Stranger Things Fans Question Holly Wheeler’s Season 5 Spotlight
Stranger Things’ final season has sparked debate among fans, with many questioning the decision to give Holly Wheeler a major role while sidelining the original cast. The upcoming spinoff will not feature Holly, focusing instead on new characters.
With the curtain now closed on Stranger Things, fans are taking a closer look at the final season’s choices, especially the unexpected focus on Holly Wheeler. While the series has always juggled a large ensemble, this time around, some reckon the balance tipped too far, leaving the main crew in the background.
One punter on Reddit summed up the mood, asking,
“Did you feel Holly really needed to be one of the main characters in the last season? Most of the screen time was usually taken by the OGs, which I always loved and wanted to watch. Did the shift from the older kids to now younger ones made sense to you or do you think show could've ended just fine with the same focus on the older cast?”
That question kicked off a lively thread, with hundreds chiming in. The general consensus? Nell Fisher, who played Holly, did a solid job, but her expanded role felt a bit shoehorned in.
Fans Miss the Original Crew
Many viewers felt the heart of the show was lost in the shuffle.
“I think the Duffers wanted to bring the S1 vibes with a new set of kids not realising they just sidelined the main cast to tell this new story to connect the show as a whole,”
one user wrote. Another added,
“The storyline should have been about El and/or Will contacting Max and helping her escape from Vecna's mind. Adding essentially two new mains to an already bloated cast was a mistake. No shade on the kids though, they did a great job.”
Some reckon Holly’s arc could have been folded into Max’s journey, rather than standing on its own.
“Her entire storyline could've been just wrapped into Max finding her way from Vecna's mind and Holly could be totally removed from the storyline.”
For many, Max was the one who lost out most from the shift in focus.
Debate Over Character Dynamics
Plenty of fans pointed out missed opportunities for the main group to interact.
“Holly should have been a secondary character to Max. Holly should have had a smaller role compared to Max and the show should have explored more through the lens of Max,”
one Redditor suggested. Another said,
“It came at the expense of our main cast. We could have had much more interactions between our main cast and given members of the main cast more to do. I don't think Steve and Eleven have ever properly interacted. Same with Eleven and Robin. Same with Nancy and Max. I would like to have seen Nancy and Lucas interact a bit more, and Nancy and Dustin as well.”
Even those who enjoyed Holly’s character felt her storyline was a bit isolated.
“I actually like Holly. But the problem was it took away from the main characters in the final season. When we've seen newer characters before like Max and Billy they joined the main cast. But Holly's story was just her own with a bit of Max involved.”
No Spinoff for Holly
Despite the speculation, Holly won’t be front and centre in the next chapter of the franchise. The Duffer brothers have confirmed the upcoming spinoff will introduce a fresh batch of characters, with a new world and mythology. As Ross Duffer put it,
“It's obviously not Holly and the kids or anything like that. It's something much smaller than that.”
The full Stranger Things series is still up for streaming, and fans keen for more can check out guides to the best shows on offer or keep an eye out for what’s next on telly.