As “Stranger Things” nears its conclusion after captivating audiences for nearly a decade, even the most devoted fans might admit that some elements of the Duffer Brothers’ creation don’t quite add up. Whether or not you share this sentiment, our accompanying video delves into some eyebrow-raising moments in Season 5, Part 2 that are hard to overlook.

The concluding season of “Stranger Things,” which chronicles the eerie happenings in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, was released in stages by Netflix. Fans received four episodes as a Thanksgiving treat, followed by three more during the Christmas season. Anticipation builds for the grand finale, ominously titled “Chapter Eight: The Rightside Up,” set to premiere on New Year’s Eve. However, it’s worth acknowledging that some aspects of Season 5, Part 2 are undeniably far-fetched.

One notable issue is the episode duration, which many would describe as excessively lengthy. The narrative involving the core group — including Will and Jonathan Byers (Noah Schnapp and Charlie Heaton), Mike and Nancy Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard and Natalia Dyer), Dustin Henderson (Gaten Matarazzo), Lucas Sinclair (Caleb McLaughlin), Steve Harrington (Joe Keery), Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink), Robin Buckley (Maya Hawke), Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), and their guardians Joyce Byers and Jim Hopper (Winona Ryder and David Harbour) — could have been tied up more succinctly. Instead, the episodes seem to drag, leaving viewers wondering what else might be overlooked in the series’ final stretch.

Another perplexing aspect of “Stranger Things” Season 5, Part 2 is the unexpected integration of elements from the Broadway production “Stranger Things: The First Shadow.” It’s likely that many viewers haven’t seen this stage show, yet it plays a significant role. For instance, Episode 6 (“Escape from Camazotz”) features a bewildering scene where Max and the newly cast Holly Wheeler (Nell Fisher) encounter a mysterious vision involving a man with a briefcase and a gun, while trapped in the mindscape of antagonist Henry Creel (Jamie Campbell Bower). Without having seen “The First Shadow,” viewers are left in the dark, as the series offers no explanation.

Something really puzzling about “Stranger Things” Season 5, Part 2 is how much the Broadway play “Stranger Things: The First Shadow” comes into play, even though we’d wager that most people tuning into the final season didn’t get a chance to actually watch this stage show. For one, there’s a strange(r) moment in Episode 6 (“Escape from Camazotz”) where Max and the recast Holly Wheeler (Nell Fisher) encounter a strange vision, while they’re trapped in the mindspace of villain Henry Creel (Jamie Campbell Bower), of a man holding a briefcase and a gun. Wondering what that’s about, but didn’t see “The First Shadow?” The show won’t explain it!

Plus, the show is also just repeating its own greatest hits. Not only are we treated to yet another sequence where Max escapes a harrowing situation involving the Upside Down and Vecna by playing Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill,” but when Will tries to come out to his friends and family, he simply recycles Robin’s words to do so instead of getting a more original monologue. We’ve been waiting for Will to come to terms with his sexuality for several seasons of “Stranger Things” now, so what gives? Why mute this moment with rehashed words? Then there’s the Kali of it all. The character known as “Eight,” played by Linnea Berthelsen and not seen since that ill-advised Season 2 episode that sent Eleven on a road trip, is back; sort of feels like the Duffers needed to justify her showing up in the first place.

“Stranger Things” is still great, but there’s still some dumb stuff we have to overlook. The final episode airs on December 31 on Netflix.