Key Highlights
- The final table read of “Stranger Things” took place on September 8, 2024.
- Actors were given the script for the finale cold and without prior reading time.
- The cast experienced intense emotions during the final days of filming the series.
- Each actor’s last day was structured to be their last scene in the show.
The Emotional Endgame: Inside “Stranger Things”’s Final Days
“Stranger Things,” the beloved Netflix series that has captivated audiences for nearly a decade, is coming to an end. The final episodes will premiere on November 26, 2024, with the series finale set for New Year’s Eve of the same year. To understand the emotional journey behind the show’s conclusion, Variety conducted interviews with the Duffer brothers and several cast members.
The Final Table Read
The final table read took place on September 8, 2024, in Atlanta. Matt Duffer described it as a unique experience: “Ross and I don’t share anything with anybody. The actors poke around, especially Millie. She’s pretty good at guessing things too.” This was the first time the actors had seen the entire script for the finale, adding to the anticipation.
Emotions on Set
The cast shared their experiences of the final days on set, highlighting the intense emotions they felt. Sadie Sink recalled: “I always get really nervous for table reads, but that was the most nerve-racking of them all.” Charlie Heaton noted the intimate setting: “It was with Matt and Ross, the cast, and Shawn. In the past, we did these really big table reads for 50 or 60 people.”
Nell Fisher, who plays Holly Wheeler in Season 5, described the relaxed atmosphere of the final reading: “For the first six episodes, we were on quite long, menacing tables with microphones in, like an all-black room.
But for the final episode, we were just kind of sitting around. Some people were on couches, some people were on bean bags, and it was all very relaxed.”
Script Mirroring Real Life
The scriptwriting process revealed unexpected parallels with the actors’ real lives. Matt Duffer mentioned: “Everything we wanted to say about the show, the experience of making the show, you as actors, and your characters — we tried to put all of that into the script.” Heaton observed that the final episode was emotionally charged for everyone involved: “20 minutes in — and we’re not even a third into the script — Noah is bawling his eyes out, like deep sobs. And then Finn was crying. That really set everyone off.”
The Duffers and their cast emphasized how the writing process mirrored the actors’ real-life experiences: “It really was once we did the final table read that it was like, ‘Oh, of course.’” This connection made the emotions felt during filming even more poignant.
Final Goodbyes
The production staff ensured each actor’s last day would be their last scene. Schnapp explained: “I went to every single person on that call sheet’s last day. I did not want to say goodbye to anybody.” Heaton added, “Getting to do that with your character is really, really lovely.
It really amps up the emotion of the moment and that day.” These emotional goodbyes underscored the long-term bond between cast members.
Winona Ryder’s last day was particularly poignant for Schnapp: “I was at Winona’s last day, and I was like, ‘Oh, this is a work goodbye, we’ll see each other soon.’ And then I was in her trailer, and I was like, ‘No! You can’t leave!’” This moment highlighted the deep connections forged during the show’s run.
The finale remains tightly guarded, with no spoilers revealed. However, cast members shared their emotions about what it meant to say goodbye: “I bawled more than I expected,” said Millie Bobby Brown. “While I was at the point personally and professionally for the show to come to an end, I realized in that moment the finality was so real and I was maybe not emotionally prepared.”
The cast’s experiences during the final days of “Stranger Things” underscore the impact the series had on their lives. As they prepare to say goodbye to these characters, viewers can anticipate a deeply emotional conclusion to one of television’s most beloved shows.
