Stranger Things Star Recalls Filming S4 Finale's Most Heartbreaking Scene

Stranger Things star Sadie Sink recalls filming season 4's most heartbreaking scene and how it affected her and her co-star Caleb McLaughlin.

Stranger Things Star Recalls Filming S4 Finale's Most Heartbreaking Scene

Warning: SPOILERS lie ahead for Stranger Things season 4.

As audiences reel from the Stranger Things season 4 finale, one star is offering insight on what it was like filming one of its most heartbreaking scenes. The latest chapter of the Netflix series saw the returns of most of its principal cast, namely Millie Bobby Brown’s Eleven, David Harbour’s Hopper, Winona Ryder’s Joyce, Sadie Sink’s Max, Gaten Matarazzo’s Dustin, Noah Schanpp’s Will, Finn Wolfhard’s Mike and Caleb McLaughlin’s Lucas. Stranger Things season 4 also saw the introductions of Joseph Quinn as Eddie Munson, who quickly became a fan-favorite character, and Jamie Campbell Bower as the season’s primary antagonist, Henry Creel/One/Vecna.

The Duffer brothers delivered one of their largest stories yet with Stranger Things season 4, penning feature-length episodes and taking nearly three years to put the episodes together, partially due to pandemic production hurdles. While the extended runtimes left some divided, Stranger Things season 4 largely proved worth the wait for critics and audiences alike, delivering epic action sequences and emotional character development. One character nearly met an emotional end in the Stranger Things season 4 finale and one of the stars behind the scene are sharing how it felt to film the sequence.

On the heels of its return, Entertainment Weekly caught up with Sadie Sink to discuss Stranger Things season 4 volume 2. In looking at the heartbreaking scene in which Max seemingly died in Lucas’ arms, the young star recalled the emotions that were flowing on the set of the series. See what Sink shared below:

“It really is just so sad. When you’re putting yourself in that moment and then you’re with someone like Caleb, who I’ve known since I was very little, sometimes things can feel very real on that set. It was very emotional.”

Though having quickly developed a bond in season, Max and Lucas’ relationship proved to be an interesting aspect for audiences of Stranger Things season 4 as the two had broken up due to her struggles processing Billy’s death and his efforts to become popular, seemingly leaving his friends behind. As Max became the target of Vecna, the two would slowly reconcile their feelings for one another, making their ultimate reunion in the season 4 finale and her subsequent brief death at the hands of Vecna all the more emotional for audiences. Those who fell in love with their dynamic are sure to find the moment all the more moving knowing that Sink and McLaughlin were just as sad filming the scene as those who would watch it upon its recent premiere.

Thankfully for both fans and Sink, the Duffers recently confirmed that Max survived the Stranger Things season 4 finale, but that she was braindead and recovering from multiple broken bones after her encounter with Vecna. While Sink may not know where Max will be come the start of Stranger Things season 5, the confirmation that she will be returning for the final season of the hit Netflix series is sure to leave many excited to see how she and Lucas may properly reunite in the near future. In the meantime, audiences can revisit Stranger Things season 4 now streaming in its entirety on Netflix now.