An actress from the hit Netflix series Stranger Things has opened up about her surprising omission from the show's fifth and final season, revealing her absence followed a private health battle.
"Where Was She?": A Mother's Mysterious Absence
Jennifer Marshall, who portrayed Susan Hargrove, the mother of Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink), in seasons two and four, was notably missing from the show's concluding episodes. The final season, which premiered on New Year's Day 2026, saw Max's boyfriend Lucas Sinclair (Caleb McLaughlin) constantly at her hospital bedside while she was unconscious, but her mother was absent.
Following the finale's release, Marshall took to Instagram to humourously question her character's whereabouts. "Okay folks! It’s over…but where was she?" she wrote. "What kind of mother isn’t there for her child while she’s in the hospital?"
The Health Battle Behind the Scenes
However, a subsequent post addressed the real-world reason she believes contributed to her not being asked back. Marshall, who had publicly revealed in 2022 that she was being treated for Stage 3 melanoma while filming season four, shared a more personal insight.
She confirmed she was in remission during the production of season five and expressed that working on the show would have helped her maintain crucial health insurance through the actors' union. "I had cancer, I get it. But I was in remission during the shooting of season five," Marshall stated, adding the hashtag "cancer sucks."
She previously described the support she received on set during her treatment, singling out Sadie Sink for her "kindness and compassion." Marshall had to wear a wig in season four as her hair fell out due to treatment.
Clarifying Intentions Amid Fan Reaction
After her social media posts sparked significant discussion among fans, Marshall clarified her comments in an interview with Variety. She explained that her initial reel was meant to be a light-hearted joke and that it unexpectedly gained widespread attention.
"I hold no ill will toward anyone and just wish things would have gone a different way," she said. "I was surprised to not be called back but cannot confirm why that decision was made. Regardless, I am grateful for the opportunity to be in the previous seasons."
While she speculated that an overabundance of characters might have been a factor, she ultimately stated she does not know the definitive reason for her character's exclusion from the Stranger Things finale.
