The end of Stranger Things has left a void in many fans' hearts, but a new documentary offers a fascinating glimpse into the making of the final season. It's a bittersweet moment for fans as they bid farewell to the beloved sci-fi world after a decade of adventures. But what if there was more? A theory, known as the Conformity Gate, surfaced on social media, suggesting a secret extra episode was yet to come. While that theory didn't materialize, a behind-the-scenes documentary, One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5, is here to satisfy those cravings and answer burning questions.
Martina Radwan, the documentarian, found the Conformity Gate theory a bit perplexing. "Why would they withhold that?" she wonders. She understands the difficulty of saying goodbye after such a long journey, and hopes the two-hour documentary provides closure while offering a unique peek into the writer's room and production process.
The Duffer Brothers, the creative minds behind the '80s-inspired, monster-filled series, faced immense pressure in concluding the show. The documentary reveals a shocking reality: the final episode's script was still being worked on as filming began! But as Martina explains, on a project of this scale, it's impossible to write everything in advance. It's common practice in TV and film to write while shooting. "I think having access to the writer's room is a real gift and a privilege," she says, highlighting the complexity of weaving together multiple storylines and developing a massive ensemble cast of 19 characters.
But here's where it gets controversial... The documentary delves into the writers' debates, including whether creatures should appear in the final fight scene and the ultimate fate of Eleven, played by Millie Bobby Brown. It also showcases the cast's growth over the years, using audition tapes and scenes from the first series, which aired in 2016. "It was important to really show the longevity and also how everybody developed individually, but also with each other as a group," says Martina.
One of the documentary's standout elements is the sheer scale of the production. Hundreds of creatives, cast, and crew worked tirelessly to create realistic settings under tight deadlines, often without a completed script. "That pressure on a show that is so beloved and so big is immense," Martina says. "I don't know how the Duffers are doing it, to be honest."
And this is the part most people miss... In a wrap speech, co-creator Ross Duffer reveals season five took 237 days to film, using 6,725 set-ups to create 630 hours of footage, which was then edited down to about 10 hours. Martina wanted to illustrate how a project of this scale is made, because it "does all these things that nobody thought a TV show can do." The Duffer Brothers were inspired by behind-the-scenes documentaries of classic films, like The Lord of the Rings, when they were growing up. The documentary also includes snippets of homemade films the brothers made as children, reflecting their lifelong passion for filmmaking, and an interview with their former drama teacher, who has a cameo role in season five.
"They didn't become successful overnight, this is 40 years in the making process," Martina says. "They started making feature-length movies at the age of eight. So, to me, the core of it is that they really represent everything that I love about film-making. And also, they're true to their art, they're true to their vision, which I really admire as a director myself."
One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5 is available on Netflix.
What do you think? Did you find the documentary as fascinating as the show itself? Are you surprised by the behind-the-scenes realities of such a massive production? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
