Stranger Things Season 5: Creators Defend Three-Part Split
Stranger Things season 5, the final chapter of the series, is split into three parts released over two months, expanding the story's scope significantly. The Duffer Brothers, creators of the show, explain that this division allows for a more detailed and impactful narrative.
Volume One as a Standalone Mega-Movie
Ross Duffer shared in an interview with SFX Magazine that unlike season four, where the split was unplanned due to the pandemic, season five was intentionally divided into two halves. This design makes Volume One feel like its own mega-movie, complete with its own 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. 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." – Ross Duffer
Technical and Emotional Challenges of Episode Four
The fourth episode of season 5, which serves as the finale for Volume One, is described by Ross as the most technically demanding episode they have ever produced. Emotionally, the finale episode itself was the toughest for the creators.
"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." – Ross Duffer
Summary
The Duffer Brothers designed Stranger Things season 5's split to deepen the story's impact, with Volume One crafted as a standalone epic and the fourth episode marking the series’ most demanding and emotional moment.
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