Stranger Things Season 5: Duffers Motivated To Avoid Game Of Thrones Ending Comparisons

Stranger Things editor Dean Zimmerman shares that the showrunners are carefully ensuring they avoid a Game of Thrones-esque series finale. The Netflix hit will come to a close in 2025, as the central group of teens faces the menace of Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) and the Upside Down in Stranger Things season 5. While Zimmerman has been an editor since 2007, his work on Stranger Things has seen him acknowledged by award bodies, earning one Emmy win for Outstanding Picture Editing alongside two further nominations.

As Zimmerman spoke to Screen Rant about his work on Deadpool and Wolverine ahead of its home release, the editor teased what Stranger Things season 5 has in store. Promising a scale grander than what came before, Zimmerman was quick to praise the work of the two showrunners, Matt and Ross Duffer. Furthermore, the editor acknowledged that it is difficult to craft a fan-pleasing finale that can satisfy everyone, citing Game of Thrones as an example of what the Duffers were keen to avoid. He said:

Stranger Things is in full swing, it is bigger than anyone's going to ever imagine. Every season I am on that show, I don't think it can get bigger, and not only always proven wrong. It always just boggles my mind how insanely brilliant the Duffer brothers are [with] coming up with new and crazier ways to do this. Their whole mission is to stick the landing on this final season where, controversially, a lot of people say Game of Thrones did not; they don't want that, and they won't settle for anything but perfection. So I can assure you that you will not be disappointed, and I can definitely assure you that you will have about the same amount, maybe a little more, content than we did [in] season 4.

Stranger Things Will Hopefully Have A More Satisfying End

With Game of Thrones' now-infamous ending, the series was heavily critiqued for its handling of the long-running plots and characters. Ongoing storylines that had lingered since the series began, including the threat of the White Walkers, were quickly handled anticlimactically, while the arcs for notable characters such as Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) and Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) earned backlash for being deemed out of character, especially the former's for her sudden descent into villainy. This has effectively cast a pall over the entire series, with many now associating the Game of Thrones finale with negative connotations.

Since Stranger Things is so beloved, and certainly seems equal to Game of Thrones in terms of popularity, it's easy to think that the Netflix series could go the same way with its ending. However, Zimmerman's comments suggest that the Duffers are putting more thought into how each character arc ends and how each plot is tied up. The reference to how much content Stranger Things season 5 will have is especially telling, since Game of Thrones' final season was criticized for only having six episodes. By keeping its episode count the same, Stranger Things doesn't have to cut storytelling corners.

Our Take On Zimmerman's Stranger Things Season 5 Tease

The Season Will Focus On Its Core Cast's Conclusions

It is difficult to bring a popular saga to a close, so it is understandable why Zimmerman is keen to alleviate any particular worries from viewers. Despite the secrecy involved in the production, it is clear that the show is aiming to ensure it ties up every loose end, including an emphasis on the existing Stranger Things cast, rather than following its tradition of introducing a new, soon-to-be beloved side character.

Zimmerman's response does show that he is aware of what worries viewers may have, and the fact that this is weighing on the creative team's minds indicates Stranger Things' ending will remain faithful to what has been established so far. A clear sign of a poor ending is a betrayal of what the audience has come to expect. As such, the promise that Stranger Things season 5 will have plenty of content suggests no character will be left behind, and no arc will be forgotten.