The journey to the Upside Down is finally reaching its conclusion. The globally beloved Netflix series, Stranger Things, is preparing to bid farewell to its legion of fans. The final episode of the show is set to premiere on December 31 at 8 pm ET, marking the end of an era for the cast, crew, and viewers who have grown up with the characters from Hawkins.
A Wave of Emotions on the Final Set
Sadie Sink, who portrays the resilient Max Mayfield, recently shared intimate details about the profoundly emotional atmosphere during the last days of filming. She described a set filled with tears and intense feelings as the cast and crew prepared to say goodbye to a project that defined a significant chapter of their lives.
Wrapping her final scene was an especially challenging experience for the actress. She emphasised that the entire team leaned on each other for support during this transitional period. "One thing we all did was try to be there for each other on each other's last days," Sink revealed, highlighting the deep bonds formed over the years.
She also praised the show's creators, the Duffer Brothers, for their handling of the conclusion. "The Duffers did a good job of finding the right moments to end each of our characters' stories and to have a good scene to wrap on," she stated, assuring fans that the narrative arcs reach satisfying endpoints.
"I Cried So Much": Sadie Sink's Personal Goodbye
In a candid conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Sink admitted that her last day on set was overwhelmingly emotional. "I cried so much that last day," she confessed, noting that the outpouring of grief felt necessary and cathartic. "I feel like I grieved it properly and I got it all out of my system. But I fear there's more coming."
The actress explained that while the cast has already watched the completed finale together, sparking memories and another round of goodbyes, she anticipates a second, more public wave of emotion. "I really think this period is about sharing it with the fans," Sink reflected. "I expect to have that second wave of emotion once the finale is actually streaming on Netflix."
Final Episode Details and a Cast That Grew Up Together
The release strategy for the fifth and final season saw Volume 1 debut on November 26, followed by Volume 2 on Christmas. The grand finale, titled "Stranger Things: The Finale - The Right Side Up," will be a feature-length event. The episode's runtime has been slightly extended and will now run for two hours and eight minutes, instead of the initially planned two hours and five minutes.
For many core cast members, including Sink, the show has been a backdrop to their entire adolescence and young adulthood. This shared experience of growing up on screen makes the farewell particularly poignant, akin to closing a major life chapter. Sink expressed her profound gratitude in a social media post from the set, writing, "This show, character, and every person involved made me who I am... Saying goodbye is so painful but I leave with memories and love to last a lifetime. I’m eternally grateful."
As the clock ticks down to New Year's Eve, fans worldwide are steeling themselves for an emotional farewell to Hawkins, Indiana. While the story ends, the legacy of Stranger Things and the memories it created for both its cast and its audience are sure to endure.
