Whether it ends with a bang or a whimper it’s over and we’re grateful that we all watched it together
As I write this, Stranger Things is about to air for the final time ever on Netflix. This is it—ten full years of fan theories, trailer hunts, and that thrill of waiting for the next chapter. More than almost any recent show, it became woven into our lives.
Think about it: for a decade it was the constant entertainment that we either watched over and over, or used as fuel for long, run‑out online discussions about what could happen next. That kind of presence is rare—on a scale you’d normally reserve for shows like MASH* or Cheers, the ones people remember for a lifetime.
Whatever you feel about tonight’s final episode, remember the bigger story: this show gave us a decade of shared moments—of fear, wonder, jokes, and community. Ross Duffer wrote that they all watched it together, and now the rest is history for these talented actors.
So here’s to Stranger Things, and here’s to the memories we made along the way. Cheers.
And just for posterity’s sake here’s the moment on the squawk radio wsqk station right after the countdown to New Year’s. The station was off the air and hours but we had a lot of enjoyment from this as well..
We really miss his voice ans things sound trying..
Paranormal radio talk show sensation Clyde Lewis is closing out 2025 on a very difficult note. While there has been some cautious hope that 2026 might bring improvement, it’s becoming clear that things are far more trying than many expected following his recent health issues.
Clyde’s longtime producer Ron shared an update on social media that paints a sobering picture of where things currently stand:
CLYDE LEWIS UPDATE: 12/31/25 Clyde is still recovering from several medical/health issues and really needs your continued support and prayers. We were hoping he would be back on Ground Zero by now, but unfortunately, that hasn’t happened.
We did purchase him a therapeutic recliner from the GoFundMe money, along with other necessities. Clyde and his wife are separating, so he’ll need to find an apartment to move into. If there is anyone in the Portland, OR area who has a connection with rentals, please email me at groundzeroron@gmail.com.
As the New Year approaches, many drastic changes are happening with Clyde, so please help in whatever way you can.
x x x
For longtime listeners, this update is especially hard to read. Clyde has been a constant voice in late-night radio for years — questioning reality, challenging narratives, and giving people a place to explore the strange and unexplained. To see him facing not only serious health struggles, but major life upheaval as well, is a reminder that even the voices that guide us through the darkness are still human.
As 2025 comes to a close, many in the Ground Zero community are rallying around Clyde — with prayers, support, and whatever help they can offer — hoping that 2026 brings healing, stability, and eventually, his return to the microphone.
Well it’s stranger things day the finale is here. and despite all the hate what if the Duffer brothers gave us one of the biggest fourth wall breaks in history.
Have We All Been Played?
It’s Stranger Things Day. The finale is here, dropping on New Year’s Eve tonight across the world. This amazing, decade-long journey of Stranger Things is coming to a bittersweet end. It’s been memorable. It’s been great. Except for this season, which a lot of people seem to hate. But what if we’ve all been played? Let me explain.
There’s a very popular TikToker, username Flayed, who’s been making the rounds with a theory that Vecna isn’t just destroying Will’s memories but collectively, our memories as well. And when you start connecting the dots, a lot of things suddenly line up.
It all goes hand in hand with the WSQK Squawk radio station that the creators chose to build for this show. It slightly breaks the fourth wall — actually, it breaks it quite a bit. We can listen to the station as glitches happen in real time, Morse code appears, and strange ads play for skating rinks we’ve never heard of before. There are also jokes about walking into basements and locking doors if you want privacy — a subtle nod to the idea that Will and Mike were found in the basement at some point, and that this whole Byler situation really did happen.
And it gets deeper.
Is it possible that Vecna has been breaking the fourth wall this entire time? He stares directly at us on multiple occasions. Lucas does it too when he says, “There are no coincidences.” Colors change. Objects don’t look the same. On the radio station, announcer Vance Goodman even says that a button he always pushed is suddenly a different color.
There are hints everywhere that something is wrong with time — or reality itself. That there’s a wrinkle happening not just in Hawkins, but in the way memories exist. People remember things differently. Events don’t line up the way they should. Even we, as viewers, are arguing about scenes that may not be what we think they are. Everyone has been debating the coming-out scene, arguing about whether it worked or didn’t. But what if we all missed a much bigger clue?
The store Will talks about doesn’t serve milkshakes — at least not in the 1980s scenes. But it could have in the 1950s, when a younger Henry might have been a customer. And when everyone gives Will a final hug after that scene, Joyce doesn’t. Maybe that’s the moment she realizes Will isn’t sharing his memories anymore — that something feels wrong, altered, or incomplete. It’s a cool theory. And it’s the last one I’m going to talk about, because the show ends tonight. But if this theory turns out to be true — if the Duffer Brothers didn’t just break the fourth wall, but actually pulled the entire world into the story — if they made us debate moments that didn’t really happen because Vecna wasn’t just destroying the characters’ memories, but ours as well… My God.
