Stranger Things — Series 5: Chapter 8 — The Rightside Up — A Review

27th March, 2026.

“The Rightside Up”.

An Introduction.

Right … It’s officially Friday, again … !

Which means several things.

First … ?

I’ve backed some blurays up: and taken the things to an old friend.

Which reminds me — as ever — that I really need to write about HandBrake, and MakeMKV.

Or, at least, how to use that to turn those apps to copy optical discs, and turn them into the sort of digital files one can play on … 

Well … 

Devices … !

~≈🐙≈~

At any rate … it’s Friday?

And?

Tonight I’m going to be watching “The Rightside Up”, the last episode of Stranger Things, series five … and of Stranger Things, itself.

Hopefully … ?

And as of 18·30 on Friday, 27th March, 2026 … ?

This will be worth it.

But, as ever and always?

I’ll be letting you know what I thought, by this coming Tuesday.

~≈🐙≈~

Part One.

The Summary.

Chapter 8 — “The Rightside Up” — fades open from darkness: to show us the gate from Hawkins, to the Upside Down: and shows us troops heading through it.

The camera pans around: to show us Dr Kay (Linda Hamilton) at the Observation point that was supposed to be watching the gate: and shows us Kay noticing stores have been rifled through … and pilfered … 

On the other side of the gate … ?

On the other side of the gate, we see the delivery lorry driven by Murray (Brett Gelman), heading deeper into the Upside Down.

So that Murray, and some of the passengers his passenger — Eleven, Hop and Kali (Millie Bobbie Brown, David Harbour and Linnea Berthelsen) — can get off: and head for the Upside Down version of the Hawkins Lab.

Little do the quartet realise that they are being watched: watched and hunted … 

The scene shifts, again: to the mental construct that is Vecna’s version go Creel’s family home: where, in the dining room … ?

The children Vecna has kidnapped are performing the ritual that will fuse our world, and the Abyss … little knowing the illusion masks where they are.

Connected to beating heart of the Mind Flayer, itself … 

~≈🐙≈~

Post credits … ?

Post credits, we see Erica and Mr Clark (Priah Ferguson, Randy Havens) are in the bell tower of Hawkins Presbyterian Church: keeping watch, so they can warn the team in the Upside Down about on-coming soldiers.

Soldiers who soon turn up in force, park at the Church’s entrance: and capture the isolated pair.

Meanwhile?

Vickie and Max (Amybeth McNulty and Sadie Sink) are at the offices of the Squawk, of Hawkins Radio: desperately trying to keep in touch with the group led by Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer), and who’s sole walkie talkie is being operated by Vickie’s lover, Robin (Maya Hawke).

The group, Nancy, Robin, Lucas, Dustin, Steve, Mike, Will and Jonathan, (Caleb McLaughlin, Gaten Matarazzo, Joe Keery, FinnWolfhard, Noah Schnapp and Charlie Heaton) are on their way to the antenna that broadcasts the Squawk.

The antenna … ?

Is key to the team’s stopping the two world’s joining … and will need some of them to climb up all five hundred feet of vine-covered metal.

Stopping Vecna’s plan … ?

To paraphrase Johnthan, is “… gonna take some time.”

~≈🐙≈~

28th March, 2026.

Part Two.

Thoughts and observations.

So … what did I make of “The Rightside Up”, of this final episode of Stranger Things?

Of this fifth series?

Of Stranger Things, itself … ?

Let’s start with the first question, shall we?

What did I make of “The Rightside Up”?

I have to confess, I went into this with a certain amount of trepidation.

I was provisionally diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, with ADHD, a while back: indeed I’m still waiting for the first set of formal tests, which should be happening in November.

So … ?

The fact “The Rightside Up” was some two hours long was a worry.

If a show — or film — isn’t holding my attention, it’s very easy for me to get bored, press pause, grab a cuppa, go to the loo … and play a game for five minutes.

Or possibly more than one game.

At any rate … ?

“The Rightside Up” wasn’t as long as “The Piggyback”, the season four finale: which was some two hours and twenty minutes.

But both were very well paced episodes that held my attention: “The Rightside Up”, more than “The Piggyback”.

That twenty minute difference could have something to do with it … 

As could the structure of “The Rightside Up”.

After all, the overarching story, the fight between the good people of Hawkins, and the monster that was Vecna was brought to a very satisfying end after about an hour: by the swing of an axe swung by Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder), and carried by Joyce since the start of this episode.

Remind me to tell you about Chekov’s Gun*, at some point.

~≈🐙≈~

There’s other threads I should mention: as Vecna’s death is not the end of the story.

Not the end of the first hour’s worth of story, at Any rate.

