Stranger Things Finale Ditched Demogorgons Over Fan Fatigue Fears
A new Netflix doco uncovers why the last Stranger Things showdown was reworked, revealing Demogorgons were cut from the script after concerns about overusing the iconic monsters.
Netflix is gearing up to drop a behind-the-scenes documentary on the final season of Stranger Things, and it’s already stirring up chat about what could have been. Turns out, the much-anticipated last battle in Hawkins nearly featured a swarm of Demogorgons, but the plan was scrapped after Ross Duffer flagged that punters might be a bit over the flower-faced creatures.
The doco, One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5, directed by Martina Radwan, captures a candid moment in the writers’ room. The team was tossing around ideas for the big showdown with Vecna and the Mind Flayer in The Abyss. At first, everyone seemed set on bringing the Demogorgons back for one last hurrah. But then Ross piped up, worried about what he called “Demogorgon fatigue.”
Writers’ Room Dilemmas
Radwan found the whole process fascinating, especially watching the writers hash out their differences.
I like the conversation, because it obviously changed, right? And so having them sit there and really explore that – to me, the writers' room is so fascinating, because you see them thinking.
She added,
I love that they were so sure about the Demogorgons in the final Abyss – except Ross was like, 'Mmm, maybe there's some fatigue, Demogorgon fatigue.' And [writer/executive producer] Kate [Trefry] agreed. And you're like, 'Oh, OK – so this is not the last conversation. They disagree, and they will resolve it on some point.'
The documentary leaves the debate open-ended, since by the time it airs, everyone knows the Demogorgons are missing from the Pain Tree sequence.
Why No Demogorgons?
For many fans, the absence of Demogorgons in the final fight is a bit odd. Earlier in the season, Dustin, the group’s science whiz, figured out that the monsters weren’t actually from the Upside Down as everyone thought. Instead, they hailed from The Abyss, using the Upside Down as a shortcut to the real world. So, it’s a fair question—why wouldn’t they show up for the big finish?
It had been well established that Vecna could control the Demogorgons, often using the hive mind to get them to do his dirty work—like kidnapping Holly Wheeler and other local kids. Will’s storyline in season 5 even revolved around learning to tap into that hive mind and use Vecna’s own power against him. It’s a bit strange that this development didn’t get its moment in the final showdown.
What’s Next for Fans?
All episodes of Stranger Things are now streaming, so if you’ve already powered through and need a hand making sense of the ending, there are plenty of breakdowns and reviews out there. The new documentary promises to give a fresh look at the creative choices behind the scenes, especially the decision to leave the Demogorgons out of the last big battle. For those keen to see how the story came together, it’s shaping up to be a must-watch.