Stranger Things Creators Defend Season 5's Three-Part Split
Stranger Things season 5 has been divided into a three-part final season, released over two months. The Duffer Brothers, creators of the series, explain that this split allows the story to expand more than ever before.
The Intent Behind the Split
Ross Duffer shared in an interview with SFX Magazine that the previous season's split was unplanned. "In season four, we weren't aware that it was going to get split in two," he explained. "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."
However, for season 5, the split was intentional:
- "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."
Technical and Emotional Challenges
The fourth episode of season 5, which marks the end of Volume One, is described by Ross as the most technically demanding episode they've created:
"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."
Ross also shared a personal reflection on the emotional intensity involved in making the finale:
"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."
Summary
The deliberate division of Stranger Things season 5 allows for a grander storytelling scope, with Volume One functioning as a standalone epic featuring the series' most technically complex and emotionally powerful moments yet.