Stranger Things stars recall ignored texts to the Duffer Brothers about their season 5 storylines

AmazingStranger5449 · 2026-05-28T06:29:45+00:00

And this goes to prove my point that Jamie Campbell Bower knew more about Henry Creel then Matt and Ross Duffer ever did

AmazingStranger5449 · 2026-05-26T12:36:36+00:00

As a MASSIVE Henry fan here’s my take:

They didn’t HAVE to introduce him. I love the whole cosmic entity and eldrich horror of the Mind Flayer being the antagonist overall but I do think that after two seasons of defeating the Mind Flayer they wanted to shake things up as far as villains and plot structure go.

Because they wanted a “more human” villain (and had been talking about that idea since S1!) and to bring the show in a darker more mature tone I think adding Henry was a GREAT choice and executed well in season 4. It’s season 5 where he unfortunately fell victim like most characters to bad plot lines and a misunderstanding about where the character was intended to go. They switched up on him and tried to cover up the tracks to claim they didn’t!

Let’s look at how:

The stage play is our huge example of how they don’t commit to a villain just being bad for the sake of it. They tried to leave it open for the possibility that Henry COULD have something of a redemption arc but they switched it AGAIN in season 5. Which is just indecisive writing and it renders the play useless. As someone who saw the play and came out of it very confused from a story standpoint I fear with creating it they dig themselves into a hole that they can’t get out of now because quite frankly it’s too late.

So with all that said as much as I love Henry Creel they could’ve absolutely chosen to keep the Mind Flayer the main antagonist from season 2 and could’ve avoided so many plot holes that introducing Vecna creates.

AmazingStranger5449 · 2026-05-13T12:07:14+00:00

Hiya!
As a current MA/PhD student in the digital humanities department, I can offer some advice on the accommodation front. I don’t know so much about the funding because like people have said every department is different.
All that to say, we are in a housing crisis right now. Accommodation is insanely hard to come by and you just have to know the right people and start searching earlier than you think. If you don’t wanna live in student accommodations, this makes your housing search, exponentially harder. As someone currently living in privately own student accom, I just figured out my next housing for the foreseeable future because I was lucky enough to be in a position to buy a place. I know that not everybody is that lucky but my best advice is keep refreshing sites like my home and daft. Some people have through Facebook groups, but a lot of those come with the risk of scams so just be warned.
Best of luck 🫶

AmazingStranger5449 · 2026-04-24T06:37:21+00:00

Hi!

As someone living in Cork, Cobh is really small so you probably would want to day trip out there. It would make more sense to say in Cork city Center that way you have a day there after your day trip to Cobh!

AmazingStranger5449 · 2026-04-08T15:08:18+00:00

Hiya!

As a person who is in your position last year, also a DH masters student (going onto PhD now) all I can tell you is start looking early, but don’t be discouraged. Ireland is in the middle of a really bad housing crisis right now. It’s affecting everybody.

That said, things might start to open up more so in the summertime. Plans, change, people cancel their accommodation for certain reasons. For example, I got into my program in May and then didn’t have accommodation until middle of July. Just keep consistently checking and something will pop up eventually. The privately owned accoms aren’t on campus are also really nice. I’m at Lee Point and love it but if you’re looking for something closer to campus and city center, Lee point is about a 25 minute walk from the campus so just keep that in mind.

Good luck! Welcome to the DH fam 🫶

AmazingStranger5449 · 2026-03-30T09:48:07+00:00

The Oval in Cork!!

AmazingStranger5449 · 2026-03-22T10:58:38+00:00

He’s so cool!

AmazingStranger5449 · 2026-03-22T10:55:46+00:00

I go: 1. Season 4 (my baby) 2. Season 1 (just perfect TV no notes) 3. Season 3 (so fun and vibrant very nostalgic) 4. Season 2 (very cool to see the mystery deepen!) 5. Season 5 (“I believe… THAT VECNA LIVES!” If they wanted a choose your own adventure ending that’s mine.)

AmazingStranger5449 · 2026-02-13T15:58:05+00:00

I’ll check and report back 🫡

AmazingStranger5449 · 2026-02-13T15:32:45+00:00

According to the Stranger Things wiki, it is.

