'Stranger Things' creators spill disappointing update on Robin and Vickie's relationship in Season 5 ending

Matt Duffer didn't seem too confident about their chances as he weighed on the emotional finale
PUBLISHED JAN 3, 2026
Robin (Maya Hawke) and Vickie (Amybeth McNulty) in 'Stranger Things' Season 5 (Cover image credit: YouTube | Netflix)
Robin (Maya Hawke) and Vickie (Amybeth McNulty) in 'Stranger Things' Season 5 (Cover image credit: YouTube | Netflix)

Robin (Maya Hawke) and Vickie's (Amybeth McNulty) relationship didn't get any screentime in the much-needed and emotional epilogue of 'Stranger Things' season 5 finale. Last seen, Vickie learns of the Upside Down and helps the gang fight against the army and the monster threats. But the finale does not confirm how their relationship ends.

In what comes as a disappointing update, co-creators the Duffer Brothers revealed they spoke of what happens, but decided to leave the ending open. Matt didn't seem too confident about their chances and shared his two cents with EW.

"From my point of view and from everyone I knew in high school, what percentage of couples remain together after they leave for college? Extremely low. Max and Lucas survive because their love is that deep, but very few others do. But, you never know."

Ross added, "We do that flash-forward in Mike's story, and we bring them up to a certain point, and then we want to leave it a little bit up to fans in terms of where these characters end up ultimately. Do Robin and Vickie stay together? Maybe, maybe not."

To add, Robin's comment on "overbearing significant others" during her talk with Steve (Joe Keery), Nancy (Natalia Dyer), and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) suggests that the two have indeed broken up. The romance then is essentially over when the show picks up 18 months after the events of the epic battle between Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) and Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), and the latter makes the heroic sacrifice.

It does feel like Mike (Fin Wolfhard) was not the only person who lost a partner. Robin's ending comes as rather bittersweet when considering she survived the deadly battle, but didn't get the life she wanted with Vickie. It also adds to Matt's thoughts on how couples move on as they grow with differing viewpoints from high school to college. Barring the exception of Max (Sadie Sink) and Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin), even Nancy and Jonathan do not get to go the distance.

'Stranger Things' Season 5 is streaming on Netflix.

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