Back in 2022, a comment from a Stranger Things cast member comparing the show to Game of Thrones sparked a wave of debate among casual viewers and critics alike. People discussed it endlessly, dissecting creative choices and drawing parallels between the Netflix series and the highs and lows of the HBO epic. Now, in 2025, Stranger Things season 5 is in the spotlight, facing much of the same criticism.

Surprisingly, the show’s biggest flaw can be traced back to that 2022 comment, revealing how old opinions and expectations can quietly shape a story.

Back in 2022, Millie Bobby Brown stirred conversation when she compared Stranger Things to Game of Thrones in a TheWrap interview. She called the Duffer Brothers sensitive and said they were reluctant to kill off characters, adding that the show needed the brutal mindset of the HBO series.

Fast forward to 2025, and Stranger Things Season 5 has largely proved her point. Hawkins loyalists expected shocking deaths among key characters as the franchise approaches its conclusion, but none have happened so far, making the lack of real stakes the season’s biggest flaw yet.

Stranger Things season 5 may not have killed off any main characters, but that does not mean the installment is without bloodshed. Several secondary figures, including Alex, Kali’s friend, Dr. Kay’s soldiers, Demodogs, and a scientist from Henry Creel’s past, met their end in the recently released volume 2. The series of deaths is expected to continue in the upcoming finale, keeping the tension high.

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The Duffer Brothers have also teased that season 5 will feature one of the franchise’s most brutal endings, potentially addressing the concerns Millie Bobby Brown raised in her TheWrap interview.

Speaking to The Times in November, Matt Duffer, one-half of the Stranger Things creator duo, revealed that season 5 will feature one of the most violent deaths of any season. While he maintained that the overall chapter would be less graphic than season 4, he did not hesitate to tease this spoiler, without naming who would die. With no such gruesome incidents in the season so far, it appears the Duffers have saved the most shocking moments for the end.

As the final episode looms, the pressure is firmly on the Duffer Brothers to follow through on their promise. The series has always thrived on emotional payoff rather than shock value alone, but audiences now expect consequences that match the scale of its ending. Whether the finale delivers that long-awaited punch or plays it safe one last time will ultimately decide how this era of Hawkins is remembered, fondly or with lingering what-ifs.

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What do you think of the Stranger Things flaw that Millie Bobby Brown pointed out years ago? Let us know in the comments.