That would be a brilliant ending. One that would blow everyone out of the water. The final trailer didn’t give us much. Just flames, fire, and red everywhere, along with Hopper giving an inspirational speech about one last battle — with Eleven, we think. But maybe it’s not Eleven. Maybe it’s Joyce. Maybe they all have to confront their own demons — what they did to Henry when they were kids.
Hold on tight. And if you’re going to a theater to see it, don’t spoil it. Let the theater experience be the very first time you see it. Happy New Year’s Eve, everyone. And happy Stranger Things.
Well Duffer brothers, it’s up to you to make this happen.. and don’t forget Joyce still owes Hopper a dinner at Enzo’s
A lot of people are upset by the twists and turns that Stranger Things Season 5 has taken. Some fans are enraged, others are bored, and a surprising number were so confused that they needed The Duffer Brothers themselves to confirm what the plot actually was. So let’s talk predictions.
The final episode drops on New Year’s Eve, both on Netflix and in theaters. We’ll be among the people seeing it in a theater on New Year’s Day, which means I’ll be shutting off every facet of the internet and social media until about 5:15 p.m. on January 1st. I really don’t want the ending spoiled. That said, let’s talk about the ending.. at least what could be cool.
A lot of people have said that an ending where the boys are revealed to be sitting around a table ten years ago, finishing a Dungeons & Dragons game, with everything revealed as just a story, would be a terrible ending. I’ve come around to thinking it wouldn’t be so bad. It would mean Eleven never existed and everything we saw was imagined. That’s bold, and honestly, it might work.
Another theory that’s been floating around involves a scene we haven’t seen yet, Hopper talking to an adult Mike on a bench. Maybe instead of a traditional ending, they figure out the wormhole and travel back to November 6, 1983, preventing Will Byers from ever being taken by the Demogorgon. But in doing so, they create a reverberation where many other things never happen, friendships never form, lives take different paths, and Mike never becomes who he was supposed to be. That’s an interesting concept too.
Now for a crazy theory. The show would have to be brave to pull this off—and history suggests they won’t, because they’ve chickened out every time they’ve had the chance—but it’s strange how Henry kept warning Holly not to go into the woods because the monsters were there. When she did go into the woods, she found Max. After that long monologue, Max tells Holly she can’t come with her and has to find her own way out, which puts Holly in even more danger. Then Max later says, “The song didn’t bring me back. You did.” What if Max is actually dead?
There are tons of other fan theories out there, most of which probably won’t happen. Every time the show has faced the opportunity to kill off a main character, it hasn’t followed through. The final episode is titled The Right Side Up. To us, that implies the Upside Down was never opened at all—and the only way to fix that is to go back in time and stop it from ever happening.
If that’s the case, everything resets. We’ll see.
This finale has to be epic. Otherwise, the accusations that this is heading toward a Game of Thrones–style ending will stick, and ten years of buildup will have been for nothing. Duffer Brothers, it’s all on you. Let’s hope you made the most of it.
Either way, Joyce still owes Hopper a dinner at Enzo’s..
On the Chinese calendar, 2025 was the Year of the Snake, and it really did slither by—sometimes fast, sometimes painfully slow—but either way, it’s now come and gone.
That brings us to our annual Year in Review, a tradition we’ve kept alive for more than 20 years. The good, the bad, and the ugly. What we lost, what stood out, the best and the worst of it all—and yes, our daring prognostications for the year ahead, along with a look back at what we predicted for this one.
We’re all feeling a bit bleak right now. Let’s hope things get a little less Slytherin in ’26.
A document circulating online claims exactly that suggesting a reliable source leaked information about several scenes that never made the final edit.
It’s pretty amazing .. for a show that got almost everything right for the better part of a decade, it somehow managed to get almost everything wrong with its finale.
The most recent episode of Stranger Things , Season 5, Episode 7 , is now the lowest-rated episode of the entire series, even rating lower than The Lost Sister episode from Season 2.
This isn’t just a mixed reaction. It’s an overwhelmingly negative one.
On one side of the fan base, the coming-out scene involving Will Byers has sparked frustration from viewers who wanted more — maybe a more intimate, personal moment between Will and Mike Wheeler, or at least a different approach to how it was handled.
