Stranger Things Creators Explain Season 5's Three-Part Split
Stranger Things season 5 marks the end of the beloved Netflix series, unfolding in a three-part final season spread over two months. The Duffer Brothers, creators of the show, explain that this structure allows the story's scope to expand significantly.
Volume One Designed as Its Own Story
"I'm also excited about the first volume because, in season four, we weren't aware that it was going to get split in two," Ross Duffer said in an interview with SFX Magazine. "It's not Netflix's fault, it's nobody’s fault. There was the pandemic, and we ended up dividing it in two so we could get episodes out sooner. But this time, we knew we were going to divide it into two, so it really is in two halves. Volume One really exists as its own mega-movie. It has its own climax."
Technically Challenging Episode Four
The fourth episode of season 5, which serves as the finale of Volume One, is described by Ross Duffer as the most technically demanding episode they've ever produced.
"Episode four was the most challenging episode we've ever made, and that includes the finale – though on an emotional level, the finale was the hardest. I don't know how many days I found myself crying, and I'm not someone who cries very often outside of watching Pixar movies."
Final Season Build-Up and Emotional Impact
While episode four pushed technical boundaries, the emotional weight peaks in the season finale, reflecting the deep impact the series has had on the creators.
Author's summary: The Duffer Brothers have carefully structured Stranger Things season 5 into two volumes, with Volume One forming a self-contained epic, including its most technically complex episode to date.