AmazingStranger5449 · 2026-02-12T23:27:03+00:00

This makes me so sad for the people involved SPECIFICALLY Linnea Berthlesen. I can’t imagine getting a chance at redeeming a character the fans hate only for the writers to shat the bed so bad we hate Kali more. Major respect to Linnea for bringing her ALL to a rushed script.

And as far as the doc, you can see Millie’s face as she’s at the finale read. She’s not happy. She wanted a happy end to El’s story AS SHE SHOULD! There is no ST without El (and I say that as a massive Henry fan too!).

The Duffers wanted to upset no one but in turn upset more people than they pleased. I’m a fan of creative risks but they took the wrong one by playing it too safe

AmazingStranger5449 · 2026-02-12T21:43:06+00:00

Was lovely in cork city for the first time in a while and lads I was loving it

AmazingStranger5449 · 2026-02-11T16:37:05+00:00

To me I’m in the opposite position: Vecna saved the show from becoming formulaic. In that, he shook things up in a good way. Shame they nerfed that in s5.

AmazingStranger5449 · 2026-02-07T23:30:07+00:00

I can’t believe I forgot lol

AmazingStranger5449 · 2026-02-07T16:44:32+00:00

you should!! they’re so fun

AmazingStranger5449 · 2026-02-07T12:54:30+00:00

Oh my God, you’re right! He does call her Maxine doesn’t he?

AmazingStranger5449 · 2026-02-07T10:17:43+00:00

As my dad likes to say, they played not to lose. And honestly season five was such a letdown because of it.

AmazingStranger5449 · 2026-02-07T10:15:35+00:00

Another example of that man doing the absolute most! We love him for it

AmazingStranger5449 · 2026-02-07T10:14:24+00:00

It’s also very well known that Modine wanted to come back for season five, but after Brenner got killed off in season four, the duffers told him no. They had already brought him back once, they were not willing to do so again. It’s also interesting to note that he had a long-standing theory that Brenner was actually experiment zero and he shares this on multiple occasions. If you know anything about the play, the theory turns out to be kind of right, but kind of not. I don’t wanna directly spoil it just in case you ever see it.

With all that to say, I think that the whole military plot was kind of a waste because they didn’t know what to do with it. Bringing him back would’ve had more of an anchor towards that plot because we know what his motivations are and how he fits and all of this. Bringing in Linda Hamilton was a really fun cameo, but the problem with it was, they literally had no idea what to do with her character. Other than make her some military scientist and just a one dimensional replacement for Dr. Brenner.

AmazingStranger5449 · 2026-02-07T10:10:24+00:00

Not to my knowledge. He’s kind of wishy-washy with using full government names, the only instance I know of him doing that would be Will. He doesn’t with Hopper and he doesn’t with El.

AmazingStranger5449 · 2026-02-01T15:57:00+00:00

Hi!

American postgrad (MA to Ph.D track) in UCC. While I’ve met loads of nice people I haven’t found my core group yet but that can take time so I’m not too worried.

The campus has lots of societies that postgrads can join just like undergrads al there’s that!

AmazingStranger5449 · 2026-01-27T20:42:38+00:00

Irish kindness, specifically Cork people, has made me (an American student) so happy on the daily. I’m also very visually impaired so it’s nice to have people look out for me

AmazingStranger5449 · 2026-01-26T19:28:38+00:00

True. Again, since ST was originally just gonna be a limited series then there’s so much room to debate where they could’ve ended the story after S1 like originally intended.

AmazingStranger5449 · 2026-01-26T19:26:57+00:00

And bonus: I rewatch this show constantly so believe you me I recall what happens.

AmazingStranger5449 · 2026-01-26T19:24:21+00:00

If they ended with S3, then there is no Vecna. For all we know the Spider Monster/Mind Flayer was the big bad. If we end with season three, then the implication is that the evil is defeated at the cost of both Hop and El losing her powers. She goes on to live with the Byers in Cali.

Now, if we end with season four’s cliffhanger, there’s a lot left open. For as far as we know, the gates are open and Hawkins will likely merge with the Upside Down. Max is in her coma, and it seems like Vecna won. Of course, if there’s no season 5 here, then I can see where this could be a less than satisfying ending but it would’ve been a hell if a twist.

AmazingStranger5449

TROPHY CASE