’ve been watching the show since 2016

    Chloe<3 , Netflix Report

    #26

    Group of Stranger Things Season 5 characters leaning over a table, discussing intense plans in a dimly lit room. My mom keeps thinking that them playing dnd is what’s making the monster come alive

    The_weasel , Netflix Report

    #27

    Older man with white hair wearing a brown suit and tie, appearing thoughtful while watching Stranger Things season 5. my dad said his fav character is matthew

    nikwithdrawals , Netflix Report

    #28

    Close-up of a person wearing a white outfit, capturing a scene related to Stranger Things Season 5 reactions. “Who’s that little boy” it was kali

    Jojo , Netflix Report

    #29

    Woman with curly blonde hair wearing a hospital gown, appearing intense in a scene from Stranger Things Season 5. My parents were convinced that Karen became Vecna in the hospital

    sliceofkaye , Netflix Report

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    #30

    Elderly man smiling on couch pointing remote, capturing funny moments parents said watching Stranger Things season 5. My dad literally asked “now who is hawkins” 5 mins into vol 2

    Bk , Getty Images/ Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    #31

    Two characters from Stranger Things looking surprised, capturing a moment from Stranger Things Season 5 with parents' funny reactions. When holly went into the woods and they revealed max my dad gasped and said “BARB”

    Maddie Peters , Netflix Report

    #32

    Character Steve Harrington from Stranger Things Season 5 looking surprised in a casual indoor setting. My dad keeps calling Steve “Chicago”

    Dani , Netflix Report

    #33

    my mom calls the demogorgons “demi lovatos”

    rat.poison.eater_ Report

    #34

    My grandma calls vecna , Velcro

    Abby Cooper Report

    #35

    My mom asked if the demogorgons were vecnas children

    ashhcorbett Report

    #36

    “he’s such a good dad” -my dad talking about ted wheeler

    avamarie Report

    #37

    my mom called el and kali 7/11

    lɑυ𝗋ɑ★ Report

    #38

    My mom bought a stranger things calendar from Amazon and for some reason all of the pictures in it were of cosplayers (she didn’t know) and she asked me if this was barb…

    Carly ⸆ Report

    #39

    my dad was too focused on how much Max looks like Jesse from Toy Story

    Brittany Report

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    #40

    when will came out my dad said "we've known since the first season little boy"

    ♡Grace⚞ Report

    #41

    my mum keeps calling dustin toothless

    Daria Report

    #42

    My husband some how combined IT and Stranger Things in his mind, and I didn’t realize until we watched Welcome to Derry and he asked me why Vecna was Henry for some kids and Pennywise for others.

    amandapanda3185 Report

    #43

    My dad keeps tryna convince everyone will is secretly vecna

    Batman Report

    #44

    “why doesnt barb have any scenes anymore” dude WHAT

    chloe Report

    #45

    My dad thinks that papa is the mind flayer

    Megan Report

    #46

    My dear mother asking, “Aww, he liked her? 🥺” after Will saw Robin kissing Vicky and ran away

    Makenna Rae Report

    #47

    my mom asked if vickie was barb

    Kenzie Report

    #48

    my dad goes “are they sisters?” as vickie and robin huddle together

    . Report

    #49

    My dad asked “who’s will” 10 minutes into episode 7 of season 5 like gang WHAT do you mean

    junigurr Report

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    #50

    My dad said “i think it’s over for the strawberry shortcakes” (Robin and vickie)

    S H A N N O N Report

    #51

    parents will miss entire plot points but they'll never forget Barb

    Michael Kovach enthusiast Report

    #52

    my dad keeps fatshaming derek 😭 he calls him tubby and when i asked why he wasn't running to the caves he said "because he's fat"

    elise Report

    #53

    Dad asked if the creatures were “Gargamels”

    Natalie Report

    #54

    my dad said he thought henry was working with vecna

    Halle Jayda Report

    #55

    “wait there’s holly right there!” so that’s actually nancy

    maddy Report

    #56

    My mom asked if the lab in the upside down was Steve’s house

    Molly Rose Report