At a Glance
- Netflix’s new documentary “One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5” reveals the finale script was unfinished when filming began
- The Duffer Brothers called the finale “the most difficult writing circumstances we ever found ourselves in”
- Production teams built a massive Hawkins backlot set for the MAC-Z battle sequence in episode four
- Why it matters: The documentary shows how the crew raced against time to deliver the series’ biggest season while the ending was still being written
Netflix has released “One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5,” a two-hour documentary that captures the creation of the show’s final season. Director Martina Radwan filmed the documentary during production, focusing on the craftspeople who built the mostly practical sets and the writers who struggled to finish the finale.
The Finale Script Was Still Unwritten
The documentary reveals that the Duffer Brothers and their writers’ room wrestled with episode eight, “The Rightside Up,” more than any other episode. They debated Eleven’s fate, whether to misdirect the audience, and even why no monsters appeared in the Abyss. The writers used the term “Demo-fatigue” to describe the decision to limit creature appearances.
The Duffers admitted they “went into production without having a finished script for the finale.” They called it “the most important script of the season” and said the pressure was enormous because “you can’t leave anything dangling.” Netflix and production teams grew impatient as they waited for script updates.
A Production Racing Against Time
While the script remained unfinished, departments across the show counted days and calculated how to complete the season’s massive scale. An assistant director states that “most films are half the size of a single Stranger Things episode” and notes the show operates with far less prep time.
The documentary highlights the MAC-Z battle at the end of episode four, “Sorcerer,” as the biggest sequence in the series’ history. The production required:
- Stranger Things’ first-ever backlot set, recreating downtown Hawkins
- Six weeks of preparation
- Precise stunts and practical effects
- A “oner” sequence made from five edited shots showing a Demogorgon attack
Directors and Actors Share the Load
The Duffer Brothers realized early in the series they couldn’t both write and direct every episode. Producer Shawn Levy, who directed 10 episodes across the series, appears in the documentary alongside Frank Darabont, who the Duffers contacted by email and who mapped out the Citizen Kane visual reference during Holly and Max’s journey through Vecna’s mindscape.
Actor Noah Schnapp praises the Duffers for trusting the cast to make choices. The documentary shows Schnapp coaching the young actor who played Will in the season five flashback.
Personal Touches Behind the Scenes
The Duffers cast their high-school drama teacher, Hope Hynes Love, as Holly’s concerned teacher. Love recalls that even as teenagers, the brothers “were never afraid of failing, so they took big swings.”
The Wheeler house attack, where a Demogorgon bursts in on Karen and Holly, had been planned for seven years. Actress Cara Buono appears genuinely delighted by Karen’s evolution into an action hero covered in gory makeup.
Finn Wolfhard directly influenced Mike’s role in the finale. In the writers’ room, Matt Duffer recounts how Wolfhard pleaded, “Don’t give me a candlestick, please,” and asked for a gun instead. The compromise: Nancy hands Mike a flare gun during the table read, drawing laughter from the cast.
Vecna’s Look Took 100 Attempts
Actor Jamie Campbell Bower wore a bodysuit enhanced with VFX for Vecna’s vine-covered body, but his facial prosthetics were flexible enough to allow full expression. The documentary states that 100 different looks were tested before the final design was chosen.
Not every sequence went smoothly. The melting building scene in “Escape From Camazotz” caused problems when the goo pumped into the set didn’t appear sludgy enough. Director Shawn Levy realized on set that VFX would need to fix the issue later.
Emotional Goodbyes
The documentary captures tear-filled table reads and final filming days. Even viewers who disliked the finale may find themselves emotional as cast members say goodbye to characters they played for nearly a decade.
The Duffers’ parents, who gave their nine-year-old sons a Hi8 camera that started their filmmaking journey, watched every daily and offered feedback, though they do not appear on camera.
Key Takeaways
- The final season operated on an unprecedented scale, with single episodes rivaling feature films in complexity
- Writers faced intense pressure to satisfy audience expectations while keeping some surprises
- Practical effects and detailed craftsmanship defined the season’s visual identity
- The documentary offers limited actor interviews but extensive behind-the-scenes footage of the crew’s work
“One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things Season 5” is now streaming on Netflix alongside all five seasons of the series.
