Netflix, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/73/Stranger_Things_5_title_card.webp

Written By: Jasmine Israel

In November 2025, the global phenomenon written by the Duffer Brothers, Stranger Things, closed with its final season. This season had the highest stakes, and fans anticipated an incredible ending. However, fans of Stranger Things had mixed reactions.

In January 2026, after the release of the finale, Netflix announced a documentary called, “One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5.” Throughout the documentary, fans were shown the process behind the writing, design, costuming, and production of season 5. 

However, this documentary resulted in backlash towards the makers of the show. In the documentary, Matt Duffer had said, “We went into production without having a finished script for the finale.” Allegedly, Netflix had been pushing for production to speed up, so they rushed into filming without a complete ending. 

Additionally, in the documentary, there were shots from inside the writing rooms. Fans spotted several ChatGPT tabs open on the Duffer Brother’s laptops. Many fans speculate that the Duffers had been using AI to write the story. As fans continuously jumped to conclusions, they believed this was the reasoning behind many of the cringy lines written throughout the season. 

Throughout the documentary, fans noticed Millie Bobby Brown, who plays Eleven/Jane Hopper in the show, looking disappointed with the season. Maya Hawke, who plays Robin, also criticized a line she had, containing a plot hole. She had requested to change the delivery of her line to solve said plothole. 

This final season received an incredibly negative response from the fanbase, leaving so many fans disappointed. To many, the documentary delivered the final blow, showing the lack of clarity, rushed production, and upsetting finale.