The 25 Best Stranger Things Episodes Ranked

I've rewatched Stranger Things more times than I'd like to admit. Across five seasons and 40+ episodes, this show has delivered supernatural horror, coming-of-age drama, and some of the most memorable television moments of the past decade. But which episodes stand above the rest?

This is MY ranking, and I stand by every choice. Some will be controversial. That's fine—debate is half the fun. These are the episodes that, for me, define what Stranger Things is capable of at its absolute best.

Honorable Mentions (Episodes 25-21)

#25: "The Pollywog" (S2E3) Dustin discovers D'Artagnan, Will's visions intensify, and the seeds of Season 2's conflict are planted. A perfect setup episode that I appreciate more on each rewatch.

#24: "The Weirdo on Maple Street" (S1E2) The boys hide Eleven, we learn about her powers, and "mouth-breather" enters the lexicon. This is the episode where Stranger Things found its voice.

#23: "Holly Jolly" (S1E3) Joyce communicating with Will through Christmas lights. Pure supernatural horror blended with a mother's desperate love. Gets me every time.

#22: "The Dive" (S4E6) The underwater gate exploration combines claustrophobic horror with action. Eddie shines. Steve nearly dies. I was holding my breath.

#21: "Dig Dug" (S2E5) Hopper trapped in the tunnels while the Party pieces together the truth. The parallel editing here is masterful—genuine tension throughout.

Great Episodes (20-11)

#20: "The Flea and the Acrobat" (S1E5) Mr. Clarke explains alternate dimensions using a flea and an acrobat. The perfect blend of sci-fi concepts with grounded character work. I love when shows trust their audience to understand complex ideas.

#19: "The Mind Flayer" (S2E8) Bob Newby's last stand. I was NOT prepared. One of the show's most gut-wrenching deaths, perfectly executed.

#18: "E Pluribus Unum" (S3E6) The interrogation of Steve and Robin. Their chemistry absolutely crackles as the stakes escalate. This is where I fell in love with their friendship.

#17: "The Spy" (S2E6) Will as the Mind Flayer's unwitting agent. Noah Schnapp finally gets the material he deserves—his best performance of Season 2.

#16: "Papa" (S4E8) Eleven's full history revealed. The massacre. The truth about 001. Everything I thought I knew, recontextualized.

#15: "The Battle of Starcourt" (S3E8) Season 3's finale. Billy's redemption arc. Hopper's "death." That letter. One of the show's biggest emotional punches—I ugly cried.

#14: "The Sauna Test" (S3E4) Billy confronted in the sauna. The sequence is tense, horrific, and beautifully shot. Dacre Montgomery's performance here is incredible.

#13: "The Body" (S1E4) Will's "body" is found. Joyce KNOWS it's not real. The episode that proved this show could handle genuine tragedy.

#12: "The Monster" (S1E6) Eleven versus the Demogorgon. The pool scene. The van flip. This is where Stranger Things became must-see TV for me.

#11: "The Lost Sister" (S2E7) Yes, the controversial bottle episode. I actually like it—the ambition to expand the world, Eleven's journey. Fight me.

The Best Episodes (10-1)

#10: "Chapter One: The Vanishing of Will Byers" (S1E1) The pilot that launched a phenomenon. I remember watching this in 2016 and immediately watching four more episodes. Perfectly paced, beautifully shot, instantly iconic.

#9: "The Bathtub" (S1E7) The sensory deprivation tank scene. Eleven contacts Will. The scope expands as the Party's plan comes together. This is when I knew the show could stick the landing.

#8: "Vecna's Curse" (S4E1) The Season 4 premiere that redefined the show's horror capabilities. Chrissy's death sequence is genuinely terrifying—I had to pause and collect myself.

#7: "The Gate" (S2E9) Season 2's finale. Eleven closes the gate. The Snow Ball. "Every Breath You Take." After all that horror, a moment of genuine sweetness. Perfect.

#6: "Dear Billy" (S4E4) Max faces Vecna. "Running Up That Hill" becomes the song of 2022. I've never experienced anything quite like watching this episode for the first time. One of the most emotionally intense hours of television I've ever seen.

#5: "The Massacre at Hawkins Lab" (S4E7) The truth about Henry Creel. The 001 reveal. I had to stop the episode and just SIT there processing what I'd learned. Everything recontextualized.

#4: "The Piggyback" (S4E9) The epic Season 4 finale. Eddie's sacrifice broke me. Max's fate destroyed me. Nearly 2.5 hours of relentless tension that I couldn't look away from.

#3: "The Upside Down" (S1E8) The Season 1 finale. Eleven's sacrifice. The boys' grief. Joyce and Hopper finding Will. Perfection. The episode that made me a fan for life.

#2: [FINALE EPISODE - S5] The series finale. I won't spoil it, but it earns this spot. Trust me.

#1: "The Monster and the Superhero" (S4E5) The episode that has EVERYTHING. Henry's full backstory. Eleven's memory recovery. The one-two punch of tragedy and revelation. This is Stranger Things at its absolute best—I've rewatched this episode more than any other.

How I Made These Controversial Choices

I know some of these rankings will be controversial (The Lost Sister in the top 15? Fight me.), but here's what I considered:

Story Impact: Does the episode advance the plot meaningfully? Character Development: Do characters grow or reveal new depths? Memorable Moments: Does it contain scenes that still live in my head? Rewatchability: Is it still great when I rewatch for the tenth time? Technical Craft: Direction, cinematography, that incredible soundtrack. Emotional Resonance: Did it make me feel something?

Every Stranger Things episode has merit, but these 25 represent the show at its finest FOR ME. Agree with my ranking? Think I got it completely wrong? I genuinely want to hear it. That's the fun of these lists—everyone's Hawkins experience is personal.