The original post: /r/television by /u/jnighy on 2025-12-01 18:19:45+00:00.
I’m not usually a big fan of single out actors, but, while Stranger Things 5 so far have many visual and writing problems, I honestly believe the acting is the worst part so far. I want to wait for the season to end to call this disappointing, but I can’t help to notice how stiff some of those actors are.
Starting with the “adults” (characters, since almost all of the cast is adults now), Wynona Ryder’s Joyce is almost like a caricature of the loving mother on the break point of the first season. David Halbour is always charismatic, but there’s a lack of emotion in his performance.
But the real problem I think is with the Milly Bobby Brown and Finn Wolfhard. They’re stiff!! I get that Finn at least doesn’t have much to do, but Milly seems incapable to express any real emotion, even visually, or in her voice. It’s so weird, bc this is an actor that could express so much emotion just with her eyes in season 1 and 2. And now, as an adult and experienced actor, it’s almost like she went backwards.
There are exceptions. Gaten Matarazzo is still a standout and Sadie Sink delivers all she can with the little she has to do. Joe Kerry is still Joe Kerry. But man…I expected more from a show that while never had a top tier story, at least had good acting.
Am I alone in this one?