The highly anticipated finale of Netflix's flagship series, Stranger Things season 5, has landed amidst a storm of fan debate, but not for the reasons the Duffer Brothers might have hoped. While the two-hour episode on New Year's Day 2026 concluded the decade-long saga, a post-credits sequence has ignited a fierce online controversy over the use of artificial intelligence in its creation.
The Suspicions Begin on Social Media
Following the emotional epilogue set 18 months after Eleven's disappearance, the closing credits roll to David Bowie's 'Heroes'. They feature a series of black-and-white drawings depicting iconic scenes from the show's history. However, sharp-eyed fans quickly took to platforms like Reddit and X to voice their conviction that these illustrations were AI-generated art, not the work of a human artist.
One fan, claiming expertise as both an artist and a user of AI image tools, dissected a drawing of Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer) practicing with a gun from season one. They pointed to the "mangled" appearance of Nancy's right pinky finger, describing it as an "unreadable blob" – a common artefact when AI struggles with complex details like hands. "Usually, an artist would simply suggest details," they argued, highlighting what they saw as a tell-tale mistake.
Debunking Attempts and Lingering Doubts
Not everyone was convinced by the AI theory. Some viewers rushed to debunk the claims, offering side-by-side comparisons of the credit art and the original scene. They noted that Nancy's awkward hand positioning was present in the initial footage, reflecting her character's inexperience with firearms. Furthermore, the distinctive drawing style was reminiscent of work by Kyle Lambert, the acclaimed illustrator behind the show's iconic posters, suggesting his potential involvement.
Despite these counterpoints, the theory has gained significant traction. A second viewer echoed the concerns, stating, "Right pinky is screwed up. Eyes are pointing in two different directions... 100% AI." The core issue fuelling the speculation is the lack of official credit. As podcast host Alex Azor highlighted on the Escape Pod Podcast, no artist has yet stepped forward to claim responsibility for the sequence.
A Call for Clarity from the Creators
The silence from the show's producers is amplifying the controversy. Alex Azor publicly called for the Duffer brothers to issue a statement, suggesting they should confirm if Lambert or another artist was behind the work. He warned that if the credits were indeed AI-produced, it would be an "embarrassing note" for the beloved series to end on.
For now, the debate rages online. While the finale saw the emotional conclusion of Eleven's story and the survival of the Hawkins crew, the discussion has shifted from plot holes to pixels. A significant portion of the Stranger Things fanbase remains unsatisfied, demanding transparency and a clear denial from Netflix or the Duffers before they can fully close the chapter on the Upside Down.
The entire series of Stranger Things is available to stream on Netflix.
