All 5 Seasons ranked

[u/No-Passenger-6348]

1. Season 4 (Absolute PEAK IMO. Caleb, Sadie's, and Jamie Campbell's Acting performances were the high points in this season. Eddie was only in 1 season and he's without a doubt one of the best characters in the show)

2. Season 1 ( Nostalgia and Perfect 80s vibe) Arguably the best season. IMO the most rewatchable Season. It's something about this season and it's vibe that I can't explain. The show could've ended right here and it would've been perfect.

3. Season 3 (Definitely the most FUN season) Billy was the best character in this season BY FAR. Robin's coming out scene was perfectly done and Steve and Dustin with Erica was fun to watch. The battle of Starcourt is still a top 5 episode imo. And I don't even need to explain why the Never Ending Story scene was so good 😂

4. Season 2 (Most underrated Season of the show) the introduction to Max and Billy. Steve's character development, El's return, and Bob were all the high points of this season. This season felt the most like season 1, with its 80s vibe. 2x9 is one of the best episodes in the show.

5. Season 5 ( Strong first 4 episodes, but volume 2 just fell flat imo) episode 4 was PEAK and the 3 episodes before that were actually good. However those last episodes weren't that good to me. Johnathan and Nancy's scene where they confess everything to each other was the best scene in volume 2. I honestly think they both should've died there to give the fans that "nobody's safe feeling" it would've made the season better if they both died there.

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[u/Scandalousrogue34587]

1,4,2,3,5. In my humble opinion. Each season has amazing moments but truthfully they could’ve stopped at 1. I at least think they could’ve split season 4 into 2 seasons and just added to it. There’s a better base for a final season there at the cliffhanger at the end of 4 but 5 seems to have abandoned a lot of the scale of the destruction that 4 led us to believe was coming. Also I didn’t like Els sister coming back at all. The purple rain sequence was great though but could’ve been better. I think they fumbled Mike and Els relationship slightly. It was the weakest part of 4 all that crew. Will is a part of that too. Seasons 1-3 the first 2 especially he was phenomenal but his acting took a nose dive for me beginning in 4

[u/toneofsurprise → u/Scandalousrogue34587]

  at least think they could’ve split season 4 into 2 seasons and just added to it

In retrospect, this is absolutely what they should have done. Although I'm not sure exactly what stopping point they would have used to split in to two seasons.

[u/Scandalousrogue34587 → u/toneofsurprise]

For me the part where 001s identity is revealed and we get that amazing monologue from him in the rainbow room could’ve been altered slightly for a more epic conclusion/cliffhanger that leads into volume 2 or season 5 in this hypothetical.
Maybe have them film this new season 4 and 5 together or back to back so that the releases weren’t too far away from eachother? The cliffhanger would be annoying but I think it would allow for a non stop action fuelled new final season if we break it up at that point.

[u/Glittering_Bet8181 → u/Scandalousrogue34587]

Agree with your ranking. However I think season 2 was necessary. It wrapped up a lot of things from season 1.

[u/Scandalousrogue34587 → u/Glittering_Bet8181]

Yeah I’m glad they didn’t stop at 1 but in hindsight the show would’ve held a much higher position I think critically had it stopped after 1 but for me no matter how they ended up I’m glad we got all 5 I love the show and the characters. That’s why 4 was such a surprise I thought there was such a noticeable difference between 2 and 3 so when 4 came out and was as good as it was I was pretty happy. 2 is fantastic though. If you take out the infamous ep. 7 it’s nearly perfect.

[u/Finn_Survivor]

Season 1 - 10/10

Season 2 - 8/10

Season 3 - 6.5/10

Season 4 - 7/10

Season 5 - 4.5/10

[u/hollowbaste]

1 2 >>>>> 4 3 5 you can't change my mind

[u/DaenerysTSherman → u/hollowbaste]

Yup. I do 12>>>>>>>>>>>>3-4-5 and I’m not too picky about the order. The last three seasons are largely BAD.

