# Half in the Bag: End of 2025 Catch-up (part 1)

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfsDYu7OKns
Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/GfsDYu7OKns
Generated: 2025-12-31T16:35:43.194+00:00

---
## Quick Overview

The hosts discuss the highly anticipated but ultimately disappointing final season of Stranger Things, criticizing its perceived lack of substance, overblown visual effects, and poor character development, especially regarding Will Byers and Vecna, while praising the performances of Sadie Sink and Millie Bobby Brown.

**Key Points:**
- The hosts express disappointment with the final season of Stranger Things, feeling it lacked narrative substance despite its massive $700 million budget for the season.
- They criticize the season's reliance on overly dramatic, 'epic' visual spectacle (like Vecna's fiery defeat) that masks weak plot points and character arcs.
- Will Byers' (Noah Schnapp) emotional storyline regarding his feelings for Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard) was handled poorly, feeling shoehorned in and not earned.
- The character Vecna was deemed 'bad' because the story prioritized his visually impressive moments over cohesive narrative justification.
- They praise Sadie Sink's performance as Max Mayfield and Millie Bobby Brown's performance, noting Sadie Sink's dramatic scenes were genuinely moving.
- The hosts mention seeing a clip where Hugh Jackman promoted 'Song Sung Blue' in Milwaukee, which they found funny because he was wearing a cheesehead.
- They note that the showrunners seem to feel compelled to give every character a storyline, leading to convoluted plots that ultimately go nowhere.

![Screenshot at 41:21: The hosts display a graphic stating 'VECNARD IS BAD!!!' over a scene of Vecna, summarizing their negative view of the villain's role in the season.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/GfsDYu7OKns/00-41-21.jpg)

**Context:** This video is an installment of the 'Half in the Bag' series, which typically features two hosts reviewing or discussing recent movies, TV shows, or pop culture events. This specific segment serves as a catch-up discussion detailing their opinions on the final season of the Netflix series *Stranger Things*, covering issues ranging from budget allocation and visual effects to character writing and overall narrative structure.

## Detailed Analysis

The hosts critique the final season of Stranger Things, arguing that despite its massive budget (reported at $700 million for the season), the show felt cheap and ugly due to excessive, poorly justified visual effects and bloated storytelling. They felt the season suffered from trying to give every character a storyline, leading to meandering subplots that felt like filler rather than essential plot advancement. The guest host praises Sadie Sink's performance as Max and Millie Bobby Brown's performance, but criticizes Will Byers' (Noah Schnapp) emotional arc as feeling manipulative and unearned, especially his coming-out scene. They also point out that the villain, Vecna, felt like a missed opportunity, being visually impressive but narratively hollow, lacking proper motivation or payoff. The discussion also briefly touches on unrelated pop culture, noting a funny video of Hugh Jackman wearing a cheesehead while promoting his movie in Milwaukee. Ultimately, the hosts conclude that the season prioritized spectacle over substance, resulting in a disappointing narrative experience.

### Stranger Things Season 5 Critique

- Disappointment with narrative substance despite $700 million budget
- Over-reliance on visual spectacle and CGI
- Storytelling felt convoluted and manipulative

### Character Arcs Discussed

- Will Byers' emotional arc felt unearned; Vecna's plot felt unjustified and 'bad'; Sadie Sink and Millie Bobby Brown performances praised

### Pop Culture Mentions

- Hugh Jackman wearing a cheesehead while promoting 'Song Sung Blue' in Milwaukee; Discussion of the 'Nightmare on Elm Street' parallel in Eddie Munson's sacrifice scene

### Production/Writing Issues

- Criticism of the show not knowing where to take characters like Will Byers; Lack of subtlety in emotional scenes; Excessive screen time for numerous characters

### Specific Scenes Highlighted

- Eddie Munson's guitar solo scene in the Upside Down; Will Byers' emotional breakdown scene; The final group hug scene.

![Screenshot at 00:01: Intro graphic for 'Half in the Bag' showing popcorn and bottles.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/GfsDYu7OKns/00-00-01.jpg)
![Screenshot at 01:07: Mike Wheeler \(Finn Wolfhard\) in \*Avengers: Endgame\* clip, used ironically to discuss narrative quality.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/GfsDYu7OKns/00-01-07.jpg)
![Screenshot at 05:04: Emma Stone in a scene from \*Poor Things\* \(2023\), used as an example of a good performance.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/GfsDYu7OKns/00-05-04.jpg)
![Screenshot at 09:31: Animated scene from \*Bugonia\* \(2025\) showing a flat Earth, used as a visual metaphor.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/GfsDYu7OKns/00-09-31.jpg)
![Screenshot at 41:21: Graphic overlay stating 'VECNARD IS BAD!!!' during the discussion about Vecna.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/GfsDYu7OKns/00-41-21.jpg)