The final season of Stranger Things, the Duffer Brothers' popular sci-fi hit on Netflix, was certainly the season of powerful mothers. After the Hawkins gang enjoyed the spotlight across four seasons, their mothers, Karen Wheeler and Joyce Byers, finally got much-deserved attention and bravely fought against the monster, with Joyce even decapitating Vecna in a final blow.As Mike and Will's mothers became unlikely heroes in the final season, fans wondered about Max's mother, who was suspiciously absent in Stranger Things Season 5.If you are also wondering about Susan Hargrove's absence in the final season, you are not alone. Actress Jennifer Marshall, who played Max's mother in Seasons 3 and 4, is also wondering about her character's absence. In a recently shared Instagram post, Marshall revealed that she was not called in to film for the final season.The Stranger Things actress was first diagnosed with melanoma in 2021, which she publicly announced after the release of the fourth season. In a recent interview, Marshall shared that being left out of the final season resulted in her losing her health insurance.More on this in our story.Max's mom was absent in Stranger Things Season 5 View this post on Instagram Instagram PostWhile fans continue to have mixed opinions about the Stranger Things Season 5 finale, the Duffer Brothers' sci-fi hit concluded with a prolonged and heartwarming epilogue, where our OG Hawkins gang finally graduated, after defeating the evil Mind Flayer and his minions. The final moments of the finale saw Dustin present his speech, a wholesome nod to his confidante and best friend, Eddie Munson, who died after sacrificing himself to the demo bats in the Season 4 finale.As Max, Will, Lucas, Mike and Dustin donned their graduation robes and hats, their proud parents (and babysitter Steve) cheered them on from the crowd. While it was emotional to see all the characters reunite in the Stranger Things Season 5 finale, fans were quick to notice the absence of Max's mother. As Susan Hargrove's daughter battled inside Vecna's dreamscape and fought coma in the hospital room, she was nowhere to be found.For fans wondering where Susan Hargrove was in the final season of Stranger Things, Jennifer Marshall finally has an answer. The actress took to her Instagram and revealed that she was not called in to film for the final season:''I had cancer, I get it. But I was in remission during the shooting of season five. Shooting would have helped me obtain my health insurance through the union. Maybe they had too many characters, idk but obv Susan Hargrove is THE WORST MOTHER EVER LMAO.''While Marshall was in remission during the shooting of the final season, she was not called in. However, the actress called it an “opportunity of a lifetime,'' in a separate Instagram post:“Either way, no one is entitled to a role, cancer or not. My heart remains grateful, and I will always give those involved in the decision-making the benefit of the doubt.”Although Marshall remains thankful for her time on Stranger Things, appearing in the final season would have provided her with much-needed financial security. She opened up about her financial and health struggles with cancer in an interview with People Magazine:“It would have helped me not only financially, but would have been a mental and emotional uplift after battling cancer for almost two years.''Sadie Sink shared a dark theory about Max's mother in Stranger Things Season 5 View this post on Instagram Instagram PostAs fans continue to question and speculate on the many plot threads and mysteries left after the Stranger Things Season 5 finale, actress Sadie Sink has shared a dark theory about Max's mother. While fans naturally assumed Susan was pulling off double work duties and making ends meet to pay her daughter's medical bills, Sink believes she died in the rift created by Vecna in the Season 4 finale.In an interview with The Post, Sink shared her theory about her character's mother:“My theory is that Max’s mom must have disappeared or died at some point in the rift at the end of Season 4 because it goes through the trailer park.”Since the world-ending rift in the Stranger Things Season 4 finale likely took many lives, this dark theory seems possible. However, fans will continue to speculate on Susan Hargrove's absence in the final season until the Duffer Brothers provide them with a definitive answer.For the latest scoops on your favorite TV shows and movies, follow SoapCentral.