Stranger Issues could have formally closed the door on Hawkins, however one lingering query has left followers scratching their heads — and now, Max Mayfield’s onscreen mother is weighing in.
Jennifer Marshall, who portrayed Susan Hargrove in seasons 2 and 4 of Netflix’s hit collection, is opening up about her character’s shocking absence from the two-hour collection finale, which dropped on December 31. Regardless of Max (Sadie Sink) spending a lot of season 5 in a coma, Susan was nowhere to be seen — and Marshall made it clear she observed, too.
“Okay people! It’s over… however the place was she,” Marshall, 44, wrote in a January 1 Instagram submit alongside a picture of Max within the hospital. “What sort of mom isn’t there for her youngster whereas she’s within the hospital? Give me all of your theories…”
Whereas followers rapidly jumped in with hypothesis, Marshall confirmed the choice wasn’t hers. In a Jan. 7 assertion to Folks Journal, the actress shared that returning to the present would have meant extra than simply display time.
“Portraying Max’s mother was the chance of a lifetime,” she wrote, including that whereas she doesn’t know why Susan wasn’t included within the last season, she “would have been ecstatic to return.”
“It might have helped me not solely financially, however would have been a psychological and emotional uplift after battling most cancers for nearly two years,” Marshall continued, referencing her stage three melanoma prognosis in 2021. Nonetheless, she was cautious to strike a gracious tone. “Both method, nobody is entitled to a task, most cancers or not. My coronary heart stays grateful, and I’ll at all times give these concerned within the decision-making the advantage of the doubt.”
In a follow-up submit on January 6, Marshall clarified that her most cancers was not the explanation she was absent from season 5. “I had most cancers, I get it. However I used to be in remission in the course of the taking pictures of season 5,” she wrote. “Capturing would have helped me acquire my medical insurance by the union.”
She even added a little bit of humor to the state of affairs, joking, “Perhaps that they had too many characters, idk however obv Susan Hargrove is THE WORST MOTHER EVER LMAO.”
Marshall appeared in seasons 2 and 4 however didn’t return for the ultimate season, which notably featured the Hawkins children’ commencement — full with a number of dad and mom in attendance. Followers had been fast to level out the inconsistency. One commenter joked that Ted “Do Nothing” Wheeler made it to the ceremony whereas Susan didn’t. “He’s so humorous tho lol,” Marshall replied.
The actress later instructed TMZ that she by no means anticipated her feedback to go viral and emphasised that she wasn’t criticizing producers Shawn Levy or creators Ross and Matt Duffer — even when being “ghosted” damage. She additionally revealed that, following her posts, she was warned by a solid member and crew members that talking out may danger her being blacklisted within the trade. “She doesn’t care,” the outlet reported.
Marshall additionally shared that she initially saved her most cancers prognosis non-public till rumors circulated on set throughout season 4 that she was utilizing medication. As soon as she defined her well being struggles, she stated there have been no issues raised about her means to work.
Finally, Marshall says she nonetheless doesn’t know why she wasn’t introduced again — however she’s not improper about one factor. Followers positively observed.
