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The Worst Episodes of Stranger Things

Every episode of Stranger Things ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Stranger Things!

Worst episode
S5E7 Chapter Seven: The Bridge
5.6194,493 votes
Best episode
S4E7 Chapter Seven: The Massacre at Hawkins Lab
9.684,609 votes
Top season
Season 1
8.8avg
Binge time
1d 21h
42 episodes
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons5

All12345

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Worst Episode
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    Stranger Things Season 5 Episode 7 - Chapter Seven: The Bridge
    5.6/10(194493 votes)

    S5:E7

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

    Directors:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer, Shawn Levy
    Writers:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

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  2. Stranger Things Season 2 Episode 7 - Chapter Seven: The Lost Sister
    6.0/10(62330 votes)

    S2:E7

    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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  3. Stranger Things Season 5 Episode 8 - Chapter Eight: The Rightside Up
    7.4/10(178784 votes)

    S5:E8

    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:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

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  4. Stranger Things Season 5 Episode 5 - Chapter Five: Shock Jock
    7.8/10(89456 votes)

    S5:E5

    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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  5. Stranger Things Season 5 Episode 1 - Chapter One: The Crawl
    7.8/10(84861 votes)

    S5:E1

    November, 1987. The gang evades the military to scour the Upside Down for Vecna — but fails to notice a threat lurking closer to home.

    Directors:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer
    Writers:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

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  6. Stranger Things Season 3 Episode 1 - Chapter One: Suzie, Do You Copy?
    7.8/10(47578 votes)

    S3:E1

    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:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

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  7. Stranger Things Season 5 Episode 6 - Chapter Six: Escape from Camazotz
    7.9/10(94731 votes)

    S5:E6

    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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  8. Stranger Things Season 3 Episode 2 - Chapter Two: The Mall Rats
    7.9/10(44779 votes)

    S3:E2

    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:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

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  9. Stranger Things Season 2 Episode 1 - Chapter One: MADMAX
    8.1/10(45569 votes)

    S2:E1

    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:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

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  10. Stranger Things Season 4 Episode 2 - Chapter Two: Vecna's Curse
    8.1/10(45514 votes)

    S4:E2

    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:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

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  11. Stranger Things Season 4 Episode 5 - Chapter Five: The Nina Project
    8.1/10(43631 votes)

    S4:E5

    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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  12. Stranger Things Season 4 Episode 1 - Chapter One: The Hellfire Club
    8.2/10(50089 votes)

    S4:E1

    El is bullied at school. Joyce opens a mysterious package. A scrappy player shakes up D&D night.

    Directors:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer
    Writers:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

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  13. Stranger Things Season 2 Episode 2 - Chapter Two: Trick or Treat, Freak
    8.2/10(43539 votes)

    S2:E2

    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:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

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  14. Stranger Things Season 3 Episode 3 - Chapter Three: The Case of the Missing Lifeguard
    8.2/10(43066 votes)

    S3:E3

    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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  15. Stranger Things Season 5 Episode 2 - Chapter Two: The Vanishing of...
    8.3/10(81715 votes)

    S5:E2

    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:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

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  16. Stranger Things Season 1 Episode 2 - Chapter Two: The Weirdo on Maple Street
    8.3/10(51237 votes)

    S1:E2

    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:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

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  17. Stranger Things Season 4 Episode 3 - Chapter Three: The Monster and the Superhero
    8.3/10(44369 votes)

    S4:E3

    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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  18. Stranger Things Season 5 Episode 3 - Chapter Three: The Turnbow Trap
    8.4/10(82016 votes)

    S5:E3

    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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  19. Stranger Things Season 2 Episode 3 - Chapter Three: The Pollywog
    8.4/10(42554 votes)

    S2:E3

    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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  20. Stranger Things Season 3 Episode 5 - Chapter Five: The Flayed
    8.5/10(42383 votes)

    S3:E5

    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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  21. Stranger Things Season 2 Episode 4 - Chapter Four: Will the Wise
    8.5/10(42540 votes)

    S2:E4

    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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  22. Stranger Things Season 3 Episode 6 - Chapter Six: E Pluribus Unum
    8.5/10(42634 votes)

    S3:E6

    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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  23. Stranger Things Season 4 Episode 6 - Chapter Six: The Dive
    8.5/10(44248 votes)

    S4:E6

    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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  24. Stranger Things Season 1 Episode 5 - Chapter Five: The Flea and the Acrobat
    8.6/10(47518 votes)

    S1:E5

    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:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer, Alison Tatlock

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  25. Stranger Things Season 1 Episode 1 - Chapter One: The Vanishing of Will Byers
    8.6/10(61851 votes)

    S1:E1

    On his way home from a friend's house, young Will sees something terrifying. Nearby, a sinister secret lurks in the depths of a government lab.

    Directors:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer
    Writers:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

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Worst Episodes Summary

"Chapter Seven: The Bridge" is the worst rated episode of Stranger Things. It scored 5.6/10 from 194,493 votes. Directed by Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer, Shawn Levy and written by Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer, it aired on December 25, 2025. This episode scored 0.4 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Chapter Seven: The Lost Sister".

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