The Duffer Brothers faced unprecedented pressure while crafting the final episode of Stranger Things, admitting they began filming the series finale before the script was complete.
At a Glance
- Production started on the last episode before the finale script was finished
- Matt Duffer called it “the most difficult writing circumstances we have ever found ourselves in”
- Eleven’s fate sparked the biggest debate in the writers’ room
- The brothers feared repeating the fate of other beloved shows with disappointing endings
The revelation came in the new documentary “One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5,” where co-creators Ross Duffer and Matt Duffer detailed the chaotic timeline that defined their final season.
Racing Against the Clock
“We went into production without having a finished script for the finale,” Matt explained in the documentary. “That was scary because we wanted to get it right. It was the most important script of the season.”
The pressure mounted as the massive production team needed the script immediately. With hundreds of crew members waiting and Netflix executives watching closely, the 41-year-old creators found themselves in uncharted territory.
“We were getting hammered constantly by production and by Netflix for episode eight,” Matt recalled. “It was the most difficult writing circumstances we have ever found ourselves in. Not just because there was the pressure of we had to make sure the script was good, but there’s never been so much noise at the same time.”
The Writing Struggle
Despite the time crunch, the brothers insisted the story’s framework remained solid throughout the process.
“It’s all plotted out,” Matt emphasized. “I just have to write it. We are just low on time.”
The writing team spent more time on this single episode than any other in the series. Matt described the process as “the longest time we spent with the writers on a single episode, just breaking it down beat by beat, pushing that thing to get as good as it could.”
Personal responsibilities added to the challenge. “I used to be seven days a week,” Matt said of past seasons. “I can’t do it anymore. I have two kids now and I just – it’s a tough career to have with kids.”
The Eleven Dilemma
The biggest creative battle centered on Eleven’s fate. The series conclusion left fans questioning whether Millie Bobby Brown’s character sacrificed herself to destroy the Upside Down and save the world.
“God, I don’t know how to play this,” Matt admitted in the writer’s room, as shown in the documentary. “The longer it goes, the more stories you have to tie up and the more character arcs you have to end. The more expectations there are with the audience. How do you meet those expectations but surprise the audience still?”
This creative challenge weighed heavily on the team throughout production.
Production Pressures
The filming schedule created additional complications. Specific scenes needed to be shot during particular seasons, forcing the team to move forward despite incomplete scripts.
The scene where Holly Wheeler (Nell Fisher) herds her classmates from the Creel house into the Cave required a summertime look. This meant filming had to proceed regardless of the script status.
“I haven’t read eight through and we are shooting it,” Ross told the crew during filming. “I have never done something like this before. I don’t love it.”
The Stakes of Endings
The Duffer Brothers understood that final episodes can make or break a series’ legacy. Matt expressed their anxiety about getting it right.
“It’s terrifying because you see these shows that people love and adore and the ending falters,” he said. “They just discard the rest of the show.”
This awareness added pressure to an already intense situation. After nearly a decade of storytelling, the brothers knew this episode would define how audiences remembered their entire creation.
The Final Day
Despite the chaos and challenges, the production wrapped successfully. On the final day of filming, the brothers shared their appreciation for the crew who stayed with them through the difficult process.
“This is, without a doubt, without hyperbole, the best crew we’ve ever worked with,” Matt shared in his emotional reflection. “We felt your love and passion every day. We came in here not knowing what the hell we were doing and I learned from the crew. We made a lot of friends.”
The documentary “One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5” is currently available, offering fans a behind-the-scenes look at how the Duffer Brothers navigated their most challenging creative period to deliver the series conclusion.
Key Takeaways
- The Stranger Things finale was written while filming was already underway
- Netflix and production pressures created intense stress for the creative team
- Eleven’s storyline proved the most challenging to resolve satisfactorily
- The Duffer Brothers feared joining the list of shows with disappointing endings
- Despite the chaos, they successfully completed the series after nearly a decade
