At a Glance
- A browser tab resembling ChatGPT appeared on-screen behind the Duffer Brothers in One Last Adventure.
- Documentary director Martina Radwan says she never saw generative AI used unethically in the writers’ room.
- Fans are debating whether AI helped shape the final season of Stranger Things.
- Why it matters: The flare-up shows growing audience anxiety about AI replacing human creativity in beloved shows.
Netflix viewers hunting for hidden clues in One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5 have zeroed in on a split-second shot of a computer screen showing what looks like an open ChatGPT tab. The glimpse, captured while cameras trailed co-creators Matt and Ross Duffer, has ignited a social-media firestorm dubbed “ChatGPT Gate.”
The documentary, released earlier this week, chronicles the final sprint to finish episode eight, “The Rightside Up.” Behind-the-scenes footage shows the writers’ room juggling a sprawling storyline packed with 19 returning characters and a looming production deadline.
What the footage actually shows
At one point the camera pans across a workstation. On the monitor a browser tab bears ChatGPT’s tell-tale green-and-white logo. No text is readable; the tab is simply open alongside other windows. Eagle-eyed fans screen-grabbed the moment and flooded Reddit and TikTok with theories that generative AI secretly shaped the series finale.
Director responds to AI allegations
Megan L. Whitfield at News Of Fort Worth notes that director Martina Radwan spent a full year embedded with the production. When the Hollywood Reporter asked whether she ever witnessed AI writing tools in use, Radwan replied:
> “I mean, are we even sure they had ChatGPT open?”
She continued:
> “Well, there’s a lot of chatter where [social media users] are like, ‘We don’t really know, but we’re assuming.’ But to me it’s like, doesn’t everybody have it open, to just do quick research?”
Radwan drew a line between quick research and actual scriptwriting:
> “How can you possibly write a storyline with 19 characters and use ChatGPT, I don’t even understand.”
She emphasized that an open tab proves nothing:
> “That’s like having your iPhone next to your computer while you’re writing a story. We just use these tools … while multitasking.”
Radwan confirmed she never saw generative AI employed unethically:
> “No, of course not. I witnessed creative exchanges. I witnessed conversation. People think ‘writers room’ means people are sitting there writing. No, it’s a creative exchange. It’s story development.”
Netflix stays silent
News Of Fort Worth reached out to Netflix for comment on whether the tab was ChatGPT and whether AI played any role in scripting. The streamer has not responded. io9 has also requested clarification and pledges to update if answers arrive.
Fan reaction splits
- Some viewers praise the show’s creators and insist an open tab is harmless.
- Others argue the mere presence of AI software undercuts the handcrafted storytelling that defined Stranger Things.
- A Reddit thread titled “They used AI to finish the finale” has amassed more than 20,000 up-votes.
Radwan called the backlash heartbreaking:
> “Everybody loves the show, and suddenly we need to pick it apart.”
No missing episode mystery
The documentary’s release also put to rest rumors of a clandestine ninth episode. Fans had speculated Netflix might drop a surprise installment after the documentary hinted at “one last adventure.” Radwan’s film quietly confirms the eight-episode season is final.
Key takeaways
- A brief documentary shot-not any production statement-fueled the AI controversy.
- The show’s director insists creativity flowed from human brainstorming, not algorithms.
- Netflix has yet to address the speculation, leaving viewers to draw their own conclusions.
