By the time Netflix dropped the Stranger Things two-hour finale, The Rightside Up, on December 31, 2025, the anticipation was huge and culminated in a confrontation against the Mind Flayer and Vecna. What they were not anticipating was how much the episode was tilted towards Stephen King's universe.The Duffer Brothers were never shy to borrow from the horror of the 80s, but this time, the reference is too obvious. The last villain is monstrous, but the heart of the standoff is emotional, and the final part is a close citation of It, both plot-wise and visually. What was once a slight nod can now be witnessed as definite similarities, and the Stranger Things finale becomes an outspoken, heart-wrenching homage to the legacy of Stephen King.The Stranger Things Season 5 finale is a clear nod to Stephen King’s IT View this post on Instagram Instagram PostIf you've read Stephen King's IT, you will recall that Pennywise frequently appears in the form of a gigantic spider, one of the most unpleasant scenes in the book. This is clearly reflected in Stranger Things Season 5 Episode 8, with the Mind Flayer becoming a huge, spider-like being as opposed to being a shadowy entity in the end.It is not a chance design decision. It seems like a direct reference to the cosmic horror that King gave a nod to and replaces Pennywise with a Hawkins-esque final boss. It is aesthetically pure nightmare fuel. Thematically, that is equally good: a group of friends against an impossible, fearful monster. It is an apt reward and a dramatic climax to the show that is based on friendship, courage, and facing the unthinkable.Framing the finale's emotional arc View this post on Instagram Instagram PostStranger Things does not depend on a single reference from Stephen King's universe. The manner in which the gang can kill the monster in the finale is quite King-like: it requires the use of psychic power, emotional bravery, and co-operation.In the stories of King, monsters are not overcome only through sheer force, but instead, they are overcome when people overcome their fears in unison. This is exhibited through the Losers Club, and the same thought becomes executed in the Stranger Things finale. Eleven and Will fight Vecna in a mental and emotional fight as the rest of the group cooperate to undermine his power.Stranger Things has never been afraid to be inspired by Stephen King: children against the evil, shrouded experiments, monsters in the basement. However, the Stranger Things finale goes further. It does not mention King but constructs its ultimate battle around one of King’s most iconic ideas.The transformation of the Mind Flayer into a giant spider is not an insignificant Easter egg, but the core of the finale. Duffers pays a clear nod to It and reinvents that fear using their own narrative. Since this tribute is what moves the images as well as the feelings of the final episode, it seems intentional, strong, and very fulfilling to the longtime fans.For more such intriguing insights, keep following SoapCentral.