The Stranger Things finale is near, and loyal fans of the Netflix series are excited and nervous about how the show will conclude its five-season run. Showrunners Matt and Ross Duffer seem confident that all the stories will end to the satisfaction of fans across the globe, but there’s always a chance that not everyone will be happy with the ending. It’s the way all series work. For his part, Mike Wheeler actor Finn Wolfhard has said that “everyone was worried” — not out of fear the season would fail, but because of the precedent of the HBO giant Game of Thrones, and how its conclusion strongly divided its fanbase. In an extensive piece for Time magazine, many of those involved with the show offered their take on the highly-anticipated conclusion. The actors have expressed their excitement about delivering one last time, but also about giving closure to such an important part of their careers. They’ve also said that, while they could use a break, they wouldn’t have second thoughts about reprising their characters in the distant future. Dustin actor Gaten Matarazzo said, “I would love to play Dustin at another point in my life. It would definitely have to be a long time from now. But if in 15 years they call, I would be lying if I said I wouldn’t jump on that instantaneously.” Wolfhard, on the other hand, seems more worried about the reception awaiting Season 5. He says that the Game of Thrones precedent cast a shadow at some point, but after reading the material, the fear faded away:
“I think everyone was pretty worried, honestly. The way that Game of Thrones got torn to shreds in that final season, we’re all walking into this going, ‘We hope to not have that kind of thing happen.’ But then we read the scripts. We knew that it was something special.”

Why Is ‘Stranger Things’ Season 5 Releasing in Three Parts?

More frustrating than a divisive finale à la Game of Thrones might be the wait. With the most recent episode dropping in 2022, fans have waited over three years — and now, Netflix is releasing Season 5 in three parts. Needless to say, many were unhappy to hear about the streamer’s decision. “Everybody thought it was a good idea for people to be caught up and have that shared experience of watching it together,” Netflix CCO Bela Bajaria said of the new release schedule that will see the finale streaming on New Year’s Eve. The decision to release the final episode on this very special day is apparently associated with the fact that millions will be home together to see the epic conclusion to the beloved show. While Netflix is promoting shared viewing experiences, for many fans, it feels more like an attention-grabbing gimmick. Time includes a comment by Parrot Analytics’ Christopher Hamilton, who says that the Stranger Things finale will be a “victory lap” for Netflix, as people will eventually sit down and watch it. “Attention is attention. Even if people are up in arms, they are going to watch it. Game of Thrones was obviously controversial. But the finale set a series record. And [the prequel] House of the Dragon has been huge. People didn’t throw up their arms and walk away.”

Release Date

2016 – 2025

Network

Netflix

Writers

Kate Trefry, Jessie Nickson-Lopez, Jessica Mecklenburg, Alison Tatlock