The final battle of Stranger Things will pit Eleven and her friends against Vecna and the darkness that has threatened Hawkins for years, an adventure that will mark the end of a decade of work for the cast and «a wonderful journey» that is an «overwhelming but beautiful» farewell to an intergenerational series. «We had enough time to prepare for the fact that we were going to say goodbye (...), but it still hits you like a truck», says Gaten Matarazzo, the charismatic Dustin, in an interview with EFE on the occasion of the presentation at the Lucca Comics & Games 2025 fair (north-central Italy). Saying goodbye to his character, he confesses, has been «overwhelming». «That's the most valuable thing we have», he stresses. His colleague McLaughlin agrees and adds that the show reveals that «if you have friends by your side», you can overcome internal struggles. «We all have that Vecna, that oppressor in our minds that tries to stop us from being who we are or finding the people we love. No one knows where Vecna is hiding, or worse, what his real plans are». As before, the protagonists fight together out of a strong friendship and a bond, and that, according to Noah Schnapp, who plays Will, is «the core of the series»: «The relationships, being there for each other». «I think the show shows that the only real way to live is through connection and friendship. And it also showed the kids in a very real way». The farewell to the fantastic adventures of Hawkins will premiere in three parts: volume 1, with four episodes, on November 27; volume 2, with three chapters, will arrive on Christmas Eve; and the finale will premiere on New Year's Eve. That was the first day of filming, and at that moment we thought, 'Okay, maybe this will work,'» explains Matt. The 80s setting and aesthetic, accompanied by a fitting soundtrack and a perfectly recreated town, helped adults connect with the series, although they were not the only ones. «It has been exciting to see that it not only connects with people our age, in their forties, but also with the youth», he argues. An aspect that 23-year-old Matarazzo endorses: «It was one of the first times a series was led by kids, but not just for them». But friendship and family unite us,» he says. Intergenerational Connection The series became a pop culture phenomenon and a global entertainment benchmark, leaving its mark on video games and all kinds of promotional products. The connection with viewers was enormous, and according to the Duffer brothers, thanks to the characters and the performance of actors who «are very special». «When we chose the cast, especially the kids, we knew they were talented, but we didn't know they were going to connect in that way until we shot the first scene in the basement». Eleven and her friends share a common goal: to find Vecna and end him. Four years have passed since Will returned from the Upside Down, but this new adventure against the darkness will not be easy. His colleague Caleb McLaughlin, the loyal Lucas, agrees and adds that putting an end to it «is difficult, but also beautiful». The fifth and final season of Stranger Things, the creation of the Duffer brothers that broke records and conquered millions of viewers, arrives on Netflix on November 27, more than three years after the premiere of the fourth season. Its creators, Matt Duffer and Ross Duffer, in words to EFE, anticipate that there will be «a lot of action» and they hope the audience «finds it emotionally satisfying». A united farewell by bonds of friendship. It's autumn 1987 and Hawkins is still under the shadow of open portals. It had mature themes, it was scary.