Stranger Things finally dropped its long awaited fifth season but one character was missing from the Netflix hit’s final episodes.
11:29, 08 Jan 2026
A Stranger Things star has shared she was “surprised” not to be called back for the last series.
Actress Jennifer Marshall, who portrayed Max Mayfield’s (Sadie Sink) mum Susan in seasons two and four of the Netflix drama, was noticeably absent from the last season.
Throughout series five, Max’s boyfriend Lucas Sinclair (Caleb McLaughlin) stayed by her side while she was unconscious in hospital, but Susan was nowhere to be seen.
As the Stranger Things finale dropped on New Year ’s Day, Marshall jokingly posted on Instagram : “Okay folks! It’s over…but where was she [Susan]?
“What kind of mother isn’t there for her child while she’s in the hospital? Give me all your theories…”
But it was a later post which really caught fans’ attention, as Marshall, who previously revealed she was being treated for cancer during the filming of season four, addressed the fact she wasn't brought back for the last series.
Marshall shared: “I had cancer, I get it. But I was in remission during the shooting of season five.
“Shooting would have helped me obtain my health insurance through the union.
“Maybe they had too many characters, Idk but obvs Susan Hargrove is THE WORST MOTHER EVER LMAO”, followed by a series of hashtags including “cancer sucks”.
Marshall, who has also appeared in The Terminal List: Dark Wolf and Sugar, revealed she had Stage 3 melanoma in a Facebook post back in 2022.
She told her followers that she was being treated for cancer while shooting Stranger Things season four and had to start wearing a wig as her hair was falling out.
The star wrote: “I confided in certain people on set, including Sadie, who plays my daughter, Max. “Her kindness and compassion overwhelmed me and I’m forever thankful for those moments we shared behind the scenes.”
Since fans have been reacting to her post regarding not being asked back for Stranger Things season five, Marshall has stated that the post wasn’t supposed to be interpreted in a malicious way.
Opening up to Variety, Marshall said: “I just made the reel as a funny thing and it blew up.
“I hold no ill will toward anyone and just wish things would have gone a different way.
“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.”
Stranger Things is available to watch on Netflix.