Finn Wolfhard reveals that the entire Stranger Things cast was afraid of a Game of Thrones fate for the Season 5 finale

When Stranger Things entered its final season, it was only natural for everyone to be nervous. It was the final time that a large-scale project like this would leave a mark on people.

Finn Wolfhard, the actor who portrays Mike Wheeler, told Time magazine that the cast and crew were privately fearful that the ending would be a disappointment to fans, much like it was the case with Game of Thrones. The show that began as a worldwide sensation ended with a very unsatisfying finale that eventually became a lesson for everyone in the entertainment industry.

Wolfhard explained that those were the same fears people had in their minds about Stranger Things. They did not want the ending to feel sloppy or unnatural. However, he said most of their concerns were eliminated when they read the final scripts. It seemed like a meaningful and well-considered story, and they are sure fans will be satisfied with how things pan out.

Why the Stranger Things cast feared the fate of Game of Thrones’ finale

Big productions always bring big anticipation, and for the cast of Stranger Things, who've grown up with the show, pressure became a genuine fear: what if the series finale turns out to be disappointing and fans respond like they did to Game of Thrones?

Finn Wolfhard was truthful when he explained how anxious the cast was. Everyone knew that the finale would be critiqued by millions of humans worldwide. And once a show is as big as pop culture, the writers don't just own its finale; it's owned by everybody who watches it.

In the recent conversation with Time magazine, Finn Wolfhard revealed:

“I think everyone was pretty worried, honestly. The way that ‘Game of Thrones’ got torn to shreds in that final season, we’re all walking into this going, ‘We hope to not have that kind of thing happen.’ But then we read the scripts. We knew that it was something special.”

The fear wasn't just about negative reviews but about how the show would be remembered. A mediocre finale can cause people to forget all the good moments that preceded it. That's why the cast took it so seriously. Instead of panicking, they carefully read the final scripts, discussed what the story meant, and tried to make choices that remained loyal to their characters and to the fans who've loved the show for years.

How the Duffers, the cast, and Netflix tried to avoid a backlash

It may not necessarily be a single big solution, but rather multiple small, cautious steps to avoid a bad ending. It is reported that the Duffer brothers, the cast, and the producers of Stranger Things took extensive time to rewrite scenes, keep the story secret, and treat some scenes as movie-grade sets to make the finale seem big and well-crafted.

Money was also a big factor. The fifth season was budgeted heavily and had enormous expectations because it was supposed to be the creative and commercial peak of the show. That implied that no one could afford shortcuts. The secrecy of the team, the editing, and the heavy support that the cast gave to the scripts were some of the factors that made everyone believe that things were looking good.

This was also a big deal to Netflix. Stranger Things is one of its greatest hits, a series that attracts subscribers and sells merchandise in enormous amounts, so the company wanted a conclusion that its fans could adore. Naturally, not all the viewers will be satisfied (almost no ending is satisfying to all the viewers), but it is apparent that the creators have learned their lessons from what other shows did wrong and tried to provide an ending that, as Finn Wolfhard said, is “something special.”

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