Demogorgon Fatigue Led to Major Stranger Things 5 Rewrite
A Netflix documentary reveals how concerns about viewer exhaustion with the iconic monsters prompted writers to completely overhaul the show's climactic battle sequence.
A new Netflix documentary about Stranger Things' final season shows how writer concerns about audience burnout with Demogorgons led to a major script change for the series finale. The behind-the-scenes footage captures the moment creators decided to remove the flower-faced creatures from the show's ultimate confrontation.
Writers Room Drama Caught on Camera
One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5 director Martina Radwan filmed the creative team wrestling with this decision. The original finale script included multiple Demogorgons in the climactic Abyss battle where Eleven faces off against Vecna and the Mind Flayer.
"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," Radwan told Variety. She watched Ross Duffer express doubts about including the monsters, citing potential "Demogorgon fatigue" among viewers.
Creative Disagreement and Resolution
"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," Radwan explained. The documentary captures the ongoing debate as writers worked through their concerns.
The decision seems puzzling given established storylines. Earlier episodes revealed that Demogorgons actually originated from The Abyss, not the Upside Down as previously thought. They had been using the alternate dimension as a pathway to reach the real world.
Missed Story Opportunities
Vecna's ability to control these creatures through the hive mind had been a recurring plot point. The villain used this connection to manipulate Demogorgons into kidnapping Holly Wheeler and other local children. Will's character development in season 5 focused on learning to tap into this same hive mind to turn Vecna's power against him.
Without Demogorgons present in the final showdown, this character growth couldn't reach its natural conclusion. The absence of these creatures in their native dimension raises questions about the creative team's final vision for the series.