The stars of Stranger Things gathered in New York City this week for a celebration marking the show's highly anticipated final season. Leading ladies Natalia Dyer and Maya Hawke turned heads with their stylish ensembles, but the event comes as some viewers voice strong criticism over a particular storyline.
Red Carpet Style in the Big Apple
On Thursday, Natalia Dyer, who portrays Nancy Wheeler, made a striking appearance in a coordinated black leather outfit. The 30-year-old actress wore a cropped top and matching trousers, elevating her look with a pair of sleek, closed-toe leather stilettos. She completed the glamorous outfit with a simple black cross-body bag.
Her co-star, Maya Hawke, 27, also chose a bold look for the occasion. The actress, famous for playing Robin Buckley, showcased her legs in a sheer black skirt, which she paired with a brown shirt and a red jumper. Maya added height with towering white stilettos and wore her brown hair in loose, wavy locks.
The Final Chapter Unfolds
The fifth and final season of the critically acclaimed sci-fi horror series premiered on November 26 on Netflix. The release was split, with the second batch arriving on December 25 and the finale episode dropping on New Year's Eve. The show, which first aired on July 15, 2016, has been a massive success, earning four Golden Globe nominations and three Grammy Award nods.
Production values have always been high, with The Wall Street Journal reporting a staggering cost of $30 million per episode. The synopsis for the final season sets a dark tone, describing a Hawkins scarred by supernatural rifts in the fall of 1987. The heroes are united to find and kill the villain Vecna, all while the town is under military quarantine.
Fan Backlash Over a Tired Plotline
Despite the show's widespread praise as a 'masterpiece', one narrative thread has sparked significant frustration among the fanbase. After five seasons spanning nine years, many viewers have expressed fatigue with the long-running love triangle involving Nancy Wheeler, Steve Harrington (Joe Keery), and Jonathan Byers (Charlie Heaton).
Fans took to social media platform X to vent their disappointment. One viewer accused the show's creators, the Duffer brothers, of "fumbling Nancy's character arc" to focus on the rivalry between the two male characters. Another criticised the potential rekindling of a past romance as "sooooo lazy and stupid."
This sentiment has been echoed by critics. Charley Ross of Glamour questioned why the love triangle persists, hoping it would meet a swift end. Similarly, The Mirror's Neela Debath noted that the subplot was a frustrating element in an otherwise near-perfect final season.
Looking Ahead to the End
The final season has seen the return of core characters like Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and her friends, as well as the terrifying Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower). The fourth episode, released last week, ended on a cliffhanger centring on Will Byers (Noah Schnapp).
Natalia Dyer's appearance at the event follows recent public attention on her slender frame, which has sparked concern among some followers. However, the actress has consistently maintained a petite physique throughout the show's run.
As Stranger Things prepares to bow out, the celebration in New York highlighted both the glamour of its cast and the passionate, sometimes critical, engagement of its global audience. The final episodes are now streaming, promising to conclude the epic battle against the darkness of the Upside Down.