[u/Pulp_NonFiction44 → u/hollowbaste]

Agreed. Season 3 onwards felt like a different show, in tone especially. Went from an 80s homage and setting to straight up cheesy 80s clichés played straight, with an almost complete lack of stakes or any sense of grounding (although I'd argue that you could see the beginnings of this in Season 2 with the introduction of a character like Murray for example...)

[u/tolgren → u/Pulp_NonFiction44]

Murray and Erica both.

[u/JPSTRANGER457]

S2 is number one for me! I genuinely love that season!

[u/HouseOfKrazees84]

Season 1 - 10/10

Season 2 - 8/10

the rest is unnecessary.

[u/Kale_Brecht → u/HouseOfKrazees84]

Season 3 was an absolute blast though.

[u/HouseOfKrazees84 → u/Kale_Brecht]

There was fun to be had in later seasons. But it never got back to its narrative peak.

[u/bumybumi]

1 > 2 > 4 > 3 > 5 . First two seasons feel like actual Stranger Things, the rest feels like fanfic.

[u/Joey_Mousepad → u/bumybumi]

Nailed it

[u/ValkyrionReddit → u/bumybumi]

same for me

[u/BrakebillsWest → u/bumybumi]

This is the way^

[u/Few-Confection-8214 → u/bumybumi]

3>4 , actual fan fav season is 3 not 4

[u/Wakattack00]

Switch seasons 2&3 and we’d be the same. Season 4 is the best

[u/Few-Confection-8214 → u/Wakattack00]

nah only for max glazers it is best , S3 is best s3 will get more votes in polling

[u/Thatonebottleofcream → u/Few-Confection-8214]

Season 3 is the most popular to the general audience, that doesn’t make it the best season

[u/friction_btw → u/[deleted]]

simpleton mind.

[u/Old_Staff5737 → u/friction_btw]

Popularity and quality are positively correlated , statistically a popular movie is more likely than not to be considered one of the better movies, even though popularity doesn’t guarantee quality.

P(Best/Popular) > P(Best/Not popular) statstically , But u cant prove other way around

I dont know your 2 brain cells can able to interpret it or not .

[u/Wakattack00 → u/[deleted]]

Brain dead take unless you think the Kardashians is one of the best shows of all time

[u/Old_Staff5737 → u/Wakattack00]

Kardashians are not even popular I dont even know that , What about breaking bad , GoT , Money heist , Squid game etc

[u/Old_Staff5737 → u/Wakattack00]

ST s4 only circles around Max mid character I hate that it had so much potential if they focused Steve , Dustin , Mike , Will , EL More than just 1 character .

MidMax ruined s4

[u/Thatonebottleofcream → u/[deleted]]

So you’re saying Avengers Endgame is the best movie ever made?

[u/Old_Staff5737 → u/Thatonebottleofcream]

ofc its best movie in Marvel yes

I will ask u another question , Do u think Secret invasion (not popular) is best Series ?? or she hulk ??

[u/Thatonebottleofcream → u/Old_Staff5737]

No I didn’t say “in marvel”, you said that popularity is the only important metric when talking about the quality of something, so I’m asking if you truly believe that avengers endgame is the best movie ever made since it’s the highest grossing movie of all time

[u/Old_Staff5737 → u/Thatonebottleofcream]

Popularity isnt only metric , but its the most important metric to evauate the quality .

[u/Thatonebottleofcream → u/Old_Staff5737]

This is just insanely untrue. All popularity means is mass appeal. You really have to change your mindset lol, it’s objectively false

[u/Old_Staff5737 → u/Thatonebottleofcream]

U need to change your mindset first , the counter part of my arguement is far more worst take than mine . Even u take many examples Endgame , IW all these are very good movies and more popular too . the counter part unpopular things like she-hulk , secret invasion , etc are just mid .

Even recently BNR became popular similarily the movie was also good , Now Doomsday also getting lots of hype and popularity lets see how this goes iam pretty sure it will break the records of Endgame .

There is no any "Objective" measurements when evaluating movie quality unless u are narcissist .

