The world of Netflix’s Stranger Things is defined by a decade-long saga of supernatural threats, parallel dimensions, and a group of small-town friends who grow up fighting literal monsters. The show is a cultural phenomenon that has held millions rapt with its meticulously crafted suspense and deeply emotional storylines. Yet, as the cameras finally stop rolling on the much-anticipated fifth and final season, the young stars who brought the show’s heart to life are revealing the messy, profoundly human reality of their final year together—a reality that, according to Gaten Matarazzo, involved an apartment that quickly descended into a state he could only describe as “disgusting.”

Matarazzo, who captivated audiences as the endearing Dustin Henderson, recently sat down to peel back the curtain on the final, intimate phase of production. What he revealed was less about fighting Vecna and more about battling laundry, dishes, and the unspoken domestic rules of roommate life. His candid confession about co-habitating with co-star Finn Wolfhard (Mike Wheeler) for roughly a year has become an instant viral sensation, offering a hilarious, yet ultimately heartwarming, window into the unbreakable bond forged by the cast—a bond so close, it transcended all standards of cleanliness.

The College Experience: Chaos Forged in Friendship

The idea of Gaten Matarazzo and Finn Wolfhard, two of the central pillars of the Stranger Things ensemble, sharing an apartment while filming the final chapter sounds like the perfect coming-of-age comedy setup. In reality, Matarazzo confirmed that the living arrangement swiftly devolved into a high-octane version of a freshman dorm room. Speaking on the Dinners on Me podcast, Maten Matarazzo didn’t mince words when describing the domestic scene. He aptly summarized the year-long arrangement as “a little bit of a college experience.”

This “college experience” wasn’t characterized by late-night study sessions or intellectual debates; it was defined by sheer, unbridled mess. According to Matarazzo’s recount, it took only three short months for the apartment to become almost uninhabitable. He recalled looking around and thinking, “This place is disgusting.”

Imagine the visual: two young stars, already global icons, returning from grueling, emotionally draining days of filming the final episodes of their career-defining series, only to collapse into an apartment where the laundry was piled high, fast-food containers formed abstract sculptures on the kitchen counter, and the only order was the growing disarray. It’s a wonderfully humanizing image that cuts through the polished veneer of Hollywood stardom, reminding the public that these celebrated figures are, at the end of the day, young adults navigating the complexities of their 20s. The chaos was not the result of malice or poor habit, but something far more intimate and relatable.

The Root of the Filth: When Closeness Undermines Standards

The truly captivating part of Matarazzo’s confession wasn’t the detail about the filth, but his profound analysis of why the apartment became so messy. This wasn’t a story of antagonistic roommates secretly judging each other; it was a story of two friends who were simply too comfortable with one another. Their bond, which has matured over the past decade in the trenches of the demanding television industry, became the very root of their domestic issues.

Matarazzo articulated this dynamic perfectly, stating, “We match each other’s energy a little bit… we got along so well and had been so close for so long that we didn’t really hold each other to a standard.”

This quote is the emotional core of the anecdote. It suggests a level of comfortable intimacy so deep that the need for performance—or even basic domestic civility—evaporated. The pressure to impress, to maintain appearances, or to adhere to a formal set of roommate rules simply dissolved because they saw each other as family. In the comfortable vacuum of their shared home, the need to police or be policed by the other was simply non-existent. The friendship was so secure that they could mutually, comfortably, and hilariously live in a state of utter disorganization without damaging their relationship. They were, in effect, two peas in a very, very messy pod.

The good news, Matarazzo noted, was that the situation didn’t last the whole year. Towards the end of their tenure as roommates, he and Finn apparently managed to improve their tidiness, perhaps realizing that even the deepest bond has its limits when confronted with a genuine health hazard. Crucially, their friendship remained absolutely intact, surviving the challenge of co-living, a notorious stumbling block for even the most solid relationships.

The Enduring Family of the Upside Down

The roommate anecdote serves as a compelling microcosm for the larger, more significant emotional reality surrounding the Stranger Things cast: they are, without question, a family. This sentiment extends far beyond Matarazzo and Wolfhard, encompassing the entire original group, including Millie Bobby Brown, Noah Schnapp, and Caleb McGlaughlin.

Matarazzo confirmed to E! News that despite the “big goodbye” of wrapping the final season, the cast is far from going their separate ways. He assured fans that the young stars are still communicating “a ton” and have an active, ongoing group chat that keeps them intimately connected. “It’s always good to keep in touch with the gang,” he emphasized. “We’re family, and there was never an option that we weren’t going to be, you know, talking to each other throughout the whole year.”

The emotional weight of finishing the series was immense. Matarazzo recounted the finale of filming being marked by tears and hugs—the expected, poignant farewell that comes after a decade of shared professional and personal growth. Yet, the finality of the emotional goodbye was instantly undercut by the reality of their bond. He humorously noted, “I’ve seen all of them constantly throughout this year, so it’s been so great.”

This admission highlights a beautiful truth about the Stranger Things legacy. While the fictional residents of Hawkins face a final, terrifying threat, the actors who portray them have emerged with a lifelong, permanent support system. They grew up on a globally watched set, navigating the unique pressures of fame, adolescence, and a demanding creative process together. They are bound by an experience that few people on the planet can understand, and that shared history has cemented a kinship that no final episode or series finale can dissolve.

A Legacy Beyond the Screen

The revelation of the “disgusting” apartment and the explanation that their intense closeness led to a complete lack of domestic standards elevates the Stranger Things narrative. It moves the conversation from the fictional realm of monsters and telekinesis into the tangible, relatable domain of enduring friendship. It confirms for fans that the on-screen chemistry and love they have watched mature over the years is entirely authentic.

The Matarazzo-Wolfhard co-living arrangement was a chaotic test of their bond, a period of shared adulthood that proved their connection was deeper than any script. They faced the ultimate roommate challenge—the battle against the mess—and emerged victorious, not because they suddenly became tidy, but because their friendship was robust enough to withstand the clutter.

As the world awaits the final season, Gaten Matarazzo’s intimate confessions provide a comforting reassurance. The end of Stranger Things may be bittersweet, marking the closing of a significant chapter for the actors and the audience. However, the legacy of the show is not just the incredible storytelling, but the real, enduring family it created. Whether they are battling creatures in the Upside Down, exchanging tearful hugs on the set, or managing the hilarious filth of a shared apartment, the core Stranger Things cast has proved that their friendship is a permanent fixture—an unshakeable, messy, and profoundly loving bond that will continue long after the lights go out on the series.