Which ‘Stranger Things’ actor chose ‘Heroes’ for the end credits?
The last game of Dungeons and Dragons was played, and the Upside Down was reduced to ashes in Stranger Things season five. But did you know who the Netflix series finale chose to curate the final tape selection? None other than Joe Keery, who portrayed Steve Harrington in the beloved sci-fi show.
For the final scene of episode eight, Keery opted for David Bowie to say the last goodbye. But as we know it by now, Stranger Things doesn’t really hop onto its ordinary credits sequence.
Rather, it takes a beat to roll an emotionally animated end-credits sequence, which culminates with Bowie’s ‘Heroes’ ringing all the way through. Talk of a banging closure, and Stranger Things truly brings it.
According to Tudum, the idea dawned upon Keery while the Duffer brothers were straightening out the show’s final moments. He suggested cueing up the original version of ‘Heroes,’ a track that has already been central to Stranger Things, thanks to the previous seasons featuring Peter Gabriel’s cover of the same.
In a conversation with Tudum, Ross Duffer said, “It was actually Joe Keery who suggested that we do the Bowie version. Once Joe said that, we immediately knew that was the right song to end the show on because it is, in some ways, an anthem for Stranger Things. To use the original Bowie version just felt fitting for the conclusion.”
The show’s design studio Imaginary Forces created the animated credits for the final episode, which showcases familiar scenes from Hawkins flying on and off the screen on several pieces of paper. It is compiled into a worn-out binder with “Stranger Things Players Manual: Fantasy Role Playing Game” written on the cover.
Music has always been central to the story of Stranger Things. In fact, it was also deemed a life-saving outlet that can heal in wonderous ways. Thus, it only makes sense that the Netflix series ended on a note that would live rent-free on everyone’s minds forever.
While the closing of the binder offers the audience the last piece of closure they needed, Keery’s choice for the background music only elevated the final moments of the show.
But if you’re still yet to catch up on it, Stranger Things season five is currently streaming on Netflix with all eight episodes. So, make sure you don’t catch the flu of spoilers before it’s too late.