At a Glance
- Finn Wolfhard hosted the first Saturday Night Live of 2025
- The cold-open sketch mocked the idea of a “secret” Stranger Things finale
- Castmates Gaten Matarazzo and Caleb McLaughlin appeared in the sketch and monologue
- Why it matters: It shows how the show’s cultural footprint continues even after its Netflix conclusion
Saturday Night Live wasted no time lampooning the fervor surrounding the Stranger Things series finale, turning the buzz about a rumored hidden ending into prime sketch material during its first episode of 2025.
Host Finn Wolfhard, who plays Mike Wheeler on the Netflix phenomenon, reprised his role alongside returning cast members Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin) and Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas). The sketch opens with the trio searching for Eleven in Iceland, convinced she landed there after defeating Vecna. An unexpected cameo reveals a comedic casting choice for the super-powered teen.
The Setup: Iceland, Vecna, and Spinoff Mania
Before the reveal, the sketch skewers Netflix’s apparent desire to franchise Stranger Things into an ever-expanding universe. A line delivered with deadpan earnestness-“This is our Star Wars”-lands as both accurate and slightly generous.
The writers pile on concept after concept:
- Sequels
- Prequels
- Requels
- Spinoffs
One imagined series places Mike, Lucas, and Dustin in a Sex and the City-style scenario, an absurd juxtaposition that drew loud laughs from the studio audience. Additional fake shows riff on 1990s nostalgia and familiar television tropes.
When questioned about Will Byers’ absence, the in-sketch explanation is simple: he’s still coming out to the rest of the cast, so catching up will take time.
Monologue Moments: Puberty, First Kisses, and 400 Million Viewers
During his opening monologue, Wolfhard poked fun at growing up in front of a global audience. He joked about having “400 million people watch me go through puberty” and recalled his nerves over filming his first on-screen kiss. Matarazzo and McLaughlin joined him on stage, celebrating the milestone of completing the series and moving into adulthood.
Stranger Things has been SNL fodder before. Previous sketches have highlighted Lucas’ largely absent parents in season one and offered a mock teaser for the then-upcoming third season.
Why the Netflix Hit Keeps Giving Comedic Material
The continued parody underscores the show’s sustained impact on pop culture. Even after the final credits rolled, fans speculated online about an alternate finale, a rumor the SNL writers happily exploited.
By bringing back key cast members and layering in rapid-fire jokes about franchise overkill, the sketch captured both the affection audiences have for the series and the exhaustion some feel toward endless spinoff chatter.
Key Takeaways
- SNL’s cold open used the rumored “secret finale” as comedic fuel
- Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, and Caleb McLaughlin appeared in both the sketch and monologue
- The skit mocked Netflix’s impulse to spin Stranger Things into multiple continuations
- Previous SNL segments have also targeted the series, proving its parody-worthy status
