Stranger Things’ Finale Surprising Death Count Reminds Me Of What The Duffer Brothers Told Us About The Pressure Of Killing Characters

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SPOILERS are ahead for the Stranger Things finale, now streaming with a Netflix subscription.

The finale of Stranger Things was one of the most talked-about TV endings in recent memory. Before the last episode aired, fans were full of predictions, especially wondering which characters wouldn’t survive. Now that we know how things turned out, it’s interesting to consider what the Duffer Brothers – the show’s creators – recently shared with TopMob about how they planned the ending.

When I watched it, the show hadn’t aired the final season yet, so I didn’t know which characters would die. It turned out Vecna/Henry Creel, Kali, and Eleven (who everyone thought was dead, but whose fate was uncertain) were the only ones who would. Here’s what Ross Duffer, one of the show’s creators, said about their decisions to kill off characters:

There’s a lot of conflicting opinions about the show, and it’s impossible to please everyone with such a diverse fanbase. Trying to do so would be exhausting, so we’re focusing on recreating the creative process from Season 1. That means trusting each other, following our instincts, and relying on the writers’ collective sense of what works. If Ross and I, along with the other writers, are satisfied with the result, and the actors are happy with it too, we feel confident that it will connect with the audience.

Ever since the Season 4 finale aired in July 2022, fans have been speculating about who would survive the show’s ending, with predictions and theories lasting until New Year’s Eve 2025. This became a major focus for the fanbase, with many particularly concerned about Steve Harrington’s fate, and constantly updating their predictions right up until the two-hour final episode released on December 31st.

I was so fascinated to hear the Duffers talk about how they approached this season. They really tuned out all the external chatter and focused on what they felt was right for the story and the writers. Apparently, they drew a lot of inspiration from their work on Season 1, before the show blew up – and honestly, I could really feel that influence in this latest episode. That D&D scene with Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas, and Max was particularly moving, and it reminded me so much of the show’s early heart. They also shared something else that really resonated with me…

It was a really stressful process. We spent countless hours in the writers’ room, considering every possible way the story could go – which, honestly, is part of the fun. We constantly asked ourselves how any changes would affect the show as a whole and the characters, and whether those changes felt genuine or contrived. The most important thing was avoiding decisions made purely for shock value. Ross and I really wanted to make sure everything had a deeper, meaningful reason behind it, rather than just trying to surprise people. That was our guiding principle throughout the whole process.

It’s no surprise that the finale has sparked a lot of discussion, with people sharing what they loved and didn’t love about it. I personally found it very emotionally rewarding, even if the ending felt a little unclear for Max and Dustin. (Plus, there was another fantastic musical moment that’s stuck with me!) Many fans even got to experience it together in theaters. Overall, I think it was a really strong finish to the series!

The creators of Stranger Things, the Duffer Brothers, recently told Variety they’re developing a spin-off series. This new show will explore the origins of the mysterious stone seen in the original series, with a fresh cast of characters, a different setting, and its own unique story. As Stranger Things comes to an end, it’s fascinating to hear the Duffer Brothers reflect on writing the finale and dealing with expectations.

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2026-01-04 01:38