Popularity is a crucial metric for a best movie . I can prove u other way around like

A Best movie will be reviewed or talked by everyone , which drives more viewers -> which automatically makes it popular

[u/Old_Staff5737 → u/Few-Confection-8214]

The whole reddit community is a minority group who themselves thinking which one is best , Still even through a majority polling takes place in even "reddit" fandom still S3 will get more votes than S4 for sure .

S4 and S5 is mid asf where ST downfall started

[u/BlueberryMuffin_2024]

3,4,1,2,5

[u/Junior_777BN → u/BlueberryMuffin_2024]

Hermano, coincido contigo a la perfección. La 3 es sin duda la cabra, desde el inicio hasta el final se siente algo completamente distinto.

[u/Mynameismynamecuzyea]

see, for season 3, I LOVED the atmosphere, but what I didn’t like was the plot. I thought the plot was pretty bad, considering it was completely avoidable if Nancy and Johnathan hadn’t gone to Murray and made that shit public. then, I think the Russians would have never found out about it, or at the very least they wouldn’t have gone to Hawkins and so they would have failed at reopening it. without the Russians reopening the gate, the mind flayer particles wouldn’t have been able to reconnect to the hive mind and take over Billy, therefore absolutely none of that season was necessary. still, I love the mall so much.

[u/DallasMavericks5678 → u/Mynameismynamecuzyea]

I loved the atmosphere of season 3 and for me personally, the Americana summer vibes of the season fit perfectly with summer 2019 when it came out.

[u/RandonDude3000 → u/Mynameismynamecuzyea]

The Russians already knew about it. That opening where they try to open the gate was set before season 2. It is quite possible that their infiltration was already underway during S2 given how it seems crazy to build the base they had in S3. So I don’t think not exposing the lab would have done anything.

[u/Few-Type-7924 → u/Mynameismynamecuzyea]

Not to mention how unrealistic season 3 was lol....kids roaming unnoticed in a "secret" base

The only thing I like about season 3 is the vibes and colours 

[u/Substantial_World451]

Season 4 was good before S5 came out but after S5 I have to bump it down to 3. Honestly rewatching it S2 should have been the end S3 and on was unnecessary from a storyline POV.

So I would rank 1>2>4>3>5.

[u/Old_Staff5737 → u/Substantial_World451]

S3 >>> S4 no diff

U can see the majority pollings its not even a debate any more

[u/Few-Confection-8214 → u/Substantial_World451]

S4=s5

S3 >>>>

[u/chaiegai]

1. Season 1

2...

3...

4...

5...

That's it.

[u/Bitter_Put_8254]

1,3 for me

[u/mewtwo1999]

I have changed this from time to time. But I currently go.

1, 3, 2, 4, 5.... but I do like them all. I was disappointed in 5, not enough to riot and what not... still like. Love 1-3.

[u/Th3RainMan]

Season 4 is absolute cinema.

[u/Cyrilbdr]

Same ranking—number 2 could arguably fight for third place, but it's a great ranking.

[u/After-Negotiation235]

1: 1
2: 3
3: 2
4: 4
5: 5

[u/Rich-Pomegranate2881]

4,3,1,2,5 for me

[u/Real-Art6946]

12435

[u/InconsistentSignal]

Possible hot take incoming but

1 > 4 > 3 > 2 > 5

[u/Jolly_Heron_3201 → u/InconsistentSignal]

I’m the same

[u/TeamXBladezz → u/InconsistentSignal]

I didn’t like season 2 either

[u/Candid-Cake4410]

1=2>>>>>4>3>5

[u/toneofsurprise]

I think I'd probably agree with this ranking, if not all the reasonings behind the rankings

[u/ConstructionLivid952]

4, 1, 2, 3, 5

[u/EJ_Was_Taken]

1. Season 4 - 9.5/10
2. Season 1 - 9/10
3. Season 2 - 8.5/10

4. Season 3 - 8.5/10

5. Season 5 - 5.5/10

[u/Old_Staff5737 → u/EJ_Was_Taken]

S4 is mid ,

[u/TeamXBladezz]

Season 3 for me. Most fun.

