The reason behind Jennifer Marshall’s absence in ‘Stranger Things’ season five
Stranger Things season five was not without its star-studded lineup. But the face that was most notably absent in the fifth and final season of the hit Netflix series is that of Jennifer Marshall, who portrayed Max Mayfield’s mother, Susan Hargrove, in seasons two and four.
In a recent social media post, Marshall opened up about not appearing in the series’ final season, which came right as she was diagnosed with cancer.
The fourth season of Stranger Things concluded with Max comatose at the hospital, where the fan-favourite character also spent most of season five. But although Max’s boyfriend Lucas was seen sticking with her through thick and thin, Susan, despite being Max’s mother, was nowhere to be found.
In the social media post, Marshall expressed her disappointment about not being a part of the show in season five. “I had cancer, I get it,” she wrote. “But I was in remission during the shooting of season five. Shooting would have helped me obtain my health insurance through the union. Maybe they had too many characters, idk, but obv Susan Hargrove is THE WORST MOTHER EVER LMAO. #strangerthings #strangerthings5 #cancer #cancersucks #butwhy.”
Marshall clarified to Variety that her social media post was not meant to be unkind or hateful, but something she said rather in jest, noting that Susan’s absence really meant she’s not that great of a mom.
“I just made the reel as a funny thing, and it blew up,” Marshall admitted in an email to Variety. “I hold no ill will toward anyone and just wish things would have gone a different way. I was surprised not to be called back, but cannot confirm why that decision was made. Regardless, I am grateful for the opportunity to be in the previous seasons,” she added.
Previously, when the Stranger Things finale premiered on New Year’s Eve, Marshall grabbed eyes with another post on her Instagram handle. It read, “Okay, folks! It’s over… but where was she? What kind of mother isn’t there for her child while she’s in the hospital? Give me all your theories…”
In 2022, Marshall first revealed her cancer diagnosis through a Facebook post, where she also added that the first time she was being treated for cancer was during filming the fourth season of Stranger Things. She also admitted that she required a wig by the fourth episode because of her hair falling out. “I confided in certain people on set, including Sadie, who plays my daughter, Max. Her kindness and compassion overwhelmed me, and I’m forever thankful for those moments we shared behind the scenes,” she wrote back in the day.
Marshall also wrote that she informed the Duffer Brothers about her situation, which left them visibly alarmed and concerned. “I confessed I had shot those episodes while undergoing treatment, but that they were some of the brightest days I had had, given all that was going on. I told them that eventually, I would be public about my diagnosis. That I wanted to influence others to get checked so that no one ever had to go through what I did,” she explained.
“I asked them to please not write me out due to kindness or concern about my health, because the days spent on set were such a bright light in an otherwise dark and depressing time. They expressed their concern, offered their well wishes, and urged me to contact them if I needed anything. Such lovely people, I’m thrilled to know and have worked under.”