Stranger Things 5 Faces Backlash as Behind-the-Scenes Reveal Sparks Game of Thrones Final Season Comparisons

Well, Stranger Things season 5 is here, and the reception is… not great, to put it gently. If you’ve been part of the fandom from the start, odds are you’re at least a little disappointed. The finale was hyped up, but let’s be honest: it didn’t do much to change anyone’s minds about the problems that ran through the entire final season. It’s not a total disaster on par with, say, Game of Thrones’ jaw-droppingly hated ending, but it didn’t exactly stick the landing.

Now there’s a new behind-the-scenes documentary called One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5 streaming on Netflix, and—bizarrely—the doc might be making things worse for the Duffer brothers instead of giving them any redemption. Some awkward moments from behind the curtain are getting more attention than any fun nostalgia or feel-good insights; fans are picking apart the creative decisions (or lack thereof) that led to what we saw onscreen.

Fumbled Representation and Scrambled Scripts: What the Doc Reveals

Let’s break down the biggest problem that fans have seized on: the apparently clueless handling of the show’s queer characters. In one widely-shared clip, Maya Hawke (who plays Robin) literally has to remind director Shawn Levy and the Duffer brothers about a key aspect of Robin and Vickie’s dynamic. To spell it out: Hawke points out that the group isn’t supposed to know about Robin’s crush, and the creators are basically caught off guard by their own character continuity.

That tiny moment says a lot. Robin and Vickie’s budding relationship was barely touched in the final season, even though fans were excited to see how it would play out. Instead, it became something the writers themselves needed a note about—a pretty big letdown if you care about seeing actual, meaningful queer stories on-screen.

'Is this the representation I’m supposed to be satisfied with? The actors having to REMIND THEM of stuff?'

That’s just one example pulled from the avalanche of fan frustration online. People aren’t just nitpicking—they’re spotting fundamental disconnects. Why should the actors be the ones explaining the basic set-up of their stories to the show’s creators? It’s awkward. And honestly, it’s not making the Duffer brothers look like masters of their own universe.

For those keeping score, fans have also compared Robin’s detailed coming-out arc to the way Will’s queer arc was treated—bluntly, Will got a watered-down, plot-device version that didn’t resonate the same way. Cue inevitable conspiracies about why and how these choices got made.

List: Season 5 Problems That the Documentary Accidentally Highlights

• Robin and Vickie’s relationship: Treated like an afterthought, with Maya Hawke reminding the writers of their own story beats.
• Missed opportunity with Will’s journey: Robin’s arc had heart and screen time; Will’s felt rushed and tacked-on.
• Finale production chaos: The Duffers started filming with an unfinished script, especially on episode 8, which got underway while not even fully written.
• Fans noticing glaring plot holes: Pacing issues, continuity gaffes, and shallow treatment of big character moments all got dragged by the fandom.
• The documentary itself backfiring: Supposed to be a celebration, but instead highlights just how unprepared and reactive the creative team was this season.

Wait, Did They Really Film the Finale Without a Script?

Here’s maybe the wildest tidbit from the whole behind-the-scenes mess: the Duffers apparently jumped into filming the season finale (and especially episode 8) without a finished draft. I wish I was exaggerating. According to them, the normal practice was just to work from an outline and wing it. Tight deadlines meant that production on parts of the season started before the scripts were even complete. So if the end product feels like it’s missing connective tissue, well, that’s probably because it is.

'I’ve never read 8 through, and we’re just shooting it. I’ve never done anything like this before. This is so weird jumping to eight… Don’t love it. Don’t love it.'

That’s a direct quote from the Duffer camp. If you ever wondered why the last act felt like improv, now you know.

At the end of the day, season 5 probably just needed more time and careful attention. Maybe then the show’s beloved characters wouldn’t have felt like they were running on fumes, and the story lines wouldn’t have sputtered out. Will fans look back and mellow out over time, or will Stranger Things now join the Hall of Disappointing Finales? Too early to say, but right now, emotions are running high.

One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5 is now streaming on Netflix in the US, if you want to see the behind-the-scenes car crash for yourself.