Why STRANGER THINGS Ends With David Bowie’s “Heroes”
When the final moments of Stranger Things plays out, the choice of music is instantly familiar with David Bowie’s “Heroes.”
That song carries the weight of the entire series with it. After five seasons of monsters, loss, and survival, the song becomes the final emotional note, and it lands with strong confidence.
“Heroes” has been part of the show’s DNA almost from the start. The series first used Peter Gabriel’s cover of the song in Season 1 during one of its most devastating early moments.
It returned again at the end of Season 3 as Eleven read Hopper’s letter, reinforcing the song as an emotional anchor tied to sacrifice, love, and endurance. By the time the finale arrives, the music already carries years of history with it.
What makes the finale different is the version. Instead of returning to Gabriel’s haunting reinterpretation, the show finally uses the original recording by David Bowie. It’s brighter, more direct, and filled with a sense of forward motion. That shift mirrors where the story leaves its characters. The danger has passed. The grief remains, but it isn’t the only thing left behind
The idea to use Bowie’s version didn’t come from a long debate in the writers’ room. It came from one of the show’s stars. The Duffers revealed that Joe Keery was the one who suggested it, and once it was on the table, the decision became clear:
“And it was actually Joe Keery who suggested that we do the David Bowie version, which we’ve never used on the show, for the end. Once Joe said that, we immediately knew that was the right song to end the show on because it is in some ways an anthem for Stranger Things. But to use the original Bowie version just felt right and fitting for the conclusion.”
“Heroes” has always been about ordinary people rising to impossible moments, even if only briefly. That idea runs straight through the heart of Stranger Things. These characters were never chosen ones or destined warriors. They were kids on bikes, teenagers in over their heads, and adults doing their best to protect the people they love. They all were heroes in their own right, even if just for a moment.
Using the original version also signals something important about the tone of the ending. The finale doesn’t close on despair or dread, it leaves space for hope. The characters are scattered, changed, and carrying scars they’ll never fully lose, but they’re still moving forward. Bowie’s voice brings a sense of resolve rather than mourning, which fits where the story ultimately lands.
Ending the series this way also brings everything full circle. The song that once underscored tragedy now underscores survival. The same melody that played during loss now plays during reflection. It reminds viewers how far these characters have come and how much they’ve endured to get here.
As a final statement, “Heroes” doesn’t explain the ending or spell out what comes next. It doesn’t need to. It simply sits with the audience and lets the emotions settle. For a show that has always understood the power of music as storytelling, closing on David Bowie is the right goodbye.
