Finn Wolfhard, the lead actor of Stranger Things, has expressed growing anxiety as the series approaches its final season release. With the Netflix show set to conclude next month, Wolfhard fears the fan backlash seen with other major finales like Game of Thrones, making the anticipation for the Stranger Things final highly tense.
Creators Take Cues from Iconic TV Finales to Avoid Disappointment
Following the harsh criticism that marred Game of Thrones’ ending in 2019, the creators of Stranger Things are determined to deliver a satisfying conclusion. The Duffer brothers, who helm the series, have studied acclaimed endings from shows such as Six Feet Under, Friday Night Lights, and The Sopranos to navigate the complexities of closing one of the decade’s most beloved series.
Wolfhard acknowledged,
“I think everyone was pretty worried, honestly,”
reflecting on the pressure to avoid a similar negative response. He added,
“The way that Game of Thrones got torn to shreds in that final season, we’re all walking into this going, ‘We hope to not have that kind of thing happen.’ But then we read the scripts. We knew that it was something special,”
as told to Time magazine.
Pressure From Fandom and Pandemic Challenges on Cast
Wolfhard revealed that the immense fan expectations, compounded by strict COVID-19 production constraints, contributed to a stressful filming environment during the fourth season. This pressure even led him to experience hyperventilation on set.
“It was kind of like a fishbowl because a lot of the extras are fans. It culminated in sort of a panic attack,”
he admitted.
He also reflected on the difficulties of being a young actor dealing with fame at such a chaotic time.
“It’s just a symptom of what filmmaking can be, which is chaotic. As a child actor, you’re trying to make things easy for people. You don’t know how to speak up for yourself. You don’t know how to ask for a break… It was incredible and subconsciously terrifying to be 13 and all of a sudden everyone knows who you are,”
Wolfhard said.
Anticipation Builds for Stranger Things Season 5 Release
The final season of Stranger Things is set to be released in three parts, with Volume 1 debuting on November 26, Volume 2 on December 25, and Volume 3 on December 31. As the cast and creators strive to avoid the kind of backlash that has overshadowed other major TV finales, fans eagerly await the Netflix event that promises to close the series on a high note.
