After nearly a decade, “Stranger Things” is coming to an end. The upcoming Season 5 represents the final run of episodes for the beloved sci-fi series on Netflix, with fans waiting to see how the ’80s saga ends. Will it stick the landing? Or will it become one of those highly controversial finales like so many TV shows of the past? There is a popular theory regarding the end of the series, which would undoubtedly be the subject of heated discussion.
Warning: If this theory is correct, this could be a major spoiler for “Stranger Things” season 5.. Come back now if you’re worried about potential spoilers. If you’re still curious, let’s go. The theory has been around for a while, but was recently laid out succinctly by author Jason Pargin on social media.
Season 1 of the series introduces us to the Hawkins children, who all know each other because they are part of the “Dungeons & Dragons” group. The first scene of the series shows a scientist in the shadows being snatched by something before cutting to a shot of the boys playing “DnD.” Mike (Finn Wolfhard), who is the Dungeon Master, reveals that the attack came from the Demogorgon, a major antagonist of the series who became “real” shortly after.
The theory goes that literally everything we’ve seen in the series reflects what we saw in its opening minutes. The entire thing was just a “Dungeons & Dragons” game, with the final scene recalling Mike and the boys in the basement, coming full circle, for better or worse. If this is indeed how things play out, the much-hated Season 8 of “Game of Thrones” would probably look like child’s play.
Was Stranger Things always a Dungeons & Dragons game?
If this is true, people would undoubtedly lose their minds, but something this wild is not unprecedented. “St. Elsewhere” revealed that the entire show was a figment of a young boy’s imagination. Granted, that was decades ago, but we can’t pretend that no great TV show has ever taken a gigantic turn with its ending. “The Sopranos” just faded to black, but are creators Matt and Ross Duffer, aka the Duffer Brothers, so crazy?
“Obviously it’s stressful trying to figure out how you want to end the series,” Ross Duffer explained at the Lucca Comics and Games Festival (via Variety). “Luckily, about six or seven years ago, we at least knew the final scene. We always knew what the last 40 minutes were going to be.”
It’s certainly worth noting that “Stranger Things” was originally conceived as a miniseries. Initially, this was not considered a multi-season project. But it took off, and here we are. It’s now an overarching franchise that includes a stage play, theme park-style installations, spin-off merchandise, and even proposed spinoffs that can keep the universe alive after the main show ends.
The thing is, what the Duffers initially planned certainly changed along the way. On the one hand, it’s extremely plausible that the whole of “Stranger Things” could be revealed as an elaborate work of imagination within the framework of a “Dungeons & Dragons” campaign. At the same time, even if this were the case at one point, it’s really hard to imagine that the duo will stick with it, or that Netflix will quietly accept it. It would be difficult to make sense of future fallout.
The Stranger Things finale will go down in television history
This is just speculation, although not entirely unfounded. What’s indisputable is that if that happened, “Stranger Things” would cement its place in television history, for better or worse. It’s already one of Netflix’s biggest shows, but such a bold ending would make it a talking point for all time, even if it’s a heated one.
Specific plot details are largely being kept under wraps for season 5. What we know for sure is that Netflix spent a fortune making the final episodes of “Stranger Things,” and many of the episodes will be feature films. They spared no expense. It would certainly be a lot to do just to reveal that it was all a game.
It’s also important to point out that Netflix will premiere the series finale in theaters the same day it arrives on the streaming service, December 31, just in time to ring in the new year. One can only imagine the response that would emerge from these theaters if this is indeed how the ending plays out. But again, at this point, it’s really hard to imagine the Duffers pushing for something that could not only bring down the franchise, but has also been predicted by many fans on the internet for years now.
At the same time, if this is the vision Ross and Matt Duffer had several years ago, the alleged backlash alone might not be enough to persuade them to change things. Above all, these are creators who clearly want to close this show on their own terms. We will see how things develop over the coming weeks.
“Stranger Things” season 5, volume 1, will premiere on November 26, 2025 on Netflix.
