The Duffer Brothers and Their Relationship with the Cast
The co-creators of Stranger Things, Matt and Ross Duffer, have always been known for their unique approach to storytelling. However, it seems that even they are not immune to the modern phenomenon of leaving messages on read. This has been highlighted during a recent event where the twins, along with several cast members, discussed the show’s legacy.
At the Emmys FYSEE Event held at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, the Duffer brothers, who are 42 years old, were joined by Noah Schnapp, Jamie Campbell Bower, David Harbour, Natalia Dyer, and director Shawn Levy. They reflected on the hit Netflix series, which concluded its five-season run in December.
Noah Schnapp’s Journey as Will Byers
Noah Schnapp, now 21, shared his experiences from when he was first cast as Will Byers at the age of 11. He described the common fears and nerves that come with being a child actor. Over time, he grew more confident and realized that his opinion mattered.
“I’ve been with this character for so many years, and I also have an opinion that matters,” Schnapp said. He added that during the final season, he felt more confident in expressing his thoughts. He humorously mentioned the number of texts he sent to the creators, which often went unanswered.
However, Shawn Levy quickly clarified that the creators did read every message. Schnapp jokingly replied, “I hope they read it!” Ross Duffer then responded, “They didn’t go unanswered. What are you talking about?” Schnapp retorted, “I can pull up the receipts.”
David Harbour joked about asking Schnapp to leave the read receipt on next time.
Despite the ignored texts, Schnapp praised the Duffers for their collaborative approach, especially regarding his feedback on Will’s coming-out storyline. He noted that the creators took his input seriously and made changes based on his suggestions.
Jamie Campbell Bower’s Experience with Vecna
Later during the panel, Jamie Campbell Bower, 37, spoke about a challenging moment during the fifth season when he played the villain, Henry Creel/Mr. Whatsit/Vecna. He admitted that he often sent messages to the creators that went unanswered.
“But the boys are very sweet because they just let me kind of ramble and then we’d come back to it later,” he laughed.
Critical Reception of the Final Season
The fifth and final season of Stranger Things followed a group of school friends as they investigated supernatural occurrences in their Indiana hometown. The season received mixed reviews.
In a three-star review, The Independent’s Nick Hilton argued that the show lost its way in a maze of sci-fi bunkum. He described Netflix’s most important original IP as having transformed from a brilliant, influential coming-of-age saga into just another CGI rock’em sock’em adventure.