On the other end of the spectrum, there are fans who don’t believe the scene should have been included at all, claiming the show “went woke” and echoing the familiar “go woke, go broke” refrain pushed by more conservative commentators. But what if there’s more to this story? What if there were lost scenes? Lost footage? A different cut of the episode altogether?
One claim in particular suggests a key sequence was cut in order to keep the season’s rating from crossing into more mature territory, bringing it down to something more acceptable for Netflix. Now, to be clear, we don’t know if any of this is true. But we’re sharing it because it’s popping up across multiple fan sites and forums, and because speculation is part of the fun, especially when the reality has been a little disappointing. For a show that stands as one of the biggest series in television history, and unquestionably the biggest in Netflix’s catalog, it’s hard not to wonder what could have been when what we’ve gotten so far just hasn’t lived up to the legacy.
Will’s storyline with Vecna/Henry was reportedly shortened, removing key developments.
A planned plot of Eleven and Mike traveling to Camazotz to rescue Will was allegedly cut.
Scenes exploring Will’s sexual trauma, initially intended to make the show TV-MA, were toned down.
Important Mike and Will moments—including music-centered scenes featuring Just Like Heaven by The Cure—were removed.
A basement one-on-one scene between Mike and Will never made it into the episodes.
Max and Will were initially part of a team with Eleven and Holly to explain their closeness, but these interactions were cut.
A dramatic fake-out death for Will, echoing his Season 1 CPR scene, was also removed.
Character Dynamics and Plotlines
The Eleven & Max reunion appeared out of character, possibly because the original reunion scene was cut.
Max and Will’s sudden closeness may have been explained in a removed Camazotz plotline.
Some interactions, such as Robin and Mike arguing or Maya Hawke mentoring multiple characters, seem incomplete due to missing scenes.
The Mike & Eleven tub scene was shortened, removing wide shots seen in trailers, possibly referencing cut plotlines.
Vecna blocking Eleven out of his mindscape raised logical inconsistencies—suggesting a previous attempt to enter Camazotz was removed.
Missing Characters and References
Raphael Luce (young Henry Creel) filmed scenes that never appeared, including more appearances of Henry giving blood.
Gabrielle Nevaeh’s character (Patty Newby) in the tie-in play The First Shadow was absent from the season.
Mind Flayer mentions were limited, contradicting the play’s storyline.
Certain songs and the WSQK Collection vinyl were not used, despite being promoted.
Some characters teased for Volume 2, like Chance and other bullies, never appeared.
Evidence of Editing Decisions
IMDb initially listed longer runtimes for episodes, supporting claims of cuts.
A leaked style guide included dialogue not featured in the final season, suggesting removed scenes.
Episode editing continued late into December, long after earlier episodes were completed.
Crew members were restricted from posting behind-the-scenes content, hinting at sensitive material.
Merch items and Easter eggs (like the ‘For Will’ mixtape) were not referenced in the episodes.
Statements from Cast and Crew
Jamie Campbell Bower indicated that Vecna’s darker moments were planned but not shown.
Noah Schnapp mentioned dissociating during Will’s coming out scenes.
Finn Wolfhard teased a song tied to Mike that never appeared in the final cut.
The Duffer Brothers noted unusual last-minute edits and expressed frustration with executive interference.
Shawn Levy confirmed the heavy emotional weight carried by Finn and Noah in filming, implying significant content was intended.
Whether all of this is true or not.. fans are demanding a release of THIS version…
The directors cut.. if only it really was the past, just like the lost VHS director’s cut of Halloween 6 existed only in strange online circles, maybe this TV-MA version would too..?
When did it happen? And how didn’t we notice until it was too late?
SPOILER WARNINGS ahead.
This morning, a lot of Stranger Things fans are waking up a little jaded. Spoiler alert: Will Byers is gay.
Listen, fans have known that since season one, episode one, when Joyce Byers explains to Jim Hopper what people say about her son Will. That part isn’t shocking. If anything, Will having a coming-out moment was inevitable, and yes, that moment can be celebrated. But all that building up to some moment where Will and Mike would have this special embrace? Some fans longed for it and they did not get it.
But at the same time, the show deserves criticism because the larger storyline has gone completely off the rails.
Plotlines have become subplots that have subplots of their own. Characters endlessly gather in circles, drawing plans on boards, debating whether those plans will work, then seemingly not doing the plan at all. Instead, they get attacked by demogorgons anyway, only for miracles to happen where everyone escapes without injury.
Which brings us to the biggest spoiler of all: no one has died.
