Stranger Things may have ended its run, but the beloved supernatural series just received an unexpected tribute. Saturday Night Live delivered a hilarious sketch that lovingly mocked the show's passionate fanbase, endless theories, and rumored spin-offs.
Cast Reunion on SNL Stage
Finn Wolfhard hosted the January 17, 2026 episode of SNL, marking his debut on the legendary stage. The actor, famous for playing Mike Wheeler, brought along his co-stars Gaten Matarazzo and Caleb McLaughlin for a memorable reunion. The trio received thunderous applause from the audience as they stepped out together.
Wolfhard opened his monologue by reflecting on his unusual childhood. "I grew up in Hawkins, Indiana," he joked, "and also in front of cameras under constant scrutiny." He shared amusing anecdotes about hitting puberty during filming and having his first kiss captured on camera.
Former Child Stars Speak Out
When Wolfhard declared, "I'm not a kid anymore," McLaughlin quickly responded, "Neither are we! We're not child stars, we're former child stars." Matarazzo added with a grin, "And any time you read 'former child star' in a headline, it can only mean good things."
The three actors sarcastically thanked fans who watched them grow up on screen and then commented online about their changing appearances. Despite the humor, Wolfhard turned sincere at the end, telling his co-stars, "We're now men, but you'll always be my boys."
The Hilarious Parody Sketch
The real highlight of the evening came with SNL's Stranger Things parody sketch. The show mercilessly roasted popular fan theories and imagined ridiculous spin-offs with perfect comedic timing.
Fake Episode and Spin-Offs
The sketch began with a fictional "Episode 9" playing on the "Conformity Gate" theory about a secret hidden episode. In SNL's version, Mike, Lucas, and Dustin find themselves in Iceland investigating unexplained mysteries.
Then came the fake spin-off promotions:
- Strangerous Minds: Steve Harrington as a teacher
- The Wheeler Report: Nancy's news program
- Mike in Manhattan: Mike as a hopeless dater in New York City
Surprise Cameo and Final Twist
The sketch built to a clever reveal. "Remember that mysterious ninth episode the internet was convinced existed?" the narrator asked. "It didn't, but it does now!"
Suddenly, the characters appeared in Iceland. Wolfhard's Mike looked directly at the camera and declared, "Everything we thought happened was an illusion planted by Vecna. He's still out there!"
In a hilarious twist, Eleven appeared played by Kenan Thompson, sending the audience into fits of laughter.
Addressing Real Fan Theories
While the sketch was purely comedic, it cleverly referenced actual fan speculation that emerged after Stranger Things aired its finale on New Year's Eve. Many viewers found the ending ambiguous and refused to accept it as final.
Wild theories began circulating online suggesting the final episode was fake and a secret bonus episode existed somewhere. Some fans even believed Vecna had orchestrated an elaborate deception. Although none of these theories proved true, SNL brilliantly transformed them into comedy gold.
The internet has been buzzing about the sketch ever since it aired. Fans appreciate how SNL managed to poke fun at the fandom while showing genuine affection for the series that captivated audiences for nearly a decade.
