Warning: this article contains spoilers for season 5 of Stranger Things
Attentive television fans are convinced that a hidden clue for the Stranger Things finale dates back to the show’s inaugural season.
The much-anticipated conclusion to the popular Netflix series debuted on New Year’s Eve, eliciting a range of reactions from its audience.
With the series spanning nearly a decade and being one of Netflix’s most prominent and successful productions, expectations were sky-high for the final episode. Predictably, some fans were left feeling let down.
One viewer on Twitter harshly criticized the finale, calling it ‘the worst finale in TV history since Killing Eve & Game of Thrones‘. Ouch.
Not all feedback has been so negative, though, as the Stranger Things finale holds a respectable 7.9/10 rating on IMDb.
For those who have watched the concluding episodes, you’re familiar with The Abyss’s appearance and the prominent role of the Mind Flayer.
Thanks to Henry Creel’s (Vecna) affinity for spiders, the Mind Flayer exhibits a spider-like form with multiple legs. Although the Mind Flayer existed independently before Henry’s descent into evil, he transformed the ancient entity into the formidable being seen throughout Stranger Things.
Before engaging in battles with characters like Eleven, Nancy, and Dustin, the creature was partially embedded in The Abyss, with its legs elevated, resembling a tree.
In the wake of these episodes, sharp-eyed Stranger Things fans have proposed a theory suggesting that The Abyss and the final form of the Mind Flayer were hinted at as far back as the first season.
During season one, Mike has a The Dark Crystal movie poster in his room, which some viewers think foreshadowed The Abyss years ahead of time.
A scene from season one juxtaposed with Holly’s first encounter with The Abyss in season five has prompted one fan on YouTube Shorts to write: “So you are telling me we already saw this in S1?”
The video has ignited numerous discussions among Stranger Things enthusiasts. One individual commented: “And suddenly the theory of everything being Mikes imagination is kinda making sense…That’s literally in his room.”
“NO WAY IT WAS ALL CONNECTED FROM THE START,” exclaimed another.
“The cracks could also mean something,” another suggested. In agreement, someone else wrote: “IT HAS THE YELLOW LIGHTNING AND CRACKS TOO OMG.”
“That’s a poster of The Dark Crystal movie … It was foreshadowing the ending,” added a different fan.
What are your thoughts?