Saturday Night Live returned from its holiday break with a highly anticipated episode themed around the global phenomenon Stranger Things, but the show failed to live up to expectations. Despite a flurry of big-name cameos, the episode was widely criticised as a weak offering, saved only by a standout musical performance.
A Trump-Focused Cold Open Sets the Tone
The episode kicked off with a political cold open focusing on former President Donald Trump, played by James Austin Johnson. From the Oval Office, he boasted about receiving "my very own somebody else’s Nobel prize" and discussed strategies to divert attention from the Epstein scandal with cabinet members Marco Rubio (Marcello Hernández) and JD Vance (Jeremy Culhane). The segment featured proposals like invading Cuba and new tariffs, but was undercut by Trump's senile wandering. While not particularly sharp, the sketch was notable for using current cast members to portray the real figures, with Colin Jost stealing scenes as an aggressively dimwitted Pete Hegseth.
Wolfhard's Hosting Debut and Sketch Struggles
First-time host Finn Wolfhard, fresh from the Stranger Things finale, opened his monologue by joking about 400 million people watching him go through puberty. His co-stars Gaten Matarazzo and Caleb McLaughlin joined him, introducing themselves as "child stars who are now ready to do adult films." The episode was packed with sketches parodying pop culture, but many fell flat. A Snackhomiez podcast parody, featuring a cameo from Sabrina Carpenter, failed to energise the studio audience until musical guest A$AP Rocky burst in, effortlessly overshadowing everyone with his charisma.
Another sketch imagined a HBO Harry Potter adaptation as a gay erotic romance between Harry (Wolfhard) and Ron (Ben Marshall), complete with predictable double entendres. A surprise appearance by Jason Momoa as a flamboyant Hagrid provided a brief highlight. Later, a Netflix parody announced endless Stranger Things spin-offs, including one where Eleven was recast with Kenan Thompson, in a bit of fan service that offered slightly better jokes.
A$AP Rocky's Show-Stealing Performance
The undeniable peak of the night came from A$AP Rocky. His musical performance, backed by a band featuring Thundercat on bass and Danny Elfman on drums, transformed the stage into a chaotic backyard mosh pit. The act culminated in a shirtless man storming the stage and brawling with everyone, including punching Rocky through the set. It was hailed as the best musical performance on SNL in recent memory, nearly redeeming the entire episode.
On Weekend Update, anchors Michael Che and Colin Jost delivered jokes about ICE operations in Minnesota and child support. The segment was bolstered by strong appearances from featured players Kam Patterson as an excitable sports commentator and Jane Wickline as a baffling viral TikTok star.
Final Verdict on a Disappointing Night
Ultimately, this was a lacklustre return for Saturday Night Live. Finn Wolfhard was not a disaster as host, but appeared stilted and showed little natural flair for comedy. The live audience's muted reactions throughout the night spoke volumes. While dedicated Stranger Things fans may have appreciated the references, the episode's sketches often felt undercooked and predictable. The sole exception was A$AP Rocky, whose explosive energy and musical talent provided the only truly memorable moments of the evening.
