Stranger Things Creator Addresses Finale Backlash and Regrets Post-Show Interviews

Stranger Things co-creator Matt Duffer is addressing the intense backlash surrounding the Netflix series' finale, admitting he regrets answering fan questions so soon after the show ended. Premiering in 2016, Stranger Things became one of Netflix’s most successful original series, blending ’80s nostalgia with sci-fi horror as it followed a group of kids in Hawkins, Indiana, battling supernatural threats from the Upside Down.

After nearly a decade on air, Stranger Things released its two-hour series finale on December 31, concluding a decade-long journey for fans around the world, and reactions were deeply divided. While many praised the emotional beats and farewell moments, others criticized the pacing, unresolved plots, and storytelling choices, sparking intense online debate and backlash.

In a recent interview with Josh Horowitz on his podcast Happy Sad Confused, the Duffer brothers spoke about answering rounds of questions so shortly after the finale aired. Matt Duffer revealed that he was sick during those interviews and asked fans to "cut him some slack" regarding the responses he provided following the Stranger Things finale. Read his comments below:

I really shouldn't have done any of these postmortem interviews. I am not in a good place. Like, why the hell did we do any of them yesterday is beyond me. I'm, like, fried. I was getting over the flu. So, anyone mad at any answers we gave you yesterday, just cut me some slack.

Reactions to Stranger Things 5 and its final episode have been quite mixed. While fans and critics alike have praised certain elements, such as the emotional resolutions for some of the key characters and the symbolic epilogue, substantial portions of the audience have also expressed disappointment.

Audience reactions to Season 5, volume 2, particularly episode 7, titled “The Bridge,” declined significantly on viewer rating platforms. The episode became the lowest-rated in the series’ history on IMDb, currently standing at a 5.6/10 rating, with many describing it as "disappointing."

Similarly, the rating for season 5 also decreased on Rotten Tomatoes, with the audience's Popcornmeter standing at a 57% score, compared to critics' 84% Tomatometer rating. With over 5,000 reviews, some viewers have stated season 5 is "artificial" and "joyless."

Online communities across social media platforms have erupted with debates over unresolved questions, narrative decisions, and the handling of character arcs, going as far as starting a petition demanding the release of alleged “unseen footage” of the final season of the show, which has amassed more than 300,000 signatures despite cast members confirming there are no secret cuts of Stranger Things season 5.

Beyond plot concerns, some viewers have taken issue with how certain themes and dynamics were executed, including pointing out how the last episodes of Stranger Things ​​​​​​were too focused on plot at the expense of character interactions. However, not all reactions were negative, with much of the audience enjoying the finale as it concluded many fan-favorite character stories satisfyingly.

With its nearly decade-long run, Stranger Things has become a defining show of its era, launching careers and generating conversations across generations of viewers. Its conclusion marks a moment of global pop culture significance, but it also serves as a reminder of how passionate fandom can be both a show’s greatest asset and its most intense critic.

All seasons of Stranger Things are available to stream on Netflix.

Release Date 2016 - 2025-00-00

Network Netflix

Showrunner Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

Directors Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer, Andrew Stanton, Frank Darabont, Nimród Antal, Uta Briesewitz

Writers Kate Trefry, Jessie Nickson-Lopez, Jessica Mecklenburg, Alison Tatlock