I've been a fan of Stranger Things for years, and as its released, I've noticed it drop in quality. I'd still recommend it, but to be honest it would be a more enjoyable watch if you stopped after season 1 ended. Season 2 is still good, and very creative, but once you get to seasons 3 and 4 it gets fluffy. Stranger Things feels like the junk food of television. It loses the "small-town" feel in S3&4, which was what made it such a scary concept in the first place. The villains were inhuman and eerie, Hawkins a victim of circumstance, but eventually they became too complex. This is ESPECIALLY true when Vecna appears. The Demogorgons were fascinating because they resembled humans but weren't quite the same. They were cold-blooded killers; unfortunately, the Duffer Brothers decided to take a different route with Vecna and gave him a genuine backstory. This takes away from the scare-factor: Vecna is more of a nuisance than a terrifying figure. Stranger Things transitioned from "classic who-dunnit horror show" to "basic thriller with cheesy archetypes."

There are other things that could be criticized: introducing characters destined to be killed off to advance the plot, the annoying focus on romantic relationships, the way the dialogue in season 4 falls flat... But I want to end this on a positive note. Despite all of this, most of the characters are very likable, and Steve & Hopper's development made the watch worthwhile. The writers know how to tug at your heartstrings- I teared up when I finished season 3!! Even though Stranger Things isn't the masterpiece some people claim it to be, it's still interesting and a solid mystery show.