Stranger Things star Caleb McLaughlin has revealed what it was like to wrap filming on the final season of the beloved Netflix hit. Since its premiere in the summer of 2016, the nostalgic, horror-fueled show has become a global cultural sensation. Each season is bigger than the last, as the Upside Down and the monsters within have multiplied and grown more powerful with every installment. That's partially why it's taken nearly 10 years to release five seasons of Stranger Things. 10 years is a long time, especially for a cast that includes many young actors like Caleb McLaughlin.

McLaughlin, who plays brave and level-headed Lucas Sinclair on Stranger Things, shared what it was like to finish production on a show he's dedicated 10 years to; a show that's changed his life in so many ways. During a press day interview with ScreenRant's Ash Crossan for his new Audible Original drama series, Sacrilege: Curse of the Mbirwi, McLaughlin revealed the emotional release he experienced during his last day of filming Stranger Things, reflecting on how much the show means to him, the cast and crew, and its dedicated fanbase.

Ash Crossan: It's been so many years of Stranger Things, and obviously a lot of time between seasons. Now we're nearing the end. How are you feeling being wrapped on Lucas?

Caleb McLaughlin: Man, I mean, I've kind of went through those emotions already. So now it's for the fans to take that in and digest. I feel great. It's been a blessing. Genuinely. It's truly insane of how long it's been. It's like 10 years I've been on the show. I've known the cast and crew for so long, and they're my family. And last year, of course, the last day I was like, "I'm not going to cry. I'm not going to cry." And then ended up just bawling, man. Ten years of just love, laughter and sadness and peace. So I was able to get all those feelings out. But honestly, I just feel blessed and just happy to have these guys and been a part of just something so amazing, and that has touched a lot of people. I've done the show for so long, for, of course, myself and my love of art and TV, and this was my childhood dream, but this has been a lot of people's childhood experience, and it's gotten people past a lot of their trauma or things that they've experienced, and they watch the show and it's helped them escape, you know what I mean? It's helped them see a different way to life and finding new friends and believing in friendship and believing in people. And I can't ask for a better just opportunity or ask for a better experience or ask for anything better that I've been a part of. So I just feel great. I feel great.

What McLaughlin's Comments Tell Us About Stranger Things Season 5

McLaughlin Highlights One Of The Show's Most Important Themes

While McLaughlin doesn't reveal much about Stranger Things season 5, it's clear there's a strong emotional current running through this installment. If this season is to be even bigger than season 4, the characters' emotional ties to one another will be more important than ever. The friendships and relationships between the kid crew, the adults, and the teenagers are the glue that holds the show together. Yes, we love the monsters, the scares, and the mystery, but the audience feels connected to the characters above all else.

The friendships and relationships between the kid crew, the adults, and the teenagers are the glue that holds the show together.

McLaughlin's comments, especially when he mentions "finding new friends and believing in friendship and believing in people," could hint at what it will take to defeat Vecna and possibly destroy the Upside Down once and for all. We already know that strong emotional tethers, whether to people or songs, allow the characters to fight their way out of the Upside Down and Vecna's psychological hold. The friendships between these characters are unmatched. Will Vecna ever be able to break them apart?

Our Take On Lucas Sinclair's Role In Stranger Things Season 5

Lucas's Connection With One Particular Character Could Change Everything

While Lucas has a strong connection with all the party , including Mike, Will, Dustin, and Eleven, his most important relationship within the narrative is, without a doubt, with Sadie Sink's Max Mayfield. Lucas felt instantly connected with Max when she was first introduced in Stranger Things season 2. Sure, he had a crush on her, just like Dustin, but it was more than that. He trusted her on an instinctual level, telling her the truth about Hawkins' disturbing terrors despite being sworn to secrecy.

Max may have distanced herself from Lucas (and everyone else) in Stranger Things season 4, but there's no denying their connection. The sweet moment they share in the season finale, when she writes to him in a note, "I'm glad you're here," only makes the horrific circumstances of Max's second encounter with Vecna all the more meaningful. Lucas is who she turns to for comfort, and if anyone is meant to act as her emotional tether in Stranger Things' final season and bring her out of her coma, it's Caleb McLaughlin's Lucas Sinclair.

Stranger Things season 5 arrives on Netflix in 2025.