The Worst Episodes of Stranger Things

Episode Rankings

1. #1 Worst Episode
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   6.1/10(197 votes)

   #1 - Chapter Seven: The Bridge

   S5:E712/25/2025

   On the anniversary of Will's disappearance, the party reunites to prepare for a battle with world-altering implications.

   Directors:Shawn Levy, Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

   Writers:Ross Duffer, Matt Duffer

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   Directors:Shawn Levy, Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

   Writers:Ross Duffer, Matt Duffer
2. 

   6.8/10(251 votes)

   #2 - Chapter Seven: The Lost Sister

   S2:E710/27/2017

   Psychic visions draw Eleven to a band of violent outcasts and an angry girl with a shadowy past.

   Director:Rebecca Thomas

   Writer:Justin Doble

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   Director:Rebecca Thomas

   Writer:Justin Doble
3. 

   7.0/10(229 votes)

   #3 - Chapter Eight: The Rightside Up

   S5:E812/31/2025

   As Vecna prepares to destroy the world as we know it, the party must put everything on the line to defeat him once and for all.

   Directors:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

   Writers:Ross Duffer, Matt Duffer

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   Directors:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

   Writers:Ross Duffer, Matt Duffer
4. 

   7.1/10(145 votes)

   #4 - Chapter Six: Escape from Camazotz

   S5:E612/25/2025

   As Holly and Max fight to escape Vecna's mind, El must find a way into Will's. Joyce wrestles with guilt. Jonathan and Nancy face a turning point.

   Director:Shawn Levy

   Writer:Kate Trefry

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   Director:Shawn Levy

   Writer:Kate Trefry
5. 

   7.4/10(159 votes)

   #5 - Chapter Five: Shock Jock

   S5:E512/25/2025

   The gang hatches an electrifying plan to reconnect Will to the hive mind. Tensions flare during a search of the Upside Down's Hawkins Lab.

   Director:Frank Darabont

   Writer:Curtis Gwinn

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   Director:Frank Darabont

   Writer:Curtis Gwinn
6. 

   7.6/10(174 votes)

   #6 - Chapter Two: The Vanishing of...

   S5:E211/26/2025

   After a vicious attack at the Wheeler home, Mike and Nancy confront the cost of secrecy, while El and Hopper embark on a rescue mission.

   Directors:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

   Writers:Ross Duffer, Matt Duffer

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   Directors:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

   Writers:Ross Duffer, Matt Duffer
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7. 

   7.6/10(167 votes)

   #7 - Chapter Three: The Turnbow Trap

   S5:E311/26/2025

   Will gains unique insight into Vecna's next move, giving the crew an opportunity to set a trap. Holly explores her new surroundings.

   Director:Frank Darabont

   Writer:Caitlin Schneiderhan

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   Director:Frank Darabont

   Writer:Caitlin Schneiderhan
8. 

   7.9/10(221 votes)

   #8 - Chapter Two: The Mall Rats

   S3:E27/4/2019

   Nancy and Jonathan follow a lead, Steve and Robin sign on to a secret mission, and Max and Eleven go shopping. A rattled Billy has troubling visions.

   Directors:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

   Writers:Ross Duffer, Matt Duffer

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   Directors:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

   Writers:Ross Duffer, Matt Duffer
9. 

   7.9/10(220 votes)

   #9 - Chapter Three: The Case of the Missing Lifeguard

   S3:E37/4/2019

   With El and Max looking for Billy, Will declares a day without girls. Steve and Dustin go on a stakeout, and Joyce and Hopper return to Hawkins Lab.

   Director:Shawn Levy

   Writer:William Bridges

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   Director:Shawn Levy

   Writer:William Bridges
10. 

    8.0/10(260 votes)

    #10 - Chapter Two: Trick or Treat, Freak

    S2:E210/27/2017

    After Will sees something terrible on trick-or-treat night, Mike wonders whether Eleven's still out there. Nancy wrestles with the truth about Barb.

    Directors:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

    Writers:Ross Duffer, Matt Duffer

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    Directors:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

    Writers:Ross Duffer, Matt Duffer
11. 

    8.0/10(335 votes)

    #11 - Chapter One: Suzie, Do You Copy?

    S3:E17/4/2019

    Summer brings new jobs and budding romance. But the mood shifts when Dustin's radio picks up a Russian broadcast, and Will senses something is wrong.

    Directors:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

    Writers:Ross Duffer, Matt Duffer

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    Directors:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

    Writers:Ross Duffer, Matt Duffer
12. 

    8.1/10(242 votes)

    #12 - Chapter Three: The Pollywog

    S2:E310/27/2017

    Dustin adopts a strange new pet, and Eleven grows increasingly impatient. A well-meaning Bob urges Will to stand up to his fears.

    Director:Shawn Levy

    Writer:Justin Doble

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    Director:Shawn Levy

    Writer:Justin Doble
13. 

    8.1/10(200 votes)

    #13 - Chapter Five: The Flayed

    S3:E57/4/2019

    Strange surprises lurk inside an old farmhouse and deep beneath the Starcourt Mall. Meanwhile, the Mind Flayer is gathering strength.

