Stranger Things Ending: Shawn Levy Reveals Thoughtful Reason For Season 5 Finale

Why Stranger Things Is Ending With Season 5 Thoughtfully Explained By Shawn Levy Will looking scared as Vecna puts his hand to his face in Stranger Things season 5 By  Ash Crossan  &  Grant Hermanns Published 25 minutes ago Sign in to your ScreenRant account Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

After nearly a decade of being on the air, Stranger Things is saying farewell, and executive producer/director Shawn Levy reveals the thoughtful reason why season 5 is the end. The latest chapter of the hit Netflix series picks up a little over a year after the season 4 cliffhanger ending, in which Hawkins was rocked by Vecna's attack and the Upside Down still attempting to invade the Indiana town.

Netflix has pulled out all the stops to make Stranger Things season 5 the epic sendoff fans of the series have come to want and expect. From reportedly spending nearly half a billion dollars on the season to changing their normal approach to big releases by bringing the roughly two-hour series finale to limited theaters in the United States and Canada on New Year's Day.

Even as it marks the farewell for the mainline series, though, the Stranger Things franchise will live on with the upcoming animated spinoff Tales From '85, which is slated for an unspecified 2026 release. Additionally, the Duffer brothers recently confirmed progress is underway on the mystery live-action spinoff, even amidst their shift to Paramount with their massive new creative deal.

In honor of the show's return, ScreenRant's Ash Crossan interviewed Shawn Levy to discuss Stranger Things season 5. When asked about bringing the show to an end with season 5, including how long he knew the plan to end it now, the executive producer/director began by expressing that "none of us wanted to overstay our welcome" by keeping the show going for too long:

The truth is that the main reason it feels right is I've had one North Star that I've followed since the day I read this pilot script from a couple of unknown twin brothers, which is I'm here to champion, support, and help the Duffer voice and vision.

He did go on to explain that the Duffers "have known for a while" how Stranger Things was going to end, and they similarly "didn't want to drag it out" in order to avoid "repeating themselves or overstaying their story welcome." He went on to praise the season 5 ending as being "a magnificent Duffer finale episode," describing it as being "satisfying" and "deeply emotional":

It is deeply emotional. It explains a lot, which is not easy to do with so many characters that you also need to pay off. But somehow this season, the work of Matt and Ross achieves that.

Levy Will Hold The Memories Of Watching The Stranger Things Cast Grow "Most Dear"

ScreenRant? Is there a No. 1 unanswered question that you are excited for fans to finally get closure on?

Shawn Levy: Yes, but I'm scared to tell you what it would be because then you might assume I'm giving you a reveal. That would be a spoiler, and then I'm in so much trouble. There are so many unanswered questions, but thankfully, we have creator showrunners who really care about satisfying the audience and not leaving core questions unanswered. Because shows that have done that, as we know, can leave us dissatisfied in a way we never forget. But a great ending, a great finale? That's also something we never forget.

ScreenRant: These kids grew up on camera. Their childhood is documented throughout this show. On a more personal level, what has it been like for you watching them grow? Did you also have that moment of realizing this is kind of their graduation?

Shawn Levy: I've watched them grow up the way the world has, but I've also been front row to see them grow as creative professionals. And that's been incredible because, as they've gotten better and more in control of their craft, we can feed them material that demands more of them. They were always special, but now they're special with command of their craft. So, that's been a real gift to the storytelling. Season 5 really feeds them amazing material that they deliver on. But even today, we've all been in the same building doing press together. And when I sit next to these kids, young men, young women, what I'm remembering suddenly is the thousands of moments on set creating these storytelling moments that are now known and iconic throughout the world. But at one point, it was just us on set, bringing a scene to life. And those memories are the thing that I will hold most dear as I move into the future.

Be sure to dive into some of our other Stranger Things season 5 coverage with:

• Millie Bobby Brown assuring Stranger Things season 5's ending will avoid other finale complaints
• Noah Schnapp confirming that Will Byers gets a definitive ending in the final season
• Charlie Heaton explaining how Jonathan Byers' story is different from prior seasons
• Shawn Levy addressing the ambiguous fate of the Byers family's dog nine years after season 1
• Shawn Levy naming his favorite Stranger Things scenes

Stranger Things season 5 volume 1 premieres on November 26 at 8 p.m. EST on Netflix, followed by volume 2 on December 25, and the finale event on December 31.

516 9.2/10 8/10

Stranger Things

10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed TV-14 Drama Mystery Horror Science Fiction Release Date 2016 - 2025-00-00 Network Netflix Showrunner Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer Directors Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer, Andrew Stanton, Frank Darabont, Nimród Antal, Uta Briesewitz Writers Kate Trefry, Jessie Nickson-Lopez, Jessica Mecklenburg, Alison Tatlock 7 Images Eleven looking into an opening of the Upside Down with pink light in Stranger Things season 1Jim Hopper (David Harbour) grabbing Jonathan's (Charlie Heaton) shoulders in Stranger Things season 1©Netflix/Courtesy Everett CollectionEleven with cables all over her head in Stranger Things season 4Vecna looking towards Will in the trailer for Stranger Things season 5 (2025)Max and Eleven in Stranger ThingsNetflixStranger Things season 2, episode 2 "Trick or Treat, Freak".MovieStillsDBThe Upside Down in Stranger Things season 5Courtesy of Netflix Close

Cast

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• Millie Bobby Brown Jane 'Eleven' Hopper
• Finn Wolfhard Mike Wheeler

Main Genre Drama Genres Drama, Mystery, Horror, Science Fiction Creator(s) Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer Executive Producer(s) Shawn Levy, Dan Cohen, Curtis Gwinn, Cindy Holland, Karl Gajdusek, Iain Paterson, Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer Producers Rand Geiger, Justin Doble, Lampton Enochs Seasons 5 Streaming Service(s) Netflix Franchise Stranger Things Powered by Expand Collapse

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