Imagine pouring years of your heart and soul into a project, only to have the ending ripped apart by critics and fans alike. That's the looming fear for the cast of Stranger Things as they approach the series' grand finale. After nine years of demogorgons, telekinetic battles, and the Upside Down, the pressure is on to deliver an ending that satisfies millions of viewers – a near-impossible task, as Finn Wolfhard, who plays Mike Wheeler, knows all too well. He's openly expressed his anxiety, haunted by the fate of another beloved series: Game of Thrones. But here's where it gets controversial...
Wolfhard, in a recent interview with Time magazine, admitted that the Game of Thrones finale, which he saw get 'torn to shreds,' is a major source of concern. The final season of Game of Thrones became a lightning rod for criticism, with many viewers feeling that the ending was rushed, illogical, and ultimately, a betrayal of the characters they had grown to love. Wolfhard doesn't want Stranger Things to suffer the same fate. He told Time, “I think everyone was pretty worried, honestly… The way that ‘Game of Thrones’ got torn to shreds in that final season, we’re all walking into this going, ‘We hope to not have that kind of thing happen.’ But then we read the scripts. We knew that it was something special.”
He also reflected on the unique challenges of being a child actor in a massive production, adding, “It’s just a symptom of what filmmaking can be, which is chaotic… As a child actor, you’re trying to make things easy for people. You don’t know how to speak up for yourself. You don’t know how to ask for a break… It was incredible and subconsciously terrifying to be 13 and all of the sudden everyone knows who you are.” This provides context to the pressure he and the other young actors face, not just in delivering a satisfying ending, but in navigating the complexities of fame and the entertainment industry.
The final season of Stranger Things is being released in two parts. The first part, consisting of several episodes, will drop on November 26th. Following that, a second batch of episodes arrives on December 25th, culminating in the highly anticipated series finale on December 31st. This staggered release is a strategic move by Netflix, designed to maximize engagement and allow fans ample time to process each installment. And this is the part most people miss... the release strategy itself is a gamble. Will it build anticipation, or will it give disgruntled viewers more time to dissect and criticize each episode before the finale even airs?
However, the Duffer brothers, the creators of Stranger Things, have previously stated that they're confident in their ending. In an interview with Variety, Matt Duffer revealed that the core idea for the ending has been planned for years. "We knew roughly what the end scene was for years — it wasn’t something we had a strain to come up with,” he said. “There were elements of it that were discussed for weeks, but the core idea of the ending, we had for a really long time.” This long-term planning offers some reassurance that the finale won't be a last-minute rush job. But is long-term planning enough? Some would argue that even the best-laid plans can go awry if the execution falters.
Speaking personally, as someone who found the Game of Thrones ending deeply disappointing, I sincerely hope the Duffers deliver a more compelling and satisfying conclusion to Stranger Things. The show has been a cultural phenomenon, captivating audiences with its blend of 80s nostalgia, supernatural thrills, and heartwarming friendships. Season 4, in particular, was a return to form, showcasing the show's potential. A lot is riding on this finale, and the pressure on the Duffers and the entire cast and crew is immense. They have the opportunity to cement Stranger Things' legacy as one of the greatest television shows of all time, or to join the ranks of shows whose endings tarnished their overall reputation. What do you think? Do you believe the Duffers can stick the landing, or are we destined for another Game of Thrones-esque disappointment? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