    Director:Uta Briesewitz

    Writer:Paul Dichter

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    Director:Uta Briesewitz

    Writer:Paul Dichter
14. 

    8.1/10(195 votes)

    #14 - Chapter Three: The Monster and the Superhero

    S4:E35/27/2022

    Murray and Joyce fly to Alaska, and El faces serious consequences. Robin and Nancy dig up dirt on Hawkins' demons. Dr. Owens delivers sobering news.

    Director:Shawn Levy

    Writer:Caitlin Schneiderhan

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    Director:Shawn Levy

    Writer:Caitlin Schneiderhan
15. 

    8.2/10(512 votes)

    #15 - Chapter Two: The Weirdo on Maple Street

    S1:E27/15/2016

    Lucas, Mike and Dustin try to talk to the girl they found in the woods. Hopper questions an anxious Joyce about an unsettling phone call.

    Directors:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

    Writers:Ross Duffer, Matt Duffer

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    Directors:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

    Writers:Ross Duffer, Matt Duffer
16. 

    8.2/10(205 votes)

    #16 - Chapter Six: E Pluribus Unum

    S3:E67/4/2019

    Dr. Alexei reveals what the Russians have been building, and Eleven sees where Billy has been. Dustin and Erica stage a daring rescue.

    Director:Uta Briesewitz

    Writer:Curtis Gwinn

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    Director:Uta Briesewitz

    Writer:Curtis Gwinn
17. 

    8.2/10(229 votes)

    #17 - Chapter Two: Vecna's Curse

    S4:E25/27/2022

    A plane brings Mike to California — and a dead body brings Hawkins to a halt. Nancy goes looking for leads. A shaken Eddie tells the gang what he saw.

    Directors:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

    Writers:Ross Duffer, Matt Duffer

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    Directors:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

    Writers:Ross Duffer, Matt Duffer
18. 

    8.2/10(188 votes)

    #18 - Chapter Five: The Nina Project

    S4:E55/27/2022

    Owens takes El to Nevada, where she's forced to confront her past, while the Hawkins kids comb a crumbling house for clues. Vecna claims another victim.

    Director:Nimród Antal

    Writer:Kate Trefry

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    Director:Nimród Antal

    Writer:Kate Trefry
19. 

    8.2/10(173 votes)

    #19 - Chapter Six: The Dive

    S4:E65/27/2022

    Behind the Iron Curtain, a risky rescue mission gets underway. The California crew seeks help from a hacker. Steve takes one for the team.

    Director:Nimród Antal

    Writer:Curtis Gwinn

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    Director:Nimród Antal

    Writer:Curtis Gwinn
20. 

    8.3/10(233 votes)

    #20 - Chapter Four: Will the Wise

    S2:E410/27/2017

    An ailing Will opens up to Joyce -- with disturbing results. While Hopper digs for the truth, Eleven unearths a surprising discovery.

    Director:Shawn Levy

    Writer:Paul Dichter

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    Director:Shawn Levy

    Writer:Paul Dichter
21. 

    8.3/10(235 votes)

    #21 - Chapter Five: Dig Dug

    S2:E510/27/2017

    Nancy and Jonathan swap conspiracy theories with a new ally as Eleven searches for someone from her past. “Bob the Brain” tackles a difficult problem.

    Director:Andrew Stanton

    Writer:Jessie Nickson-Lopez

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    Director:Andrew Stanton

    Writer:Jessie Nickson-Lopez
22. 

    8.3/10(192 votes)

    #22 - Chapter Four: Sorcerer

    S5:E411/26/2025

    The military tightens its grip on the town. Mike, Lucas and Robin orchestrate a daring escape. El comes face-to-face with the enemy.

    Directors:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

    Writer:Paul Dichter

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    Directors:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

    Writer:Paul Dichter
23. 

    8.4/10(365 votes)

    #23 - Chapter Five: The Flea and the Acrobat

    S1:E57/15/2016

    Hopper breaks into the lab while Nancy and Jonathan confront the force that took Will. The boys ask Mr. Clarke how to travel to another dimension.

    Directors:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

    Writers:Ross Duffer, Matt Duffer, Alison Tatlock

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    Directors:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

    Writers:Ross Duffer, Matt Duffer, Alison Tatlock
24. 

    8.4/10(277 votes)

    #24 - Chapter Six: The Monster

    S1:E67/15/2016

    A frantic Jonathan looks for Nancy in the darkness, but Steve's looking for her, too. Hopper and Joyce uncover the truth about the lab's experiments.

    Directors:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

    Writers:Ross Duffer, Matt Duffer, Jessie Nickson-Lopez

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    Directors:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

    Writers:Ross Duffer, Matt Duffer, Jessie Nickson-Lopez
25. 

    8.4/10(376 votes)

    #25 - Chapter One: MADMAX

    S2:E110/27/2017

    As the town preps for Halloween, a high-scoring rival shakes things up at the arcade, and a skeptical Hopper inspects a field of rotting pumpkins.

    Directors:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

    Writers:Ross Duffer, Matt Duffer

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    Directors:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

    Writers:Ross Duffer, Matt Duffer