At a Glance
- Netflix documentary “One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5” reveals production chaos during the final season
- The Duffer Brothers filmed the finale without a completed script
- Eleven’s fate remained undecided during filming, eventually changed to ambiguous ending
- Why it matters: Fans get unprecedented access to the creative struggles behind one of Netflix’s biggest shows
Netflix’s new documentary “One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5” reveals the tumultuous production process behind the final season of the streaming giant’s flagship series. The documentary, released alongside the fifth season, captures the Duffer Brothers and their cast navigating unprecedented challenges while bringing the beloved series to a close.
The documentary follows creators Matt and Ross Duffer as they struggle with completing the series finale, debating character fates, and managing continuity issues during production. According to News Of Losangeles‘s coverage, the documentary features never-before-seen footage from the writers’ room and emotional final moments with the cast.
The Finale Script Crisis
The production faced its most significant challenge when filming began without a completed finale script. Matt Duffer openly admitted in the documentary: “We went into production without having a finished script for the finale. That was scary because we wanted to get it right. It was the most important script of the season.”
Production assistant Montana Maniscalco revealed the unprecedented situation: “We are shooting episode 8, which isn’t completely written yet – spoiler alert! So we don’t even fully know what’s going on.”
The Duffer Brothers eventually titled the finale episode “The Rightside Up,” but not before enduring what Matt described as “the most difficult writing circumstances we’ve ever found ourselves in.” The brothers spent more time on this single episode than any other in the series’ history.
The Demogorgon Dilemma
A heated debate emerged in the writers’ room about whether to include Demogorgons in the final battle scene. The creative team discussed whether Upside Down monsters should appear during the climactic confrontation between the heroes and villains.
Writer Paul Dichter advocated for monster inclusion: “There have to be some monsters in the Abyss. There has to be [a] Demogorgon, bat, dog, like, something. It’s crazy if there’s nothing there, I think.”
However, writer and producer Kate Trefry raised concerns about “Demogorgon fatigue” following the midseason finale. The writers ultimately agreed to exclude monsters from the series finale, believing the season had already featured sufficient creature content.
Eleven’s Fate Remained Uncertain
Perhaps most surprisingly, Eleven’s ultimate fate remained undecided well into production. The character’s ambiguous ending, which left audiences questioning whether she lived or died, was not the original plan.
Ross Duffer initially pushed for keeping the conclusion unclear: “The whole episode has to be building towards ‘Eleven is going to kill herself.'”
Matt Duffer struggled with the decision, admitting: “God, I don’t know how to play this. 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?”
The brothers eventually settled on the ambiguous ending that maintained audience interpretation regarding Eleven’s survival.
The No-Death Decision
Unlike previous seasons, the finale featured no major character deaths. This creative choice sparked internal debate among the writers, who anticipated potential backlash from fans expecting higher stakes.
Matt Duffer defended the decision: “That’s what people don’t understand when we’re not killing people off, because we’re always like, ‘Oh, we have to maintain this sense of fun in the show, or it doesn’t become the show anymore.’ Or it just becomes depressing.”
During a table read, Matt jokingly acknowledged the crowded cast situation: “We probably should have killed some of you off. Millie was right,” referencing actress Millie Bobby Brown’s previous comments about the large ensemble.
Continuity Concerns
Production changes throughout filming created continuity issues that concerned both writers and actors. Maya Hawke, who portrayed Robin Buckley, raised questions about her character’s secret relationship with Vickie Dunne not being properly disclosed to other characters.
Hawke approached director Shawn Levy with her concerns: “I have a question. It hasn’t been talked about very much in any of the scenes that we’ve all been in together – no one knows that we’re dating, including Caleb,” referring to actor Caleb McLaughlin.
She proposed a solution: “I would like to play this scene in a whisper – I would like to do this,” while demonstrating the intimate positioning with co-star Amybeth McNulty.
Levy approved the whispering adaptation but did not directly address the apparent plot continuity issue.
Behind the Cultural Phenomenon
The documentary synopsis emphasizes the series’ cultural impact: “A decade after rewiring pop culture, Stranger Things returns for its final chapter. One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things Season 5 is a sweeping behind-the-scenes chronicle that follows the cast, creators, and crew as they bring the final season to life – and say goodbye to the show that changed them forever.”
Beyond the Duffer Brothers, the documentary features contributions from main writers, directors, and cast members, providing comprehensive insight into the creative process behind one of television’s most successful series finales.
Key Takeaways
- The Stranger Things finale was filmed without a completed script, creating unprecedented production challenges
- Creative decisions about monster inclusion and character fates sparked intense debate among writers
- The choice to maintain an ambiguous ending for Eleven came after extensive deliberation
- No major character deaths in the finale represented a deliberate creative choice to preserve the show’s tone
