Stranger Things Season 5: Avoiding a Game of Thrones-Level Disaster!
Stranger Things Season 5: Learning from Game of Thrones' Mistakes
Stranger Things is a megahit! Everyone loves it! This Netflix sensation’s fifth and final season arrives in 2025. The gang’s facing Vecna and the Upside Down, but there’s a huge elephant in the room: how to end this epic show without a repeat of Game of Thrones' infamous finale. Dean Zimmerman, Stranger Things' editor (and an Emmy winner!), recently shared some major intel on this very important topic. In a conversation surrounding other works like Deadpool and Wolverine he reveals the Duffer brothers' intense focus on making that ending as epic, satisfying and importantly – without ruining what came before.
Zimmerman states that they're acutely aware of Game of Thrones' controversial ending: he explains that, while building that large narrative scale greater than previously seen. The team emphasizes perfection as the paramount goal for the series. It has to deliver and needs to avoid that critical failure. In Zimmerman's words: "Their whole mission is to stick the landing on this final season where, controversially, a lot of people say Game of Thrones did not; they don't want that, and they won't settle for anything but perfection."
Why Game of Thrones' Ending Went Wrong (and What Stranger Things is Doing Differently)
Game of Thrones' finale? A major disaster! It was criticized harshly – those rushed storylines (like the White Walkers’ anticlimactic defeat), and its baffling character arcs (Daenerys' sudden heel turn), ruined many earlier great works! That really left a negative stain on a brilliant show; thus it serves as a perfect cautionary tale for those following this show; those series seeking that amazing successful ending that can please the massive fanbase this specific show garnered over all these years.
Zimmerman’s comments suggest that the Duffer brothers are hyper-focused on avoiding those earlier mistakes! Their plans to use a very similar runtime (compared to season 4) emphasizes that commitment to avoid any cutting of corners in their storytelling methods; highlighting that important message about not wasting important plots. Those things mattered to people before, so keeping that same pacing should alleviate previous fears; helping build a satisfying story that delivers all the previously enjoyed characters, showing the complete evolution of each story; allowing the story’s various components to get all that deserved resolution without that hurried ending which negatively affected those viewers from other similarly themed productions.
Our Take: Faithful to the Fans
Ending a beloved series is hard. Zimmerman’s words imply this fact; it shows that awareness of existing fan concerns has always been at the forefront for this current season. Those long years of anticipation could either completely pay off; creating another mega-hit final chapter; or end up badly and damage years of creative development and the relationship with its viewers; creating that difficult yet important relationship that exists between content creators and fanbase demands! The production's secrecy creates many anxieties for the fans; hence Zimmerman’s statements clearly addressing some very relevant fan worries! There will also be important characters from the main cast who could finally get deserved arcs; a plot point that hasn’t ever been guaranteed due to the frequent appearance of side characters. Despite the additions of newer characters such as Linda Hamilton (remember the Terminator ?) to the current Stranger Things cast.
Betraying fan expectations is a recipe for disaster; thus a similar length compared to season 4 means that, given that similar number of total episodes involved; there won’t be a rushed finale!
Conclusion: Hope for a Perfect Stranger Things Ending!
Stranger Things season 5 has a massive challenge. The producers know exactly what awaits them if this finale turns out badly! That concern and clear awareness of Game of Thrones' blunders are hugely important in easing viewer concerns and alleviating the anxiety and potential misinterpretations of its ending; those insights, along with Zimmerman's own emphasis of a substantial episode count like in previous seasons; mean there’s hope that those existing stories will get perfect resolutions and not end on a tragic whimper! This is just the very start of this anticipated ending which promises epic conclusions. Fans should expect great things, a thoughtful story focused on giving satisfying closures – rather than disappointing conclusions. We'll soon know. We are so hyped.