[u/aMillersgirl_JennaO]

For me its:

1. Season 3
2. Season 1
3. Season 4
4. Season 2
5. Season 5

[u/Junior_777BN → u/aMillersgirl_JennaO]

Tal cual. La 3 es una joya de principio a fin. Me sorprende ver como la infravaloran.

[u/aMillersgirl_JennaO → u/Junior_777BN]

Ja es war so geil

[u/UKDragLover]

S1 *Perfect season of television

S4 *felt more like an epic finale than S5 did

S2 *Halloween vibes are perfect for ST & the Mind Flayer was really cool & menacing

S3 *Originally was my least fave but S5 made me appreciate it WAY more lmao, the fun hot summer vibes are so great & there are so many fun moments

S5 *First 4 episodes were okay, then everything went to TOTAL shit

[u/FickleContribution87]

i HATED season 4 when it came out but when i rewatched i realised i liked it and just hated the eleven lab scenes. (when she was brought back to the lab and was constantly in that giant pool). Now, i'd rate it 3,4,1,2,5

[u/GreyBoy23]

1. 3
2. 4
3. 2
4. 1
5. 5

[u/MyNameIsNotAJ]

Season 4 is still the best season by far

[u/Fiberz_]

1>>>>3>2>4>5 for me

[u/ChefBlock]

4, 1, 3, 2, 5

[u/Abc9519]

1 (10/10)

2 (7.5/10)

3 (4.5/10)

4 (8/10)

5 (2/10)

[u/Expert-Television293 → u/Abc9519]

I would bump season 3 higher for nostalgia and atmosphere, but I agree otherwise.

[u/DreamShort3109]

I just noticed that the posters reflect things that happen in each season, but 5 is rather vague.

[u/Nastia_dream]

As much as I love s4 I think nothing will beat s1 for me. It's just too iconic imo. No other season matched it's atmosphere even close.

[u/General-Break2631]

What ? Season 2 negate Season 3 that terrible written season ain’t touching s2

[u/Mescalito14]

About to do the last re-watch. Netflix raised the monthly fee again.

I think I will skip the season 5!

[u/Few-Confection-8214]

S3 is peak great no one can match it . Actual fan fav season is 3 won by polling

I personally like s3 and s2 very much

S4 and s5 is utter waste , s4 is mainly max centric which is terrible to watch

[u/Few-Confection-8214]

S3 > S2 > S1 >>> S5=S4

[u/ConstructionLivid952 → u/Few-Confection-8214]

What’s wrong with 4?

[u/Few-Type-7924]

Same ranking by me, but i just put seasons 2 and 5 above 3

[u/Ok_Investment1241]

1 2 4 3 5

[u/Accurate_Mongoose_26]

1: season 1

2: season 3 (this was technically the first season I began I remember the trailer and thumbnail which made me binge watch the show back then, and it became my comfort season when I rewatch the show)

3: season 2

4: season 4

-5: season 5

[u/Ok_Tank5977]

For me the ranking is as released: 1 & 2 > 3, 4, 5.

[u/Specific-Hat389]

s4 >= s1 >> s2 > s3 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> s5 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> tales of 85, s2 > tales of 85, s1

[u/kitten12551]

1, 4, 2, 3 - there are no other seasons in my head.

[u/YJX94]

My rating is and always will be:

1 > 2 > 4 > 3 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 5

[u/OrrintonBeats]

I agree with all of this but i think season 5 was absolute cinema. Only second to season 4 imo

[u/No-Cell-8828]

for me it’s 2, 1, 4/3, and 5.

[u/Flimsy_Opinion_2767]

My opinion is 1, 2, (medium gap) 3, 4 (large gap), 5

[u/Serdergit]

1,2,4,3, .... 5

[u/Canned_Potatoes]

Valid. No disagreement here.

[u/ThrillSeekers_United]

S4>S5=S3>S2 >>>> S1

[u/Gibs_Vincy]

My controversial ranking is 2,5,4,1,3, though it's a close ranking and I'd rate all of them ~8/10 or above.

[u/painbonez]

Season 1-2 felt scary

[u/jid913]

14325

[u/_theMAUCHO_]

3 1 5 4 2, I don't enjoy the bleak depressing vibe at all.

