Mike Katzif

After five seasons and almost ten years, the saga of Netflix’s Stranger Things has reached its end. In a two-hour finale, we found out what happened to our heroes (including Millie Bobby Brown and Finn Wolfhard) when they set out to battle the forces of evil. The final season had new faces and new revelations, along with moments of friendship and conflict among the folks we've known and loved since the night Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) first disappeared. But did it stick the landing? To access bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening for Pop Culture Happy Hour, subscribe to Pop Culture Happy Hour+ at plus.npr.org/happy.

Netflix's Woman Of The Hour is not your conventional serial killer movie. It's based on the true story of a serial killer who appeared on The Dating Game in the 1970s. But it's also about the women who became — or almost became — his victims. Directed by and starring Anna Kendrick, it's a tense, thoughtful film that has much to say about the systems that make life easier for dangerous and otherwise crummy men. Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture

The D.C.-based three-piece Ex Hex, in a word, rocks. For its new record, the band shakes up the frayed-but-taut tumult for which its known with some nods to '70s prog-rock and '80s hair-metal.

On its dark but buoyant new album, the artful pop band explores the complexities and contradictions in love, loss and learning to leave the past behind.

The Brooklyn-based musician reels off example after example of the barrage of harassment women face on a daily basis.

The Brooklyn band's first single from Good Fruit processes the sorrow and aimlessness felt after the death of a loved one, before becoming a life-affirming anthem.

Following the dissolution of their marriage and band, Exitmusic's Aleksa Palladino and Devon Church unleash a gorgeous if haunting storm of images and sound.

Domenic Palermo channels a lifetime of tragedy into Nothing's blustery distortion, scorching riffs and stirring melodies.

Jenn Wasner of Wye Oak produces Perfect Shapes, the second album for the Oakland-based songwriter and musician, out Oct. 5.

Twerp Verse shows Sadie Dupuis and her band at their most pointed and fearless.