The Abyss has been dealt with … but the Upside Down still has to be destroyed.

That’s done with a pile of C4 explosive: rigged up to a primitive timer made from a couple of contacts linked up to a record player, rigged up by Hop and Murray (David Harbour and Brett Gelman), and one that will detonate, and mean no-one in our world can access the upside down.

The explosion … takes Eleven with it, so she can avoid being captured by Dr Kay.

Eleven, sacrifices herself, in other words: after leaving a message for Mike.

It’s one hell of an ending … 

~≈🐙≈~

28th March, 2026.

Part Three.

The End?

There’s possibly a lot I could say about the ending of “The Rightside Up”.

As the episode has, effectively, two endings.

The first?

Where we see Vecna’s death, the destruction of the upside down, and Eleven’s death.

All that is roughly halfway through the episode.

The remaining hour, set some eighteen months after the closing of the Upside Down, marks the end of this fifth series: and of Stranger Things, itself.

It’s at this point you’re going to ask me a question, aren’t you?

You’re asking me this: “Paul, has Stranger Things really had a happy ending?”

Yes: it has.

We see many things happen, to give this episode, and the entire series, of Stranger Things a happy ending.

We see Steve, Nancy, Jonathan, and Robin, on the roof of Hawkins Radio: planning their future in a world that is finally peaceful.

Hop and Joyce?   We see Hop and Joyce on a date at a reopened Enzo’s: a date that sees Joyce gleefully accepting Hop’s proposal.

We see Hawkins High: where Dustin makes a Valedictorian speech that only he could make.

A graduation that Mike attends: whilst still grieving Eleven’s death.

It’s later that night, we see Mike refereeing one last session of Dungeons and Dragon for Lucas, Max, Will and Dustin.

And, as part of the game?

Telling his friends a final story: of how he takes hope his belief that Eleven faked her death: and is quietly living “… in a beautiful land, somewhere far away.”

A happy ending?

For a child growing up in an environment where she was physically and emotionally abused by monsters, both human and magical?

Growing up in a environment with little in the way of love, or affection?

I should say so … 

~≈🐙≈~

It’s not just Eleven who gets the happy ending: it’s her friends, and adopted family.

And her boyfriend, Mike, played by Finn Wolfhard.

Practically the last scene of the episode, of the whole show?

Is Mike’s Dungeons and Dragons group, putting their folders away, one final time: and heading upstairs for dinner.

With Mike being the last to do so.

As he leaves … ?

Holly (Nell Fisher), and her friends come downstairs … and start setting up their own game.

Showing us that the children who’d been kidnapped by Vecna are now safe, at peace … and capable of being children, again.

Of playing.

The ensemble cast in Stranger Things is, and has been, fantastic.

But I really have to give Finn Wolfhard a round of applause for this episode: and this last scene.

The look on Mike’s grieving face, seeing Eleven’s sacrifice, and his efforts, have kept Holly and her friends safe, is truly this: the only happy ending Stranger Things needs.

~≈🐙≈~

29th March, 2026.

Part Four.

Thoughts.

So … what did I think of the episode … and Stranger Things, as a whole?

Let’s deal with the episode, shall we?

“The Rightside Up” is superb!

Stranger Things has, over the years, shown itself to be a well show, with well made individual episodes: and “The Rightside Up” is a very good example.

The cast are incredible: no less among them than Finn Wolfhard and Millie Bobby Brown, as Mike Wheeler and Eleven.

I’ve highlighted how Brown — as Eleven —  seemed to not have much to do in this fifth series: but that seems to have been remedied in this episode: as her presence is key to the story.

Or, at least, to the story’s emotional climax.

Her presence, and her ambiguous, possible, sacrifice mark a turning point.

And reminded me of something.

Throughout the fifth series, Eleven’s not had much to say: in part, because she’s grown up in — effectively — an abusive home.

She’s had little in the way of affection from Dr Brenner (Matthew Modine), and grown up stunted as a result.

Eleven’s had little to say, as she finds it hard to talk: something I should have kept in mind.

It’s also something that’s not solved in this episode … but certainly addressed: as Eleven saves her words for Mike, the one person she’s come to love.

“The Rightside Up” … ?

Is all the better for saving Eleven’s big speech for the last.

That speech, the dialogue as a whole, and the cast who are in it?

Are a handful of factors: but there’s possibly plenty more.

This episode?

Is a happy ending: and a well made one, at that.

And an improvement on things like “The Iron Throne”, or “Fire from the Gods”, the last episodes of Game of Thrones, and The Man in the High Castle.

