Fans Highlight Plot Hole in Final Season of Stranger Things

The final episode of Stranger Things aired on March 15, 2024, concluding the beloved Netflix series after five seasons. The show’s finale featured the main cast uniting to defeat the malevolent entity Vecna, portrayed by Jamie Campbell Bower, and thwart his plan to merge the Upside Down with the town of Hawkins. While some viewers expressed satisfaction with the resolution, others highlighted a significant plot inconsistency that has sparked discussion online.

In a TikTok video, user Georgie pointed out a particular moment in the fifth season that she found “frustrating.” The show has long integrated the popular role-playing game Dungeons and Dragons into its narrative, with characters often referencing the game’s lore to describe their supernatural battles. In a pivotal scene, character Mike, played by Finn Wolfhard, identifies Will, portrayed by Noah Schnapp, as a sorcerer, claiming his magic is innate rather than learned.

Georgie contends that this classification contradicts established rules from the Dungeons and Dragons handbook. According to her, true sorcerers possess an inherent magical ability, often linked to ancient bloodlines, while Will’s powers stem from his connection to Vecna, suggesting he fits the definition of a warlock instead. She quoted the handbook, explaining that “a warlock is defined by a pact with an otherworldly being,” contrasting this with the innate magical abilities of sorcerers.

The discussion took an interesting turn when fans noted additional inconsistencies regarding the terminology used in the show. The warlock class was not introduced in Dungeons and Dragons until the 1990s, a decade after the timeline of Stranger Things, which is set in 1987. Furthermore, sorcerers as a distinct category did not exist in the 1980s version of the game; the term was often used interchangeably with “wizard” until much later.

Commenters on Georgie’s video emphasized the importance of accuracy in the show’s portrayal of Dungeons and Dragons. One user remarked, “If they were concerned about accuracy to the ’80s, they would have just called him a Mage,” while another noted, “Will gets his power directly from a more powerful entity… So he’s a warlock.”

As fans share their insights and critiques, it becomes clear that the intersection of pop culture and established gaming lore continues to engage audiences. While Stranger Things has been celebrated for its nostalgic references, this plot detail serves as a reminder of the complexities involved in adapting beloved elements into a cohesive narrative.