The next improvised scene was courtesy of none other than Teen Vogue Young Hollywood alum Caleb McLaughlin. Shortly after Eddie’s death scene, viewers took another blow with Max’s (Sadie Sink) death scene.
While trying to console Max, who had just suffered a massive fall after confronting Vecna, Caleb’s character Lucas desperately cries out for help from his sister, played by Priah Ferguson. That’s right: the chilling “Erica, help!” line that’s probably now ingrained in your mind was also not originally included in the script.
Twitter content
This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.
Sadie Sink recently opened up about filming the heartbreaking scene to Entertainment Weekly, calling the experience “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,” Sadie said. “It was very emotional… It’s just so heartbreaking.”
The third improvised scene recently shared by the Stranger Things writers involves Hopper (David Harbour) and Joyce (Winona Ryder). In Episode 9, when the two have broken back into the Russian prison and and Hopper decides to go after one of the Russian-bred Demodogs alone, Joyce suddenly has a flashback to Bob’s death from Season 2, which Hopper can almost sense. “I’m going to die someday. But not today,” he tells her, trying to reassure her. “I still got a date to make, remember?”
“This time is going to be different,” Hopper continues, trying to convince a doubtful Joyce. “It better be,” she finally proclaims. “I am not having another funeral.”
After that powerful exchange, the two share a quick but oh-so-touching kiss, which, surprise surprise, was also improvised. “This kiss wasn’t scripted, Winona and David added it on the day of filming,” the writers shared on Twitter.
Twitter content
This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.
So far, those are the only improvisations the Stranger Things writers have shared with viewers — but with the fifth and final season already on the horizon, we are sure even more emotional scenes will soon follow… both scripted and improvised. See you in 2024.