Emily Flores
It’s rare when showrunners and critics see eye to eye, but “Stranger Things” has managed to create episodes so undeniably powerful that both camps can’t help but nod in agreement. Matt and Ross Duffer, the twin brothers who created the Netflix phenomenon, have been surprisingly candid about which episodes they consider their finest work.
What’s fascinating is how often their picks align with critical consensus, though the reasons behind those choices reveal the careful craftsmanship that goes into every Hawkins adventure.
When Creators And Critics Agree
Season 2’s finale, “The Gate,” stands as a prime example of the show’s ability to deliver satisfying conclusions. The episode masterfully wove together multiple storylines, culminating in Eleven’s dramatic confrontation with the portal and the emotionally resonant Snow Ball sequence that gave viewers the Mike and Eleven moment they’d been anticipating since the season began.”
The Duffer brothers have discussed in interviews how this episode represented everything they wanted the show to be: horror, heart, and nostalgia wrapped into one explosive package. Critics praised its emotional payoff and the way it balanced spectacle with genuine character moments, with many publications ranking it among television’s best season finales of 2017.
The Episode That Changed Everything
“The Battle of Starcourt” from Season 3 is another mutual favorite, though for different reasons depending on who’s talking. The Duffers explained that this episode allowed them to go bigger than ever before, turning their show from an intimate 80s homage into a legitimate blockbuster television series.
The mall setting became a character itself, and Hopper’s apparent sacrifice hit harder because they’d spent the entire season building toward that devastating moment. Critics noted how the episode managed to feel like a summer action movie while maintaining the show’s emotional core, praising its ability to deliver blockbuster spectacle without sacrificing character development.
From a critical perspective, “Dear Billy” from Season 4 deserves special mention, even if the Duffers haven’t singled it out quite as emphatically. This Max-centric hour, featuring her escape from Vecna through Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill,” became a cultural phenomenon.
Safe to say the sequence was meticulously planned, with the Duffers revealing they’d cleared the music rights years earlier, knowing they wanted this exact moment. Critics called it some of the series’s best work, with Sadie Sink’s performance earning widespread acclaim and Emmy consideration.
The Art Of Nostalgia Done Right
What unites these episodes is something the Duffer Brothers understand intuitively: great television needs to earn its big moments. They’ve built a show where horror and heart coexist, where kids riding bikes can feel as thrilling as interdimensional monsters.
Their best episodes don’t just reference the 80s; they capture why that era’s stories mattered. Well, critics and creators agreeing isn’t just a coincidence. It’s what happens when storytelling fundamentals meet genuine passion for the craft. In Hawkins, Indiana, that combination crafts something worth celebrating, whether you’re behind the camera or watching from your couch.