Fans of Stranger Things have been on the edge of their seats for years, waiting for answers, reunions, and that final emotional payoff. Now, as the beloved series approaches its conclusion, the show delivers one of its most anticipated moments: the reunion of Lucas Sinclair and Max Mayfield. The penultimate episode of Season 5, titled “Escape from Camazotz,” released on December 25, 2025, finally brings these two characters together after nearly two years of narrative separation and heartache.
According to Deadline and TV Insider, the reunion is more than just a plot point—it’s a culmination of hope, loyalty, and emotional endurance. Lucas, played by Caleb McLaughlin, never lost faith in Max (Sadie Sink) during her extended coma, a state she entered following a harrowing encounter with Vecna. Throughout her absence, Lucas visited her in the hospital, sometimes playing Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill,” a song that had become emblematic of their bond and her struggle. For fans who have followed their journey since the early seasons, this reunion scene is a tear-jerker and a testament to the power of friendship and perseverance.
“That moment, it almost felt real, because I wasn’t around her for so long,” McLaughlin told Deadline. “You miss your friend when you’re on set. You miss the camaraderie you both have. So I think with that, seeing that emotion that I had access to, the state of mind that I had to be in, was a different emotion from Season 4, when he was losing her. In this moment, it was more of an emotion of relief and joy…it wasn’t sadness, it was happiness. But then also, at the same time, that feeling of loss, because now everything that he was feeling, he can now have this release.”
The significance of this reunion is amplified by the fact that, aside from a few bedside scenes, Lucas and Max had not shared the screen at all this season until this episode. The writers and directors clearly wanted to make the moment count, and according to McLaughlin, the authenticity of their performances was rooted in the genuine bond he and Sink share off-screen. The scene, which takes place in the basement of the hospital where Lucas had brought Max to save her from Demo dogs sent by Vecna, is a raw and vulnerable exchange that fans have been yearning for.
But the emotional highs of Volume 2 don’t end there. The back half of the season, released on Christmas Day, is packed with revelations about the Upside Down and the true nature of the evil plaguing Hawkins. For McLaughlin and the rest of the cast, filming these episodes was both exhilarating and bittersweet. “I have a lot of anxiety and mixed emotions going into it. I think I’ve been, not uneasy, but I’m happy…but then now it’s the last content I will see of the show. So it’s a weird feeling,” McLaughlin admitted to Deadline as he prepared to watch the finale with his castmates. “I think I’ve definitely made peace with the show ending. I believe all great things come to an end, and to cherish the moment is for it to end. I think the story has done so well throughout the years, and it’s gonna go down in history as a classic, a show that people loved. I’m just happy. I’m happy to be a part of the legacy.”
Volume 2 also features a highly anticipated and emotional coming out scene with Noah Schnapp’s character, Will. McLaughlin described the experience of filming that scene as deeply moving, not just for the characters, but for the actors themselves. “Being on the show for so long, and knowing everyone’s had other ups and downs and, just me being a friend, just wanting to be there and knowing I’ll always be there for a friend, I think that scene was a moment that felt genuine,” he said. “We would be there for anyone in their hard times and their biggest secret moments where they want to be vulnerable. I think it’s important for stories like that to be told, to have those vulnerable moments.”
As the cast and crew navigated these heavy emotional beats, they also had to grapple with the reality that the show was coming to an end. McLaughlin reflected on the unique energy that permeated the set during the final episodes. “It was hectic. I think every season, we always have that—the beginning, everyone’s around each other, and then we separate to go on our own journeys, and then we come back at the end. Last season, I was kind of not looking forward to those moments, because usually when we go to those moments, we know the show is ending. When you see everyone’s face and you’re having a good time, you start realizing time is going by. You see that the time that you had is no longer going to be there. So it was one of those. It was a lot of fun, because I had a lot of fun last season. It was my favorite time filming, because I got closer to everyone… just these moments towards the end, is so much bigger than any moment we’ve ever had on the show.”
One of the season’s most intriguing aspects is the mythology surrounding the Upside Down, which finally comes into sharper focus. McLaughlin recounted his reaction to learning some of the new details: “I think it was a whirlwind. It was a lot of shocking moments. I remember reading it and listening to the Duffers read the script. I was like, ‘Oh, this is good. Oh, yeah. This is how you bring this to a close.’ Sometimes TV shows or movies will create something, they’ll create this world that’s already good, and then make it more [complicated], and then it becomes less meaningful. I think these moments made it more meaningful, and it made it more grounded.”
As for what comes next, McLaughlin is looking forward to new adventures. “I’m excited for the new journey. I think being in the industry, being on the show for so long, there’s things that you’re like, ‘oh, I need to do this. I need to do that.’ It’s been full circle to where I realized I’m already doing it, and I just need to keep doing it and following my heart and knowing who I am, and I’m excited, because I feel like this is only the beginning in life, in my career…future projects next. Literally right after this press tour, I’m going into another press run for this movie I’m doing called Goat, an animated movie called Goat. So that’s the first movie I’m doing at the top of the year, so that’s a new beginning, and it’s also a wonderful story about a little goat wanting to be the, no pun intended, greatest of all time. Actually, the pun was intended. But yeah, so I’m excited for the future.”
With the finale episode teased as “our biggest yet” and promising a wide range of emotions, fans can expect a satisfying and powerful end to a series that has become a cultural touchstone. As the curtain falls on Hawkins and its extraordinary inhabitants, the legacy of Stranger Things is secure, and its cast—like the characters they’ve portrayed—are ready for whatever comes next.
