The first kiss means a lot in teenage relationships, and it’s no different for Sadie Sink and Caleb McLaughlin. With Stranger Things drawing to its end (though not as soon as we thought it would be), it is time to reminisce about this very sweet moment.
Sadie Sink, who plays the role of Max Mayfield in the show, shared a sweet, adorable kiss with her on-screen partner Caleb McLaughlin, who plays Lucas Sinclair, in the last episode, Chapter 9: The Gate, of Season 2. The kiss in question happened during the Hawkins Middle School’s winter formal, the Snowball Dance, while “Every Breath You Take” by The Police played in the background.
However, this wasn’t simply their first intimate scene on-screen; it was also their first kiss ever in their lives.
How Did It Happen?
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There is precedent in partaking in their first kiss on screen with actors like Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher, as well as Selena Gomez and Dylan Sprouse. So, this isn’t the first time it ever happened, and they weren’t the first in the show either to have their first kiss in front of the camera.
Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven) had her first kiss with Finn Wolfhard (Mike Wheeler). Wolfhard denies Brown was his first, but she shuts it down quickly by saying that elementary kisses don’t count.
POV: Sadie Sink
In an episode of the talk program Beyond Stranger Things, Sink shared that the kiss was not part of the original script. She was so stressed out when she heard about it on the first day of filming the scene, especially since she was just 14 and had never kissed anyone before.
When they finally shot the scene, the actress said it wasn’t romantic, and they were awkward. Before they started, she was nervous because many people were around her, and everyone was just watching. Then when the music started playing, everyone was waiting for it to happen.
In a later interview, she said, “It’s a lot of kids like, ‘Oooh, you’re gonna kiss her!’ And I’m like, ‘Bro, stop. We’re acting.’ You’re making it bigger than it actually has to be.” However, they pulled through because all of their friends were with them and ready to support them.
POV: Caleb McLaughlin
As for McLaughlin, he turned to Wolfhard for advice as the actor already had multiple on-screen kisses with Brown at that point. Wolfhard’s advice was just to make smacking sounds.
When they started shooting, he was nervous. Fortunately, Sink’s character, Max, came in for the kiss, so he didn’t have to make the first move.
The Jokes and Teasings on Set Weren’t Stopping Anytime Soon
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At their panel interview at the Fan Expo in Dallas, a fan asked McLaughlin, “Did you enjoy the kiss with Sadie Sink?” The question was met by laughter, and Gaten Matarazzo, who plays the role of Dustin Henderson, teasingly reacted with a long “Oh” and asked his co-actor, “You like it?”
McLaughlin was reluctant to respond straightly and just answered, “I wouldn’t say it was bad.” He then continued and told everyone in the room how he did not want Sadie to feel bad. Sadie was laughing throughout the whole panel interview.
Now, the two are very chill about it. If there’s anything to take away from the situation, it’s finding the memory of their first kiss funny.
The final season of Stranger Things is about to arrive on Netflix soon, and both Sadie Sink and Caleb McLaughlin are set to return. Considering what happened in the last season, we just wish Max gets to wake up, and she and Lucas get another shot.
