Fans Accuse the Duffer Brothers of Using AI for ‘Stranger Things’ Season 5 After Spotting This Shocking Detail in the Documentary

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Variety / Netflix
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The Stranger Things documentary is finally out, but instead of celebrating it, many fans are upset. The controversy started soon after One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5 began streaming on Netflix on January 12.

The two-hour documentary gives fans a behind-the-scenes look at the fifth and final season of the hit show. Viewers get to see the cast, the crew, and the Duffer brothers at work, including scenes from the writers’ room and interviews about how the last season was made.

But one moment in the documentary quickly caught fans’ attention for the wrong reason. Some viewers noticed what they believe were multiple ChatGPT tabs open on a laptop sitting in the background during one scene. Screenshots from the documentary started spreading online, especially on X, and that is when the accusations began.

Fans online started claiming that Ross and Matt Duffer may have used AI to help write Stranger Things season 5. The speculation quickly turned into criticism, especially from fans who were already disappointed with how the final season turned out.

One X user wrote, “Imagine getting caught with ChatGPT tabs in your own BTS doc… that’s a generational fumble.” Another added, “One conspiracy that kind of tracks lol. Definitely had some real mechanical scriptwriting at times.” A different user was even harsher, saying, “The roast they’re getting is so deserved if they used AI to help them write the finale of a ten year show with $400million+ budget.”

While the screenshots sparked outrage, it is important to note that the images from the documentary are blurry. There is no clear confirmation that the tabs shown were actually ChatGPT. Still, many fans were quick to believe the worst, especially those who felt let down by the final season.

The alleged AI use was not the only part of the documentary that upset viewers. The Duffer brothers also revealed that they went into production on season 5 without a finished script for the finale. That admission caused even more backlash online.

One fan on X said that starting production without a completed ending explains why the show failed to deliver. Other viewers pointed out moments in the documentary where cast members noticed issues with the story while filming.

Maya Hawke, who plays Robin, is shown explaining to director Shawn Levy that she needed to change how she delivered a line because other characters did not know that Robin and Vickie were dating. Levy agreed to the change, but fans were not impressed. One X user reacted by saying, “Is this the representation I’m supposed to be satisfied with? The actors having to REMIND THEM of stuff?”

Some fans also noticed that two major cast members, David Harbour and Winona Ryder, were not featured in the documentary at all, which raised more questions and criticism.

The documentary footage and fan reactions have been widely shared online, with coverage appearing on entertainment sites like PrimeTimer. As of now, neither Netflix nor the Duffer brothers have responded to the AI accusations. For many fans, though, the damage is already done, and the documentary has only fueled more frustration around how Stranger Things came to an end.

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