Stranger Things Season 5 Split Explained by Creators
Stranger Things season 5 will conclude the series with a three-part final split released over two months. The Duffer Brothers, creators of the show, explain that this approach allows the story's scope to expand significantly in the final chapters.
Volume One as a Standalone Experience
Ross Duffer shared in an interview with SFX Magazine that unlike season four, where the split was unplanned due to the pandemic, this time they knew ahead of time about dividing the season into two parts. Volume One is designed as a "mega-movie" with its own distinct climax.
"I'm also excited about the first volume because, in season four, we weren't aware that it was going to get split in two," Ross said. "It's not Netflix's fault, it's nobody’s fault. There was the pandemic, and we ended up dividing it in two so we could get episodes out sooner. But this time, we knew we were going to divide it into two, so it really is in two halves. Volume One really exists as its own mega-movie. It has its own climax."
The Most Challenging Episode Yet
The fourth episode of season 5, which serves as the Volume One finale, is described by Ross as the most technically demanding episode the Duffers have ever produced.
"Episode four was the most challenging episode we've ever made, and that includes the finale – though on an emotional level, the finale was the hardest. I don't know how many days I found myself crying, and I'm not someone who cries very often outside of watching Pixar movies."
Technical and Emotional Challenges
Ross emphasized the technical difficulties in creating episode four, while acknowledging that the emotional weight of the actual series finale was even more intense.
Overall, the creators believe the season's structure and emotional depth will provide a satisfying conclusion for fans.