As fans rushed to stream the highly awaited premiere of Stranger Things Season 5, popular streaming platform Netflix has reportedly experienced widespread outages. Many users in the United States have been unable to access the service, with some disruptions also affecting viewers in India.
According to PEOPLE, the platform crashed shortly after the first four episodes of the final season dropped at 5 pm PT (Pacific Time Zone) on Wednesday, leaving viewers unable to access the highly anticipated release.
Millions of fans who had waited three years for the final chapter took to social media to express their frustration as the streaming service glitched. One viewer wrote on X, "NETFLIX FIX YOURSELF RIGHT NOW BRO, I'VE BEEN WAITING THREE YEARS." Another posted, "OH MY GOD NETFLIX PLS FIX YOURSELF I WANNA WATCH."
According to Netflix, the issue was resolved quickly. A company spokesperson told PEOPLE that "some members briefly experienced an issue streaming on TV devices, but service recovered for all accounts within five minutes."
The crash came just hours after series co-creator Ross Duffer said in an Instagram Story that Netflix had already increased its server capacity, claiming the platform had "increased bandwidth by 30 per cent to avoid a crash."
The release marks the beginning of the end for the hit sci-fi series, which will conclude with Season 5. The final episodes pick up in fall 1987, following a smaller time jump than fans expected after Season 4, which was set in spring 1986.
The last chapter will see the Hawkins crew confront the "Upside Down" one final time. Returning cast members include Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Noah Schnapp, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Sadie Sink, Joe Keery, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, David Harbour, and Winona Ryder.
Season 5 includes eight episodes, according to Netflix's fan platform Tudum, reported PEOPLE. Episodes 5, 6, and 7 will drop on December 25, followed by the series finale on December 31.