The fifth season of Stranger Things featured a scene where Karen Wheeler, played by Cara Buono, fights a Demogorgon. Many fans found this moment absurd and unrealistic given the creature's established power.
"Stranger Things 5 included a scene where Cara Buono's Karen Wheeler took on a Demogorgon, which fans think is ridiculous."
Critics argue that this portrayal weakened (nerfed) the Demogorgons just to earn easy applause from the audience, diminishing the threat they posed throughout the series. This change sparked disappointment among fans who expected a more consistent depiction of the terrifying monsters.
The decision to have a human character confront a Demogorgon without significant struggle seemed to undermine the tension and horror built up in previous seasons. Instead of increasing excitement, it resulted in frustration and backlash from the show's dedicated fanbase.
Author's summary: The nerfing of Demogorgons in Stranger Things 5, especially through Karen Wheeler’s confrontation, disappointed fans by weakening the creatures for superficial applause without respecting their established menace.