Everyone was bracing for a major loss. The Duffer Brothers warned us about a “very sad Christmas,” yet here we are scratching our heads. Fans will still be fans, and I’ll still be one too, but the episodes presented last night were strange and confusing. There was far too much dialogue, and characters we’ve watched develop for four seasons suddenly don’t act like themselves anymore.
We’re still hopeful the final season and the series finale will blow us away. But so far, we’ve been blown away by boredom. It has to be said. I don’t want to say it, but there is simply too much going on. There’s that famous episode of Happy Days where Fonzie literally jumps over a shark. That moment became shorthand for when a television show loses its way. Jumping the shark happens to a lot of good shows. That’s part of why Seinfeld remains legendary. It knew when to end before that moment arrived.
So the question becomes: did Stranger Things jump the shark, or in this case, jump the demogorgon? And if it did, when did it happen? Was it season five, episode by episode? Or did it quietly happen sometime late in season four and we just didn’t notice at the time?
We still love the show. We still can’t wait for the series finale. But the stretch getting there has been tedious, strange, and more boring than it should be.
And quite frankly, if the idea was that affirming Will’s sexuality would somehow make the show better, that’s fine. He did it. But it added nothing to a plot where we already knew exactly who Will was. Worse, it teased fans who expected an emotional payoff between Will and Mike, only to have Mike essentially ignore him in that moment.
Historically speaking, Indiana had decriminalized homosexuality in 1977. But in 1986 there was a law giving restrictions on marriage. That context seems to matter but the show didn’t explore it too much given the rapidness of how they had Will–while the world was ending–decide to come out then. It was his arc.. and it was his moment. But it seemed that it was fit in during a strange time when it was not placed correctly.
Despite season five going down a strange path, we’re still fans, and there were some genuinely cool and redeeming moments. There was an awesome reference tonight involving A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, where Holly was talking to Max and had to return to a frightening memory of being with her friends watching Nightmare 3.
That episode was directed by Frank Darabont, who was also involved with Nightmare 3. There were also some solid nods to Phantasm, along with a few moments that were genuinely unique and well-crafted. Unfortunately, those highs are paired with negative aspects that are probably too numerous to list.
It also gave us a really cool poster that was designed for the show that has a huge likeness and homage to NIGHTMARE 3:
But we go from that to then Max bringing Holly along to get out of the upside down or whatever it is… just to tell her stick around and she can’t come with her? Odd..
And speaking of botching things up? Suddenly MAX says that the song is ‘not important’? It’s not? The entire theory from season 1 is how music guided people through the darkness of the upside down..
At this point, it feels like Stranger Things has dropped the demogorgon somewhere along the way.
At this point it feels like fan theories of the show have better plots and storylines than what the Duffers gave us.. we think. That last show could still be redeeming but we have yet to see time travel…or anything besides Hopper and the kids debating whether they can fly helicopters and kill Vecna. Or whatever they are trying to do…
We just have to figure out when it happened and hold our breath for one truly incredible, climactic battle at the end.
Saturday Night Live’s alternate ending to Home Alone was apparently violent enough for NBC to add an additional flag to this weekend’s episode for “intense violence”—and to age-restrict the video on YouTube.
SNL typically carries a TV-14 rating for “intensely suggestive dialogue” and “strong coarse language,” last Saturday’s broadcast saw the addition of a “V” symbol, noting “intense violence.”
The sketch “Home Alone” imagined Ariana Grande as Macaulay Culkin’s Kevin McCallister. Putting a gory spin on the real film’s ending, the McCallister family’s return home devolves into extreme bloodshed when they encounter all of the traps that Kevin had previously set for the Wet Bandits. Among the injuries sustained: Fuller (Bowen Yang) gets both his arms sliced off by a chainsaw, Buzz (Colin Jost) is shredded head-to-toe by a box fan, while others are engulfed in flames. Though it’s all ultimately deemed to be imagined, Old Man Marley (Andrew Dismukes) winds up killing Kevin and his mother (Ashley Padilla) with a swing of his shovel.
Christmas Day is here. Hopefully you, your family, and your friends all had a wonderful Christmas season and received the gifts you expected .. and maybe even a few you didn’t.
The greatest gift, of course, is simply being alive. And after the tension and pressure of this past year, let’s hope we can move into next year alive in a better way, more profound, calmer, and more beautiful.
A year where we slow down, take in every breath of life, and let even the smallest moments feel special and meaningful. Let’s make it the greatest year we possibly can.
And speaking of gifts, I received one of my favorites this Christmas: The Hellfire Man Stranger Things / Masters of the Universe crossover.
It fits perfectly alongside my He-Man collection and reminds me how good it feels to still feel like a kid long after childhood has passed.
