It’s official: Hawkins is about to get back in the spotlight.
The fifth and final season of “Stranger Things” will kick off on November 26. In a recent release, the Duffer brothers, along with the cast, shared some insights into what viewers can expect regarding the Upside Down’s fate.
The creators took inspiration from the finales of shows they admired, like “Six Feet Under,” “Friday Night Lights,” and “The Sopranos.”
Ross Duffer noted, “The best thing was that it was very true to itself. That’s where shows can struggle—trying to seem too clever.”
His co-creator, Matt Duffer, chimed in, saying, “We’ve had a rough idea of the ending scene for years. It wasn’t something we wrestled with too much.”
He explained that while certain elements were fine-tuned over time, the core concept had been in their minds for quite a while. “I’m really excited about how it wraps up, but honestly, I’m a bit anxious about how people will react!”
Fans might remember the iconic open-ended conclusion of “The Sopranos,” where Tony Soprano’s fate is left ambiguous after a tense diner scene. In contrast, “Six Feet Under” is memorable for its emotional farewell, showing how its main characters meet their ends over the years.
The “Friday Night Lights” finale also featured a look ahead, offering glimpses into the future of beloved characters.
The final episode, dubbed “The Rightside Up,” will run for about two hours.
Emotions ran high among the cast and crew. Noah Schnapp reflected, “It felt like we were writing the end of our real lives in some ways. Those scenes really resonate with my own experiences.” He admitted to shedding some tears during a filming moment he’d never forget.
Winona Ryder, known for her role as Joyce Byers, shared a poignant moment from filming, saying, “I was in her trailer, and I thought, ‘No, I can’t leave you!’ I didn’t expect it to hit me so hard.”
David Harbour remarked that it felt like they were telling a story about family, emphasizing how much the characters have evolved since the first season, noting how touching it is to witness their growth.
After a year of shooting, there was an air of exhaustion mixed with a longing for more, as Keeley noted, “We were all eager to wrap things up, yet when the finish line appeared, we couldn’t help but think, ‘Oh, could we do this a bit longer?’”
Maya Hawke expressed how the experience had shifted her perspective. “Getting to portray such high-stakes emotional scenes has changed me as an actor,” she said, reflecting on the intensity of some of the scenes that required constant emotional investment.
Ross shared that the emotional intensity at times made it hard to film. “There were moments where they were so caught up that it felt like we shouldn’t even be rolling the cameras!”
Season four left viewers with the Upside Down seeping into Hawkins’ reality. The Duffer brothers shared that the upcoming season will start 18 months later, with the town under military lockdown.
About the Upside Down, Ross explained, “We kept asking ourselves if we should delve into it. Eventually, I realized, ‘Okay, it’s time to explore this!’”
The fifth season will consist of eight episodes, releasing on Netflix in three parts: November 26, December 25, and December 31.
