As David Bowie’s “Heroes” began to play during the end credits, I stared in shock as the culmination of one of my favorite TV shows finally hit me. The emotional music interspersed with the meticulously detailed graphics of the characters I grew to love over the years blurred in my eyes as I struggled to come to terms with the end of the Hawkins-Upside Down universe.

I was struggling because I was not satisfied. “Stranger Things 5,” released almost four years after “Stranger Things 4,” was rife with unanswered questions and awkward dialogue, contributing to an overall vibe that felt starkly different — and not in a good way — from all the other seasons.

“Stranger Things,” created, produced, and largely directed by Matt and Ross Duffer, was first released in 2016, captivating the world instantaneously with the mysterious disappearance of Will Byers, a young boy who vanished in the seemingly ordinary town of Hawkins, Indiana.

The crux of the show is the memorable characters. Throughout the show, we watch Dustin, Lucas, Mike, and Will’s tested and strengthened friendship, Steve Harrington’s redemption arc, Eleven’s self- discovery, Max’s resilience, Nancy’s unwavering determination for answers, and Hopper and Joyce’s continued bravery to protect those they care about.

So what happened to the highly anticipated finale of this fantastic show? The downfall of “Stranger Things 5,” in my opinion, can be summarized in three simple categories: tension, tone, and consistency.

First of all, season five, assumed to conclude all questions surrounding the Hawkins-Upside Down universe, fell short.  The budding suspense of what the Upside Down represented was disappointing, for it ended up being a bridge into the alternate dimension of the Abyss (which did not seem entirely terrifying as the heavily used CGI effects seemed to dull its realism). I could tolerate the weak plotline of the Abyss being essentially an extension of the Upside Down but that “Final Battle” between the characters and Vecna…no.

It seemed Vecna gave up within five minutes, and all the characters unscathed really left me feeling like there was no great risk throughout the fight. I think a huge reason as to why “Stranger Things 5” fell flat was that there was no real tension or thrilling risk for the characters. I didn’t want anyone in particular to die, but I feel that the Duffer Brothers were too hesitant to kill off any characters, resulting in a yawn-inducing final battle.

I also believe that starting the timeline for season five a year and a half after season four really diluted the anticipation for that final battle, for everyone in Hawkins seemed to be acclimated to the government takeover and strange happenings.

Furthermore, the lackluster tension did not help the drastic tone shift in season five. Prior seasons were characterized by moody lighting, practical effects, gripping dialogue, and the mid-80’s time frame, contributing to heartfelt nostalgia and thrilling anticipation for many viewers. Overuse of CGI, insipid script writing, and a forced humorous tone created a very jarring dynamic that made characters’s lines fall flat and the overall season to lose the magic of what made viewers originally fall in love with the show.

But tone and tension aside, for I still respect the creative control of the Duffer Brothers, the most problematic part of “Stranger Things 5” was its glaringly obvious inconsistencies. The most frustrating part about the last season is it left us viewers with so many unanswered questions.

Where did all the demogorgons go during the final battle? Why did Vecna need exactly 12 children? Why didn’t Will die when Vecna was killed? Additionally, it seemed like the Upside Down was treated almost casually by all the characters, a stark difference from the hazmat suits government officials once donned in season one to enter the dimension. Military involvement also became muddled toward the end of season five, for we don’t really know what happened to Dr. K, and characters like Hopper and Nancy, who killed many military officials, seemed to bear no repercussions.

But for me, the most painful ambiguity was Eleven’s ending. Self-sacrifice or harrowing escape, no one will ever know really if she was able to make it to that paradise with three waterfalls.

I still love this show; the sheer creativity of the Duffer Brothers and the cast and crew that helped bring their vision to life will never be forgotten. “Stranger Things 5,” for all its loopholes and plot inconsistencies, has at least ingrained just how difficult it is to master the ending of a beloved, long-running TV show.

For now, I’m content with rewatching Stranger Things from when it was just about four kids searching for their friend — I’ll leave season five in the Upside Down for now.