‘Stranger Things’ Dustin Actor Gaten Matarazzo Didn’t Expect Many Character Deaths in the Finale

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Despite criticism that the show didn’t kill off enough characters in the final episode, some of the actors playing those characters actually believed their roles were safe all along, even though they were prepared for anything. Gaten Matarazzo, who plays Dustin, was one of them, and his character endured a lot of hardship before the series ended.

Dustin has been a central character throughout the show, but earlier in the season, the creators, the Duffer brothers, had already put fans on edge by showing him severely beaten up by bullies. Even Gaten Matarazzo, the actor who plays Dustin, was worried about what would happen to his character in the finale. He recently shared with Variety:

Initially, everyone was intrigued and accepting of the possibility that characters might die. However, I don’t believe the showrunners actually intended for that to be a central theme. The intense speculation about who would die was largely driven by the fans, not by the creative team. Ultimately, this turned out to be a positive thing, helping to solidify the show’s core message and identity.

The story is really about overcoming huge challenges, and I think that’s what makes it special. Ultimately, the characters survive, which meant I wasn’t worried about what would happen. Plus, if a character was going to die, I believe the writers would have let us know beforehand, not surprised us during the read-through. They would have spoken to each actor individually if a character’s death was planned.

‘Stranger Things‘ Ending Was Just Right for Gaten Matarazzo


Netflix

As a big Stranger Things fan, I’ve been seeing a lot of people complain that not enough major characters bit the dust, especially in the finale. It really seems like Gaten Matarazzo – who plays Dustin – was right when he said any deaths we did see were more because fans were clamoring for them than anything the Duffer Brothers originally intended. Personally, I thought Dustin’s ending was perfect; after everything he and the gang went through, he deserved a little peace.

It’s a huge relief to see them all moving forward after everything they’ve been through. He finally gets a chance to breathe and experience something normal, which is really all anyone could hope for. That’s what makes the ending of Eleven’s story so heartbreaking. If she stayed, her loved ones would never truly have peace or a normal life. She felt that wasn’t right, and I think the way her story ended was a fitting and beautiful choice.

With the end of Stranger Things, fans will have lots of time to discuss what happened, share their disappointments, and propose alternative scenarios. While none of this will change the show’s ending, it means everyone will be primed and ready when the Duffer brothers release their upcoming Stranger Things spin-offs, featuring a fresh cast and story. The biggest challenge for the Duffers now is following up one of the most popular TV shows ever made and ensuring their new projects live up to the hype.

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2026-01-05 18:32