The creators of Stranger Things, Matt and Ross Duffer, are addressing fan concerns about the upcoming fifth and final season. Many viewers fear a tragic ending with a high body count for their favorite characters.
Matt Duffer, 41, reassured fans during a recent interview with Variety. He stated that the series will not follow a Game of Thrones-style conclusion.
"The show is not Game of Thrones," Matt Duffer said. He added, "I hope [the ending] surprises people."
He specifically denied the possibility of a "Red Wedding"-like massacre. That event in Game of Thrones saw multiple significant character deaths. Matt Duffer called such an outcome "depressing."
The popular Netflix series, which debuted in 2016, centers on a fictional town where supernatural events unleash mystery and chaos. Over several seasons, Stranger Things has launched its young cast to global fame.
Key cast members include Finn Wolfhard, Noah Schnapp, Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, and Joe Keery. Veteran actors Winona Ryder and David Harbour also star in the show.
The Duffer Brothers announced in February 2022 that the story would conclude after one more chapter in Hawkins, Indiana. They explained that they had planned the entire narrative arc seven years prior.
They initially envisioned the story lasting four to five seasons. The scope proved too large for just four seasons, leading to the decision for a fifth and final installment. Season 4 served as the penultimate season.
The Duffer Brothers previously discussed their approach to storytelling when explaining the split release of Season 4. The original plan was to release all episodes at once.
They decided to divide the nearly 13-hour season into two volumes. They felt it was "more two seasons than one." Episode 7 of Season 4 was considered as significant as any past season finale, marking the end of the second act.
The first part of Season 4 concluded dramatically with Will (Noah Schnapp) revealing unexpected powers. These abilities allowed him to fight against Vecna, portrayed by Jamie Campbell Bower.
Ross Duffer noted to Variety that Will’s powers were a planned highlight. This development followed a low point where the children were taken. He affirmed this was always part of their narrative conversation.
Vecna’s capture of the children provided the necessary low point for the conclusion of Season 4 Volume 1. This careful narrative structuring points to a deliberate path for the upcoming final season.