It’s pretty amazing .. for a show that got almost everything right for the better part of a decade, it somehow managed to get almost everything wrong with its finale.
The most recent episode of Stranger Things , Season 5, Episode 7 , is now the lowest-rated episode of the entire series, even rating lower than The Lost Sister episode from Season 2.
This isn’t just a mixed reaction. It’s an overwhelmingly negative one.
On one side of the fan base, the coming-out scene involving Will Byers has sparked frustration from viewers who wanted more — maybe a more intimate, personal moment between Will and Mike Wheeler, or at least a different approach to how it was handled.
On the other end of the spectrum, there are fans who don’t believe the scene should have been included at all, claiming the show “went woke” and echoing the familiar “go woke, go broke” refrain pushed by more conservative commentators. But what if there’s more to this story? What if there were lost scenes? Lost footage? A different cut of the episode altogether?
One claim in particular suggests a key sequence was cut in order to keep the season’s rating from crossing into more mature territory, bringing it down to something more acceptable for Netflix. Now, to be clear, we don’t know if any of this is true. But we’re sharing it because it’s popping up across multiple fan sites and forums, and because speculation is part of the fun, especially when the reality has been a little disappointing. For a show that stands as one of the biggest series in television history, and unquestionably the biggest in Netflix’s catalog, it’s hard not to wonder what could have been when what we’ve gotten so far just hasn’t lived up to the legacy.
Here is the full Google doc for your review… the highlights are below:
Will Byers’ Arc
- Will’s storyline with Vecna/Henry was reportedly shortened, removing key developments.
- A planned plot of Eleven and Mike traveling to Camazotz to rescue Will was allegedly cut.
- Scenes exploring Will’s sexual trauma, initially intended to make the show TV-MA, were toned down.
- Important Mike and Will moments—including music-centered scenes featuring Just Like Heaven by The Cure—were removed.
- A basement one-on-one scene between Mike and Will never made it into the episodes.
- Max and Will were initially part of a team with Eleven and Holly to explain their closeness, but these interactions were cut.
- A dramatic fake-out death for Will, echoing his Season 1 CPR scene, was also removed.
Character Dynamics and Plotlines
- The Eleven & Max reunion appeared out of character, possibly because the original reunion scene was cut.
- Max and Will’s sudden closeness may have been explained in a removed Camazotz plotline.
- Some interactions, such as Robin and Mike arguing or Maya Hawke mentoring multiple characters, seem incomplete due to missing scenes.
- The Mike & Eleven tub scene was shortened, removing wide shots seen in trailers, possibly referencing cut plotlines.
- Vecna blocking Eleven out of his mindscape raised logical inconsistencies—suggesting a previous attempt to enter Camazotz was removed.
Missing Characters and References
- Raphael Luce (young Henry Creel) filmed scenes that never appeared, including more appearances of Henry giving blood.
- Gabrielle Nevaeh’s character (Patty Newby) in the tie-in play The First Shadow was absent from the season.
- Mind Flayer mentions were limited, contradicting the play’s storyline.
- Certain songs and the WSQK Collection vinyl were not used, despite being promoted.
- Some characters teased for Volume 2, like Chance and other bullies, never appeared.
Evidence of Editing Decisions
- IMDb initially listed longer runtimes for episodes, supporting claims of cuts.
- A leaked style guide included dialogue not featured in the final season, suggesting removed scenes.
- Episode editing continued late into December, long after earlier episodes were completed.
- Crew members were restricted from posting behind-the-scenes content, hinting at sensitive material.
- Merch items and Easter eggs (like the ‘For Will’ mixtape) were not referenced in the episodes.
Statements from Cast and Crew
- Jamie Campbell Bower indicated that Vecna’s darker moments were planned but not shown.
- Noah Schnapp mentioned dissociating during Will’s coming out scenes.
- Finn Wolfhard teased a song tied to Mike that never appeared in the final cut.
- The Duffer Brothers noted unusual last-minute edits and expressed frustration with executive interference.
- Shawn Levy confirmed the heavy emotional weight carried by Finn and Noah in filming, implying significant content was intended.
Whether all of this is true or not.. fans are demanding a release of THIS version…
The directors cut.. if only it really was the past, just like the lost VHS director’s cut of Halloween 6 existed only in strange online circles, maybe this TV-MA version would too..?
