At a Glance
- Final season of Stranger Things to premiere on New Year’s Eve.
- Cast members shared favorite and least favorite looks over five seasons.
- Creators and actors reveal their top character styles.
- Why it matters: Fans get a behind-the-scenes look at the show’s visual evolution.
The Paley Museum in Manhattan hosted a celebration of the final season on Dec. 18. Cast members were shown pictures of their characters from each season and asked to pick their favorite and least favorite looks. The event set the stage for the two-hour finale that will stream on New Year’s Eve.
Celebrating the Final Season at The Paley Museum
The gathering was organized by News Of Los Angeles, which presented the photos to the ensemble. Caleb McLaughlin reacted first:
Caleb McLaughlin said:
> “Whoa, that’s sad,” said Caleb McLaughlin, who plays Lucas Sinclair. “Favorite is five. Least favorite, maybe three…He was just an awkward teenager, and the shorts were killing me. It was hot. The shorts were so stank.”
Maya Hawke had a more complicated response:
Maya Hawke said:
> “It’s complicated,” she said. “Three is most iconic. Five is most me…like I like how I look here the most. And then four is awesome and I think my favorite season, maybe. I don’t know. So, I can’t even answer!”
When asked about Steve Harrington’s look, Maya chose the Season 5 look:
Maya Hawke said:
> “I just gotta go five,” she said of the character played by Joe Keery. “I mean look at him, he’s just gorgeous. What can you say? Headphones on, shirt on. Look at that face. Five! Right? He’s just getting better, aging like a fine wine. Like a pair of old Levi’s.”
Creators Share Their Favorite Looks
Millie Bobby Brown could not attend, so the show’s creators, Matt and Ross Duffer, were asked to pick their favorite look for Eleven. Ross Duffer recalled:
Ross Duffer said:
> “You gotta go with the iconic pink dress and the jacket,” Ross Duffer said of Eleven’s Season 1 look. “She looks so bad a– there.”
Matt Duffer added:
Matt Duffer said:
> “Yeah,” Matt Duffer agreed, “I love the buzz cut.”
Vecna’s Transformation
The most dramatic appearance change in the series belongs to Jamie Campbell Bower, who plays Vecna. He pointed to his own face and laughed:
Jamie Campbell Bower said:
> “This one,” he said with a laugh while pointing to his face.
Main Cast Evolution
The following table lists the main actors and their characters, highlighting their continued presence across the five seasons.
| Actor | Character | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Gaten Matarazzo | Dustin Henderson | 1-5 |
| Finn Wolfhard | Mike Wheeler | 1-5 |
| Noah Schnapp | Will Byers | 1-5 |
| Natalia Dyer | Nancy Wheeler | 1-5 |
| Charlie Heaton | Jonathan Byers | 1-5 |
| Sadie Sink | Max Mayfield | 1-5 |
| David Harbour | Jim Hopper | 1-5 |
| Winona Ryder | Joyce Byers | 1-5 |
The final season’s premiere on New Year’s Eve promises to bring together the show’s visual journey, from the first season’s iconic pink dress to the latest iterations of Vecna’s unsettling presence.
Key Takeaways
- Fans will see the evolution of character looks over five seasons in the finale.
- Creators chose Eleven’s Season 1 pink dress and buzz cut as favorites.
- Jamie Campbell Bower’s Vecna look is the most drastic transformation.
The cast’s reflections and the creators’ choices give a unique glimpse into the creative process behind Stranger Things’ most anticipated season finale.