“Fire from the Gods”, in particular, was a cop-out ending: especially as the first two series of the show had been threatening the atomic bombing San Francisco.

“The Rightside Up” is an improvement, is an utterly perfect ending that entirely fits the series … and reminds us of something J. R. R. Tolkien wrote, so many years ago.

Reminds us that, once the happy ending’s done,  the road goes ever on … 

~≈🐙≈~

30th March, 2026.

Part Five.

Other Things.

There’s other things we can talk about.

The big question … ?

How was Stranger Things, as a series?

This will possibly sound repetitive … but Stranger Things, as a whole, has been fantastic to watch.

I grant you: I’ve not liked the length of the final episodes of Seasons four or five, even though these episodes were both well-paced, and watchable.

Equally?

The fact that seasons four and five came in two parts was another thing that annoyed me.

Call me old fashioned: but I’ve grown up on TV shows that aired once a week: so prefer to watch shows that way.

In other words, with never more than a week between episodes.

Something else that annoyed me?

Was the gaps between series.

I am very aware the gaps between season three and four, between July, 2019 and May, 2022, was caused by the various COVID lockdowns.

But waiting three years, between the end of season four, and the start of season five?

Seemed unreasonable to me: even though I know many of the cast were busy with other projects.

All that said?

Stranger Things as a whole didn’t suffer from the various gaps: each series has been well made, well acted, and an utter pleasure to watch.

~≈🐙≈~

Part Six.

Questions.

I have to admit: given how good I felt this episode — and the show it’s part of — were?

I have questions.

One?

Should there be spin-offs?

I don’t know: although I’m very aware of the planned <i>Stranger Things: Tales from ’85</I> animated series.

Another?

Should there be a prequel?

Again: I don’t know,

This series has shown us the event that sees Henry Creel becoming Vecna: shows us him beating a man to death, opening the man’s suitcase, and picking out the fragment of Mind Flayer, a fragment that sinks into his hand.

It strikes me that this story, of how the man got the fragment, where he got it from, how he ended up in the cave, could be a story worth telling.

A third … ?

Should there be a direct sequel to Stranger Things?

Should there?

No.

The Stranger Things story, as told, is done: it’s complete, in and of itself, and utterly perfect.

Changing that, by trying to extend it?

Would ruin what’ve got on screen.

Other stories in the same universe, with different characters, many years after — or before — the original?

No problem.

But a direct sequel?

No.

These five series, much like the original version of Star Trek, are fine as they are.

That doesn’t mean there shouldn’t be spin-off, a Stranger Things: The Next Generation, with new characters in a later period.

But a direct sequel?

No.

Just no!

~≈🐙≈~

Part Seven.

Finally.

So, finally … ?

What did I make of “The Rightside Up”?

And the series it’s the final part of … ?

The episode is a blinder: it shows us the ending of the villain that’s been plaguing Hawkins … but also shows us the happy ending the heroes get.

It’s as perfect a final episode as I’ve seen in a long time.

The series it’s a happy ending to?

Is, likewise, one of the most watchable things I think I’ve seen in many years.

Stranger Things is, by turns fearsome, funny, and touching, with a setting both real and otherwise, with characters both menacing, and sympathetic.

And it tells us, like any good story, any good fairy tale, any good game of Dungeons and Dragons, it tells us that monsters exist … and that monsters can be beaten.

Getting that out of a TV show?

Is all to the good.

“The Rightside Up”

★★★★⁺

~≈🐙≈~

Part Eight.

Last Word.

That, folks, is where I’m going to leave things.

But I will thank you for reading this post: or watching the video version, if that’s what you’ve done: I hope you’ve enjoyed these reviews.

There’s a few last things, though.

Firstly?

Feel free to have a look at the rest of my content, to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and follow Nik Nak’s Old Peculiar.

Secondly?

If you like what I’m doing, free free to tip.

Finally?

I’m planning on review the next series of For All Mankind, as and when I get the chance: and maybe a movie or two.

I’ll see you next time.

Scores.

Chapter 1:    The Crawl     ★★★☆

Chapter 2:    The Vanishing of Holly Wheeler ★★★★

Chapter 3:    The Turnbow Trap ★★★★

Chapter 4:    Sorcerer ★★★★⁺

Chapter 5:    Shock Jock ★★★★⁺

Chapter 6:    Escape from Camazotz    ★★★☆

Chapter 7:    The Bridge ★★★★⁺

Chapter 8:    The Rightside Up    ★★★★⁺

Series Average: ★★★¾

*        Hoary old theatrical types blame Chekov’s Gun on playwright, Anton Checkov.   If a story shows you a gun — or an axe, in this case — in the first act, that gun has to be used by the last act.