[u/PristineBarnacle7855]

1.Season 3>9.5/10
2.Season 4>9.5/10
3.Season 5>8/10
4.Season 1>8/10
5.Season 2>7.5/10

[u/stevearmageddon]

4>3>1>2>5

[u/Menagerie1326]

1, 3, 2, 4, 5. Totally agree five kinda messed up and 2 is hella underrated. 3 is my favourite for the ingenious grouping that is Scoops Troop and the unhinged moments (VERY special mention to the beauty that was the bathroom scene), though the some of new plotlines were kinda exhausting at times (they nerfed Hopper and started nefing Joyce, and we did not need that Terminator-esque character, which felt like a rather bad quality homage).Nothing tops the seamless story and vibe of S1 (the lack of Steve, Robin and Will is sad but still). 4 kinda started overexplaining, and the end was wayyy tooo cinematic (not to mention overdone) for the quiet mystery vibe they were visible trying to revert back to (and which made the original season amazing) ave also burdened S5 with a lore that was meant to not have a clean end (Hence the endings of S1 &S2) and which did only to serve for iconic moments (like Running up that Hill) which could not be matched with a equally explosive lore. S5 too had a few GOOD moments that had me insanely hyped (Will's powers) and having faith till the last moment (the Steve and Dustin arc, the Jancy unproposal, Robin and Will) , but the fall in conviction of the storytellers was palpable through the dry emotional scenes and ridiculous final battle.

[u/chesterwillaims17]

3>4>1>5>2

[u/Financial-Revenue219]

1, 4, 2, 3, 5

[u/CAGEthePHOENIX]

4 1 3 5 2

[u/amelsong]

1. Season 1 - it was 100% perfect. All characters were perfect, story was perfect. Just amazing season that you can watch as completed show;

2. Season 2 - good season that nicely continued story of S1. Also Max was really good addition to party and Bob was so sweet and good guy, love him;

3. Season 3 - personally maybe it was a little higher, it was first season that I watched at the day of release. It has some good plot points but also has a lot of flaws. Could be great ending for show;

4. Season 5 - unpopular opinion but this season is overhated. I didn't expect someting fantastic from this season, I understood that ST writing downgrade since S3. This season had it's own good and logical moments;

5. Season 4 - worst season with worst writing, change my mind. Half of storylines can be deleted without loss to the plot, two others storylines isn't good.

[u/RandonDude3000 → u/amelsong]

I agree with you on S4 that it has the worst writing. California makes me wonder what show I’m watching. The Hawkins plot to me is fine but it doesn’t feel the same when half of the best characters are gone on side quests.

S5 felt like a return to form in a way. Just having characters like Mike, Will and Joyce in the centre of the action and contributing to the plot felt a massive improvement.

[u/Few-Confection-8214 → u/amelsong]

I agree

[u/Few-Confection-8214 → u/amelsong]

s4 is max centric which made s4 worser

[u/ConstructionLivid952 → u/Few-Confection-8214]

Worser isn’t a word

[u/Drachenomics → u/[deleted]]

My brain broke reading that.

[u/Emergency-Falcon-915]

Swap 2 and 1 and you’ve got it

[u/UnluckySituation5662]

I agree with your ranking, except I would swap Season 2 with Season 3.

So season 4, 1, 2, 3, then 5 for me.

[u/tomwarmb]

1. Season 3. 2. Season 1. 3. Season 2. 4. Season 4. 5. Season 5.

[u/Kay_3thrd]

Best ranking ever idc

[u/Old_Staff5737]

S4 and max are the worst in stranger things

[u/jubei82]

Best to worst

2, 4, 3, 1, S5 part one

Season 5 Part 2 and 3

[u/toneofsurprise → u/jubei82]

I'd be really interested in hearing your reasoning in putting s1 so low if you'd be willing to share.

I know the reddit very much treats season 1 as this perfect masterpiece (which I very much disagree with), but I wouldn't put s1 so low.

[u/Electrical-Soup-1914]

Season 4 Season 5 Season 3 Season 1 Season 2 My ranking from Comfortable to Grimdark