Why Is 'Stranger Things 5' Documentary Facing Backlash? Controversy Around Netflix's Show Explained

Stranger Things is over, but fans are not yet done being disappointed in the Duffer Brothers and Netflix. And now, fans have found another reason to be angry about how the series ended. For the unversed, Netflix's much-loved show premiered its finale on December 31, 2025 (ET), and fans have been extremely disheartened by how the Duffers ended it. Now, Netflix's behind-the-scenes documentary One Last Adventure has ignited more backlash, as fans have been reminded of everything they felt went wrong in the big finale.

Stranger Things' fans are disheartened by the One Last Adventure documentary

Several fans have been disappointed by the ending of Stranger Things ever since the finale was released. However, things got out of hand when a group of TikTok self-proclaimed detectives misinterpreted the show's continuity errors as 'easter eggs', prompting speculation about the release of a secret ninth episode. Despite the Duffer Brothers and the cast's clarifications that the finale was all there was, some fans refused to accept the end.

Obviously, that episode never arrived, and the entire 'conformity gate' theory was discarded. While the Duffer Brothers didn't release the ninth episode, they did surprise the fans with a documentary, One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5. However, it seems to have disappointed fans even more than before, with some fans claiming that the documentary has confirmed their worst suspicions.

One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5 stirs new controversy

One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5 gave fans a glimpse of behind-the-scenes footage showing how the final season came together. It features exclusive interviews with the cast and documents the elaborate production process. However, what surprised the fans was that the documentary does not feature interviews with two of the most important adult cast members, David Harbour, who portrayed 'Jim Hopper', and Winona Ryder, who portrayed 'Joyce Byers'.

Explaining why David Harbour and Winona Ryder were missing from the documentary, director Martina Radwan told Variety that they just didn't have time to interview them. The documentary's director added, "They were busy with other projects, and so we didn’t have the time to sit down." However, while fans were disappointed by the absence of their favourite two actors, it wasn't what caught their attention. The documentary shows Netflix's mad rush to complete the series, revealing that the script for the final episode was still incomplete during season five's production. 

In the documentary, Ross Duffer shared, "We were getting hammered constantly by production and by Netflix for Episode 8." The finale had been creating buzz among the netizens for seeming rushed, and the comment by the Duffer Brothers has further confirmed the same. It's a surprising admission that helps explain why so many fans felt disappointed by the ending. Matt also recalled working on the finale's script and shared:

"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."

Did the Duffer Brothers use ChatGPT to write the finale?

The Duffers attempted to explain plot holes and ambiguities in post-show interviews, but fans have been unimpressed by their answers to lingering questions. As the finale writing seemed rushed and disappointing, fans have also found certain snapshots from the documentary that have left them further upset.

A very blurry shot of one of the Duffer's laptops was believed by some to show three ChatGPT tabs, sparking a frenzy of assumptions and criticism from fans who believed the Duffers were relying on AI-generated writing in some way. While the image is not clear enough to confirm anything, the speculation has left fans livid. 

Was the Stranger Things cast also disappointed with the finale?

Even scenes showing the Stranger Things cast getting emotional during line readings have been interpreted as the actors feeling the same disappointment as the fans, rather than as being overwhelmed by the long project coming to an end. While the fans acknowledge that there were too many characters and moving parts in the final season for certain laps, that hasn't made the fans feel any better. 

Fans believe the writing got sloppy by the end of the show, as evidenced in a scene featuring 'Robin' (Maya Hawke) and 'Vickie' (Amybeth McNulty). In the documentary, Maya can be seen explaining to director Shawn Levy that 'Robin's' relationship with 'Vickie' has not yet been disclosed, and hence her line delivery should be adjusted. While Shawn agreed, some fans called it proof of a larger behind-the-scenes problem, and the story being spun out of control. Another scene that has caught fans' attention is the decision-making behind certain controversial elements.

The finale's lack of demogorgons or the fate of 'Eleven' (Millie Bobbie Brown) has sparked more speculation and disappointment among fans. The negative fan reaction echoes the loud disappointment expressed by Game of Thrones viewers, who reckoned the final season was the worst of an otherwise excellent show. While emotional fans have drawn their own conclusions and have been criticising the production's organised chaos, it is just another proof of how difficult it is to deliver a solid, satisfying ending without a generous amount of writing time.

What are your thoughts on the controversy surrounding One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5? Let us know.

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