‘Stranger Things’ Season 5 Ending — The Duffer Brothers Break Down the Biggest Plot Holes

After a decade on Netflix, Stranger Things officially came to an end with its Season 5 finale — and while fans said goodbye to Hawkins, many were left with lingering questions about the show’s emotional (and, to some, confusing) final moments. As online debate swirled and reactions ranged from heartfelt praise to intense backlash, the Duffer Brothers largely stayed quiet while the final episodes rolled out.

Now that the series has fully wrapped, Matt and Ross Duffer are opening up about the ending, the discourse surrounding it, and the creative choices that sparked so much conversation. In a post-finale interview with Variety, the brothers addressed the criticism head-on, including claims that certain scenes were unnecessary — a sentiment that circulated widely on social media and review platforms.

Responding to the backlash, Ross emphasized the long-term intention behind one of the most talked-about moments of the finale. “The coming out scene is something we’ve been building to for nine years now. It was a really important scene for us, and ...