Stranger Things: New Documentary Reveals Secrets of Drama-Filled Final Season

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - "Stranger Things," the global sci-fi, horror, mystery, and drama series, has officially concluded its epic run with the release of its fifth season in late 2025.

The Duffer Brothers' series captivated audiences with its adventures following children in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, who must confront a threat from the Upside Down.

Since its debut in 2016, "Stranger Things" has become a global pop culture phenomenon, blending '80s nostalgia with a gripping supernatural narrative.

Now, fans can delve deeper into the creative process behind the final season through the Netflix-exclusive documentary, "One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5."

The 2-hour, 2-minute documentary, premiering on January 12, 2026, offers an in-depth look at how the final season was brought to life, from the writers' room to the emotional set.

Directed by Martina Radwan, the documentary serves as a touching farewell to the cast and crew.

The documentary not only features intimate behind-the-scenes moments but also reveals the immense challenges the Duffer Brothers and the production team faced.

One of the most shocking revelations was the decision to begin production on the fifth season without a completed final script for the final episode, a bold move that added to the tension and drama on set.

The documentary "One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5" serves as a farewell gift for fans eager to learn more about the making of the final season.

The film, which premiered exclusively on Netflix on January 12, 2026, provides a comprehensive behind-the-scenes look, from candid moments in the writers' room to the emotional atmosphere on set.

Director Martina Radwan, known for her Emmy-winning cinematography, successfully captures the essence of this farewell.

One of the documentary's highlights is the Duffer Brothers' confession about the challenges of completing the final script by openly stated that production on the fifth season began without a complete script for the final episode.

"We started production without a finished script for the finale. It was scary because we wanted to get it right. It was the most important script of the season," he said.

This situation created tension on set, with the crew having to work from red script pages indicating unfinished sections.

The documentary also highlights the intense creative discussions between the Duffer Brothers regarding the fate of key characters, particularly Eleven.

Furthermore, the film features touching farewell moments, as the main cast bids farewell to their characters and each other after years of working together.

Interestingly, "One Last Adventure" also firmly debunks the "Conformity Gate" fan theory that had been circulating.

This theory speculated about a bonus episode or alternate ending for the fifth season, or that the finale was an illusion of Vecna.

Fans accuse the Duffer Brothers of using AI to write ‘Stranger Things’ final season after spotting ChatGPT tabs in behind-the-scenes documentary. pic.twitter.com/gxmYW2OCUJ

— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) January 13, 2026

The behind-the-scenes footage shows how the final season was made, featuring exclusive interviews with the cast and documenting the complex production process. Surprisingly, the documentary doesn't feature interviews with the two most important adult cast members, David Harbour (Hopper) and Winona Ryder (Joyce Byers).

“We just didn’t get the time,” documentary director Martina Radwan told Variety. “They were busy with other projects, and so we didn’t have the time to sit down.”

While disappointing, the absence of the two actors wasn't what caught fans' attention online.

The documentary showcases Netflix's frantic efforts to finish the series, revealing that the script for Episode 8—the final episode—was incomplete during production of the fifth season.

In addition, fans say that the documentary was made using ChatGPT.

A very blurry photo of one of the Duffer brothers' laptops is believed by some to show three ChatGPT tabs, sparking various assumptions and criticism from fans who believe the Duffer brothers are relying on AI-generated writing in some way.

Since its premiere on July 15, 2016, "Stranger Things" immediately captured the public's attention with its unique premise.

The series is set in the fictional rural town of Hawkins, Indiana, in the 1980s, where a series of strange events begins after a paranormal experiment at Hawkins National Laboratory accidentally opens a portal to an alternate dimension known as the Upside Down.

The Duffer Brothers, Matt and Ross Duffer, are the brains behind this success.

They developed "Stranger Things" as a blend of investigative drama and supernatural horror, infused with a childlike wonder reminiscent of classic '80s films.

In addition to being creators, they also serve as showrunners, head writers, and directed numerous episodes, ensuring their vision is fully realized.

The series is produced by Monkey Massacre Productions and 21 Laps Entertainment, with Shawn Levy and Dan Cohen serving as producers.

The main cast of "Stranger Things" is also a key strength of the series.

Veteran actors like Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers and David Harbour as Jim Hopper blend seamlessly with younger talents like Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven, Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler, and Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson.

The journey of these characters from season to season, including the addition of Sadie Sink as Max Mayfield and Maya Hawke as Robin Buckley, has created a strong emotional connection with viewers.

The fifth season even introduced Linda Hamilton as Dr. Kay, adding to the already long list of stars involved.

The series has released four previous seasons, with the first season premiering in July 2016, followed by the second season in October 2017, and the third season in July 2019.

The highly anticipated fourth season was released in two parts in May and July 2022, before the fifth and final season arrived in three parts in November and December 2025, marking the end of this thrilling saga.