Mandy
After a decade of storytelling and countless adventures across Hawkins, Indiana, “Stranger Things” is approaching its final chapter.
Season 5 officially closes the story of the beloved group of misfits—Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo), Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin), Will (Noah Schnapp), Max (Sadie Sink), and the telekinetic heroine Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown)—as they confront the final threats from the Upside Down.
Before the release of the season’s first episodes on Nov. 26, Brown and Schnapp sat down to discuss their favorite finales, the Season 5 scenes they personally influenced, and why parts of Season 1 feel like a blur to them.
Their Favorite Endings—And How ‘Stranger Things’ Compares
When asked about the best movie or TV ending ever:
- Millie Bobby Brown said the finale of “Harry Potter” remains her top choice. She noted its similarities to “Stranger Things” because both follow a group of kids whose story arcs must be wrapped up after many years.
- Noah Schnapp jokingly said “Game of Thrones,” poking fun at its divisive finale.
Brown teased him, saying he always gravitates toward controversial answers.
Contributing To Their Characters’ Final Moments
With nearly ten years in these roles, both actors have deep emotional ownership of their characters.
Noah Schnapp’s Input
Schnapp revealed that he approached the Duffer Brothers about a moment in Episode 8 he felt wasn’t fully resolved.
He was nervous about speaking up but said they added a closing scene because of his suggestion—then jokingly told him he only gets “one.”
Millie Bobby Brown’s Influence
Brown said most of her contributions came through performance choices.
Eleven rarely shows happiness, but Brown specifically requested a moment where Eleven smiles in Season 5 to honor the character before the story ends.
The Scenes That Inspired Them
Brown highlighted Schnapp’s emotional van scene from Season 4, calling it one of her favorites. She also praised a Season 5 moment where she felt fortunate just to witness the performance.
Schnapp said Millie consistently moves him on screen—even though they rarely share scenes together. He mentioned her heartbreaking scene reading Hopper’s letter in Season 3 as one that always brings him to tears.
What They Would Change—And What They Wouldn’t
Although Schnapp joked he’d “sign up for reshoots” and tweak little moments, Brown believes every choice they made reflected who their characters were at the time.
She compared the experience to the film “About Time,” emphasizing the importance of living in the present and having no regrets about her work on the show.
Advice For Young Actors
Schnapp encouraged aspiring performers to trust timing, embrace rejection, and avoid comparing themselves to others.
He said rejection is simply “redirection,” and reminded young actors that no one could have predicted how “Stranger Things” would change their own lives.
The Day After Filming Wrapped
Brown flew to London to meet her newborn nephew and spend time with her family after years of working closely with her onscreen family. She said the farewell was bittersweet and emotionally overwhelming during the press tour.
Schnapp recalled spending the next day alone in Los Angeles for a callback he didn’t get. He initially felt devastated, unable to imagine working on anything else after “Stranger Things,” but said he bounced back quickly.
Brown compared the process to a breakup, saying she recovered faster, while Schnapp admitted it hit him harder.
Looking Back: Season 1 Vs. Season 5
Brown vividly remembers wrapping Season 1—including filming her first on-screen kiss and believing she might never return since Eleven dies at the end of the season.
Schnapp, who appeared in only a few scenes that year, barely remembers wrapping.
Both actors agreed many early memories are foggy because they were so young. Brown recalls meeting Matthew Modine and filming with salt that irritated her skin—but many Season 1 scenes, she says, are missing from her memory.
The Skills They’ll Take With Them
Schnapp said the show taught him how to be vulnerable, drop his guard, and fully commit to emotional scenes.
Brown added that she learned to leave humility at the door and discovered how responsive she is to music—something she now carries into other roles.
As “Stranger Things” enters its final season, Millie Bobby Brown and Noah Schnapp reflect on their decade-long journey with gratitude, humor, and emotion.
From shaping last-minute scenes to revisiting unforgettable moments, both actors view Season 5 as the culmination of their childhoods, their craft, and their friendship.
And while saying goodbye feels “like a breakup,” they’re proud of the work they’ve done and ready to embrace what comes next.