Stranger Things Season 5’s newest star Jake Connelly opens up about his first table read with the main cast

Netflix
Jake Connelly at Netflix's "Stranger Things" Season 5 World Premiere - Source: Getty

Joining a show like Stranger Things in its final season could be intimidating, but Jake Connelly's experience does not seem overwhelming in any way.

Stranger Things Season 5 has already become a worldwide sensation, with the core cast growing up together with the show and the audience aware of every little detail, making it a challenging environment for a new member to enter.

Jake Connelly’s first table read with the cast was full of nerves, of course, but also a great deal of fun. There was no tense, serious atmosphere, as the cast laughed, joked around, and even threw paper across the table. Joe Keery, Gaten Matarazzo, and Charlie Heaton put him at ease quickly, turning what could've been a frightening experience into a fun one.

This tells you the secret to why Stranger Things remains so iconic to this day. It's not just the creepy creatures or the puzzles, but the very real connection that the cast has that keeps the show alive. Connelly’s experience is but a brief, insightful peek into this.


Jake Connelly’s first table read for Stranger Things Season 5

For Jake Connelly, his first table read experience seemed like a nervous experience. He sat in the same room with actors whose characters belong to pop culture, and the pressure to blend was enormous.

But instead of something serious and intimidating, he walked in on complete chaos. While scripts were being read, Joe Keery, Gaten Matarazzo, and Charlie Heaton began tossing wadded-up papers at each other, and then at him. It was just their way of making him feel included.

This silly moment immediately dissolved the tension. “The new guy” feeling melted out of Connelly as he became a part of the gang. His nervousness gave way to laughter and comfort.

That warm, playful welcome was unusual in an industry where newcomers usually feel out of place. And in a sense, it was everything Stranger Things is about: friendship, connection, and finding your place.


A small moment that sets the tone for Stranger Things Season 5

In the larger scheme of things, when it comes to Stranger Things Season 5, with all the final battles, tearful goodbyes, and long-overdue explanations, a small moment such as making a new cast member feel welcome might go under the radar. But this actually encapsulates the show under a larger umbrella; it can be safely stated that Stranger Things has been, from start to finish, a reflection of friendship.

For Connelly, that first day meant something more than just meeting the cast. Arriving nervously, he left feeling he belonged there. And for a series that has always celebrated outsiders finding their place, this is particularly apropos.

If this is the kind of energy we're heading into the final volume of Stranger Things Season 5 with, fans can be assured of a memorable bow.


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Edited by Yesha Srivastava