More than 300,000 dedicated viewers of the hit series Stranger Things have mobilized online, signing a petition that calls on Netflix and the show's creators to restore what they believe are missing scenes from the show's climactic final season.
The Fan Petition and Its Demands
The movement was sparked by a fan using the handle Wennii J, who launched a petition on Change.org on December 29, 2025. The petitioner alleges that "more to the episodes" was filmed but never made it to the streaming platform, either due to editorial decisions by Netflix or the production team. The petition emphatically states, "WE WANT ANSWERS!!" citing supposed clues from the cast about altered plot points.
Many signatories echo a sense of narrative dissatisfaction. "I could tell some things just didn't make sense!" wrote one supporter. The petition argues that fans "should have a say" and expresses a desire for the series to be remembered as a television landmark, not undone by perceived writing flaws.
Online Speculation and Alleged Missing Content
Across social media and forums like Reddit, theories have proliferated. Some fans pointed to initially longer runtime listings on IMDb, while others circulated a detailed Google document claiming knowledge of excised storylines. This document purportedly outlines entire cut arcs, including a pivotal scene between Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) and the villain Vecna, a musical sequence set to The Cure's "Just Like Heaven," and a "fake-out" death for Will.
The document also notes a trailer clip featuring Mike (Finn Wolfhard) and Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) that never appeared in the final episodes, questioning "executive meddling" as the cause for the perceived drop in quality for Volume 2. The online campaign's stated goal is to get at least one crew member to confirm that scenes were indeed removed.
Official Pushback and Fan Backlash
While the Duffer Brothers and main cast have remained silent on the controversy, actor Randy Havens, who plays beloved teacher Scott Clarke, directly addressed the rumours. In an Instagram story, Havens firmly shut down the speculation, stating, "There's no secret Snyder cut of the show. Please don't believe everything some random ass tells you on the internet."
His reference to the "Snyder cut" harkens back to the successful fan campaign to release a different version of the film Justice League. However, Havens' comments have divided the fandom. Some supporters agree, dismissing the petition signers as "delusional." Concurrently, the final episodes have faced notable criticism from audiences, with Season 5 holding a 56% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and the penultimate episode scoring a low 5.4/10 on IMDb.
Some long-time fans critique the show's evolution, with one viral post garnering over 81,000 likes, arguing the series "grew too big" from its indie roots into a bloated, Marvel-style production. This sentiment draws parallels to the infamous fan backlash against the final season of Game of Thrones in 2019, which prompted a petition with 1.8 million signatures demanding a remake.
Volume 1 and 2 of Stranger Things 5 are currently streaming on Netflix. The series finale is scheduled to air on New Year's Eve at 8 p.m.
