There may be no convincing way to sell the largeness of the Stranger Things phenomena to an outsider. Having followed the show since day one, I still remember needing to special-order custom merchandise due to the Netflix breakout itself having zero out at the time. Wearing it to a convention was akin to having some mystical item, with multiple people asking me where I had discovered it. A decade later, the cultural touchstone of Stranger Things has reached a fever pitch. The series finale played in hundreds of theaters in the world on New Year’s Eve, leading to a monumental shared experience dropping the same time for those fans at home. In its final stretch of episodes, as is customary with any behemoth of a show, it grew divisive, even as die hards appreciated the way the Duffer Brothers chose to honor the legacy with a full-circle, forty minute epilogue of a conclusion. For some, that wasn’t enough: the so-called Conformity Gate conspiracy theory crashed Netflix at one point. Now, insightful documentary One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5 arrives just a few weeks removed from the series conclusion. It represents a heartfelt love letter to Stranger Things as a whole—an emotional deconstruction of how a budding genre series evolved into a generational phenomenon. Wave a tearful goodbye and marvel at the sheer magnitude of creating Stranger Things 5.
One Last Adventure gets refreshingly candid about what happens behind the curtain. Particularly approaching this last stretch of eight episodes, the stakes have never been higher for brothers Ross and Matt Duffer. Their writer’s room went into production without a finished script for the final episode, a risky admission that only further emphasizes the massive stress it takes to build out something of this magnitude. Whilst the doc utilizes a variety of voices from cast and crew to recount the formation of Stranger Things 5, the Duffers are the centerpiece. Their bold creative vision has made the series what it is, and hearing them talk candidly about it only endears them even further. Some of their remarks may provide more fuel to fan fires, particularly an exchange where they bemoan potential Demogorgon fatigue in the final episode. Still, getting a window this close in the creative process feels special.
Early footage from season one underscores how little anyone involved could have predicted the cultural impact that followed. These glimpses into franchise history reveal how deeply the characters were shaped by the actors themselves, rather than imposed by writing absolutes. The Duffers used their actual personalities to help shape what would follow. This comes back into play in a major way when building out a conclusion for each of the main characters. Looking at the leads, especially the children, at the points they started versus where they each ended, there are concise, meaningful arcs at play. Eleven’s journey from a frightened twelve-year-old to a fully realized young adult becomes the magical tether tying them all together, mirrored by the cast’s own personal growth.
Focusing on the evolution of Stranger Things gives One Last Adventure a distinct voice. There are plenty of fun tidbits too that shed light on the actual filmmaking process. The decision to cast the Duffers’ real-life drama teacher reflects their own childlike sense of wonder—these filmmakers still pay it forward, further enmeshing Stranger Things into a family affair. Performance and craft are given equal care. Millie Bobbie Brown shows up with a strip of blood from her nose to interject some stray thoughts that are always insightful. Jamie Campbell Bower’s transformation into Vecna is explored in meticulous detail, from hundreds of discarded creature designs to Mr. Whatsit costume fittings to full rehearsals that allowed him to emotionally inhabit the role.
At one point, Jamie admits that Vecna became easier to access over time, paying forward these sentiments to Noah Schnapp and his channeling of Will’s hive mind powers. Meanwhile, Noah reflects on embracing Will’s sexual identity and confronting literal and emotional demons. Annoyingly enough, this documentary sidesteps direct discussion of Will’s most debated storyline. Though it neatly sequences from episode to episode, the seventh that contained Will’s big coming out scene does not get the proper attention it deserved.
Many of the biggest moments of the season were clearly noted ahead of time by Martina Radwan, director of One Last Adventure. It must be said that she does an admirable job in navigating all the muchness. Cherry picking out vital sections probably could not have been easy. Predicting fan reactions is a fool’s errand. In that way, it is perhaps a little understandable that Will’s major coming out moment was either not filmed or not included, but in the face of its mocking and intense backlash, it would have been delightful to focus a little more on Will’s journey. The Duffers call him the heart of season five, and while he exuded major main character energy, they could have explored this even a bit further.
On a technical level, Radwan highlights the artistry, and celebrates ambition. One-shot action sequences, emphasis on practical effects whenever possible, and the infamous “melty room” sequence illustrate how departments worked in rare harmony. There are no shortage of professional challenges, either. That massive Mac-Z action scene that closes out arguably one of the best hours of television to date, “The Sorcerer,” required constant rehearsal to pull off all the moving parts. Building out the centerpiece “pain tree” of Vecna’s lair in The Abyss saw months of labor from multiple teams through sculpting, painting, and construction. Visual effects were especially complicated to handle for the finale, as the pressure from producers and Netflix for landing “The Rightside Up,” continued to mount.
The emotional peak arrives with that final table read. The devastating catharsis as a viewer could not possibly match what so many cast and crew members were handling emotionally. Lots of tears are shed as they approach closing a chapter that defined a decade of their lives. Winona Ryder does not get much emphasis during the documentary which is unfortunate, but they do underline Joyce’s big moment decapitating Vecna, as well as the wild fact that it was her first time working with Jamie at all. The final days of filming, culminating in a symbolic Dungeons & Dragons session to bring us full circle, are handled with a careful touch. Radwan allows quiet moments and tearful goodbyes to speak volumes. For many fans, this section will probably be the most moving to watch. We have been with these characters for a decade now, and leaving them behind will not be easy.
One Last Adventure succeeds mainly in honoring the perfect imperfections of making a final season. It solely focuses on the voices within that orbit, including frequent director Shawn Levy and anyone else directly involved in the making and creation of the final product we see onscreen. There’s some messiness of course, but family love always makes the journey transcend beyond the gates of Hawkins, The Upside Down, and The Abyss. By the end, the documentary’s title has been earned beyond a shadow of a doubt. Stranger Things leaves behind the legacy of a hugely successful genre series that spoke to multiple generations. As with any series, it will have its detractors trying to poke holes in aspects of the ending. One Last Adventure implores viewers to have some grace. Landing on an ending could not have been easy, but the one we got feels special in a way most shows do not. Normally by now, at least a chunk of the cast has already checked out. Will this unique, cinematic, deeply emotional Netflix show stand the test of time? I believe.
The ultimate behind-the-scenes look at Stranger Things 5 goes upside down and straight into the abyss, flaying minds exclusively for Netflix on Monday, January 12th.
