Stranger Things Season 5: Netflix’s Missed Opportunity to Win the Streaming Wars

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With its final season arriving, Stranger Things is expected to be a major topic of conversation during three holidays this year. Netflix will release the episodes in stages, beginning on Thanksgiving, with more coming out on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve. This staggered release might mean viewers need a guide to keep track, but it’s a common strategy for the streaming service.

Despite this, Stranger Things allowed Netflix to try releasing episodes weekly, which helped them see if that approach could build excitement over time. However, continuing to release entire seasons at once—the ‘binge-watching’ model—shortens how long people talk about their biggest hits, and it’s a key reason why Netflix is struggling to stay ahead in the streaming market.

The Duffer Brothers Pitched A Weekly Release For Stranger Things Season 5

You know, I was surprised to hear this, but the creators of Stranger Things, the Duffer brothers, really wanted season 5 to be released one episode at a time, like the old days. They felt the way Netflix has been doing things – dropping a bunch of episodes all at once – actually makes it harder for viewers to know when new content is available. Apparently, Netflix wasn’t having it, and they’re sticking with their usual method of releasing the whole season at once, according to a report from The Ankler.

Stranger Things Season Episodes Release Date
Season 1 8 July 15, 2016
Season 2 9 October 27, 2017
Season 3 8 July 4, 2019
Season 4 9 May 27, 2022 (Vol. 1), July 1, 2022 (Vol. 2)
Season 5 8 November 25, 2025 (Vol. 1), December 25, 2025 (Vol. 2), December 31, 2025 (Series Finale)

Releasing episodes in separate parts is a recent change for the streaming service. The first three seasons of Stranger Things were released all at once, but season 4 broke from that pattern in the summer of 2022. Instead, it was released in two volumes, spaced about two months apart.

The second season of Netflix’s acclaimed animated series, Arcane, was released in three groups of three episodes each week. While this approach felt similar to a weekly release schedule, it wasn’t quite the same as the consistent weekly episodes viewers expect from traditional TV.

Stranger Things’ Final Season Was Netflix’s Best Opportunity To Test Weekly Releases

The latest season of Stranger Things would have been perfect for releasing episodes weekly, and it’s disappointing that didn’t happen. The show is a major cultural moment – the kind that gets everyone talking – and spreading it out over several weeks could have kept the excitement going.

Netflix generally releases entire seasons of its original shows at once, but it makes an exception for a few Korean dramas. These K-dramas are released weekly because they’re actually co-produced with SBS, not fully created by Netflix as its other originals are.

You know, it’s funny – a lot of streaming services are now doing what used to be a big advantage for traditional TV. Apple TV+, for example, has really made a name for itself by releasing shows like Severance, The Studio, and Shrinking one episode a week. It creates this anticipation, and honestly, I’m kind of loving it as a viewer!

HBO Max is using a similar approach, and recent weekly releases like It: Welcome to Derry and Tim Robinson’s The Chair Company demonstrate how consistently releasing episodes keeps a show top-of-mind. This makes Netflix’s hesitation to adopt this traditional release method even more surprising.

The Binge-Watch Model Is Keeping Netflix From Winning The Streaming Wars

Netflix

Netflix used to be the clear leader in streaming, but they’re falling behind because they haven’t adapted to changing preferences. Releasing entire seasons at once was revolutionary when streaming first became popular, offering unmatched convenience. However, viewers now seem to prefer the slower pace of weekly episodes, which are easier to keep up with and discuss.

While it’s nice to finish a whole season quickly, that speed actually shortens how long a show stays popular. We binge-watch it, talk about it briefly, and then eagerly await the next season. Instead of really discussing the show itself, fans immediately start asking when the next season will be available.

It’s become increasingly difficult to find a new show you’ll truly enjoy, and series meant to be binged often quickly fade from the conversation. While releasing all episodes at once can feel convenient, it doesn’t create the same buzz as a weekly release. Spreading episodes out builds excitement, encourages discussion, and allows viewers to connect over shared questions and theories.

Shows like Doctor Who, Lost, and Supernatural were key to the rise of modern fandoms and became some of the most popular shows of the 2000s. Fans connected with these shows over long periods, discussing theories and speculating as each season unfolded weekly. While online fan communities still exist today, it’s harder to maintain that level of engagement when a show is binge-watched quickly, leaving little to discuss until the next season—which may be a long time away.

As a big movie and TV fan, it feels like those shared cultural moments – the events everyone talked about the next day – are becoming rare. While staggered releases like the recent Stranger Things season do get people watching, I can’t help but think about how much more impact it could have with a proper premiere and then weekly episodes. Imagine the buzz lasting for a full two months, well into the new year! Instead, we’re getting this stop-start experience, and it just doesn’t feel the same. It’s hard to really get invested when the show keeps interrupting its own momentum.

Netflix is still the top streaming service and is expected to stay that way for a while, and the upcoming season of Stranger Things looks great. However, unless Netflix tries releasing episodes differently, buzz around its popular shows will likely die down quickly before people have time to really enjoy them.

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2025-11-21 03:30