Some shows end with a twist. Stranger Things ended with a feeling, and the last song did a lot of the work.
The Duffer Brothers have shared that the decision to use David Bowie’s “Heroes” over the end credits of the series finale wasn’t some long-planned master move they’d been saving for years. It came from a suggestion inside the cast: Joe Keery (Steve Harrington).
While they were finalizing the show’s last moments, Keery brought up the idea of using Bowie’s original recording. The Duffers have said that as soon as he mentioned it, it clicked as the right way to close the entire story.
Why This Wasn’t Just a Random “Cool Song” Choice
On the surface, “Heroes” is a legendary song and Stranger Things is known for big music moments. That could’ve been the whole explanation.
But the reason it hits is that “Heroes” wasn’t new to the show. Stranger Things had already used Peter Gabriel’s cover of “Heroes” in earlier seasons during major emotional beats. So by the time the finale rolled around, the audience already associated the song with endings, sacrifice, and that bittersweet sense of survival.
Keery’s idea wasn’t “throw in a classic.” It was more like: if we’re closing the book, use the original — the definitive version — as the final signature.
The Duffers’ Thinking: The Original Felt Like the Final Word
The show had already proven that the song worked emotionally through the cover version. But using Bowie’s original in the finale gives it a different weight — not louder, not flashier, just more final.
The way the creators describe it, the moment Keery suggested it, they knew it was the right call. It’s the kind of decision that doesn’t feel like brainstorming. It feels like recognition.
Why It Makes Sense That Joe Keery Suggested It
If you only think of Keery as Steve, this sounds like a fun behind-the-scenes fact. But he’s also a musician outside the show, and musicians tend to think in instincts: what emotion are we leaving people with? what’s the last thing they’ll carry out of the episode?
The end-credits song isn’t background. It’s the final emotional message. And “Heroes” is basically built for that job.
The Stranger Things Effect Hit Again
Stranger Things has a track record of taking a song, placing it in the perfect emotional context, and sending people straight to replay it. “Heroes” followed that same pattern after the finale, with reports of a big spike in streams once the episode dropped.
That’s what the show has always done well: it doesn’t just use music for vibe. It turns a song into a memory.
Why “Heroes” Is the Perfect Final Note
“Heroes” carries the exact emotional contradiction Stranger Things lives in: hope without pretending everything is fine, triumph without denying what it cost.
It’s uplifting, but it’s not clean. It’s brave, but it’s not naive. That mix is basically the show’s identity.
Ending on Bowie’s original recording isn’t just a callback. It’s a statement: this is the real thing, the final word, the closing chapter.
The Takeaway
Stripped down, the story is simple: Stranger Things already tied “Heroes” to its most emotional endings through Peter Gabriel’s cover. Joe Keery suggested using Bowie’s original to close the series. The Duffers instantly agreed — and the response made it clear they stuck the landing.
