On Nov. 26, Netflix released the first volume of Stranger Things Season 5, which quickly became a hit, setting the biggest English-language show debut on the platform with 59.6 million views in just 5 days.
With the first part of the season being the subject of close attention, viewers are wondering how safe their favorite characters are as the show that’s kept audiences captivated for almost a decade comes to a close. While nothing is certain, there have been quite a few hints about which characters might be facing death in the next episodes.
Most Likely to Stay Safe
Max and Holly
The events of Season 4 left Max’s fate very uncertain. In Season 5, we know Max is with Holly Wheeler, trying to escape Vecna’s mental prison. The next few episodes will likely show them finding the exit, and as Max and Holly have been through so much in the last few episodes, I don’t see the writers killing them off.
Lucas
I also don’t see the show putting Lucas in any danger, especially since we’ve been waiting for him to be reunited with Max. Lucas has been pretty skilled at staying safe throughout the show, even going so far as protecting his friends from bullies at school, and I don’t see that changing now.
That being said, there’s a popular theory that Lucas will sacrifice himself to save Max, creating a parallel to the lyrics of “Running Up That Hill” by Kate Bush, in which she says, “I’d make a deal with God / And I’d get him to swap our places.”
Hopper
Similar to Max, Hopper has faced an uncertain fate in past seasons, with the writers even managing to convince viewers he died at one point in Season 3. While he’s a very self-sacrificial character, I don’t think the writers would bring him back just to kill him off in the last few episodes of the show.
Erica and Derek
The last two characters I imagine will survive to the final episode are Erica and Derek. Aside from Erica being a genius when it comes to Dungeons & Dragons knowledge and strategic thinking, she also steals the scene every time she makes an appearance.
Delightful Derek is a new addition this season, but he has a similar spotlight-stealing effect on audiences. I have a strong feeling the show won’t want to lose two of its strongest comedic characters.
Might Be in Trouble
Nancy
Nancy is at a slightly higher risk than some of the other characters. While she’s always been strategic and has handled herself well in the Upside Down, she’s under a tremendous amount of pressure this season. With both her parents in the hospital and her little sister missing, it wouldn’t surprise me if Nancy sacrificed herself to save someone she loves.
Karen and Ted Wheeler
Nancy’s parents, Karen and Ted Wheeler, are also in trouble. Both of them are in the hospital after the events of Volume 1, and it’s unclear how they’ll recover. Karen Wheeler has become very popular after standing up to a Demogorgon to protect Holly, which gives her a higher chance at a safe recovery than her husband.
Dustin
Dustin is another character with an uncertain fate. While he’s a fan favorite, he’s still grieving Eddie’s death from Season 4, and I could see the writers building on his reckless behavior in Volume 1 to put him in mortal danger. I do think this possibility is pretty unlikely, though, after all of the emotional distress we’ve seen him in.
Extreme Danger
Robin
There have been quite a few fan theories surrounding Robin’s potential death in Season 5. While she’s a loveable, fan-favorite, Stranger Things has made a habit of killing off newer teen characters, and Maya Hawke, the actress playing the character, has said she would love to see Robin die in a heroic moment.
Steve and Jonathan
One of the biggest questions of the show so far has been who will end up with Nancy: Steve or Jonathan? I imagine the answer to this question will also determine each character’s fate.
Fans have speculated that Steve will die saving Nancy after realizing she wants a life with Jonathan. In the last season, Steve talked about his dream for the future being centered around her, and if he realizes that dream can’t exist, he might sacrifice himself for her happily ever after.
Hope isn’t lost on Steve’s happy ending, though. The show’s writers have said that they’ve already kept Steve around longer than expected because they loved Joe Keery, the actor who plays Steve.
They’ve also said that they don’t kill off characters without considering the repercussions, and many fans have said death wouldn’t be a satisfying ending to his character arc. I personally err on the side of optimism when it comes to Steve’s fate, but I’ll admit, he’s not entirely safe.
If Steve is safe, that means Jonathan is probably in danger. Jonathan has been driven by protecting both Nancy and Will throughout the show, and with Joyce’s overprotective behavior towards Will in Volume 1, causing her to ask Jonathan to step into more dangerous positions, it’s possible he could meet his end in the next episodes.
Joyce
Just like Jonathan, Joyce has spent most of the show trying to protect her children. She’s very likely to put herself in harm’s way if it means saving one of her kids.
Mike
As the group’s leader, Mike is also often placed in threatening situations, which could be the cause of his death. With both Will and Eleven being so close to the main conflict, it wouldn’t be surprising if Mike stepped in to try to save the people he cares about and ended up putting himself in grave danger in the process.
Death Seems Imminent
Will, Eleven, and Kali
We’ll likely have to start planning a funeral for at least one of our characters with powers connected to the Upside Down. This puts Will (our newest sorcerer), Eleven, and Kali in the most danger compared to our other characters. These characters are most likely to be at the center of the final battle, putting them in positions to very easily receive deadly injuries.
Vickie
One of our newest additions, Vickie, is also probably in a lot of danger this season. We don’t have as deep a connection to her as we do some of the other characters, and I could very easily see the writers killing her off similarly to how they let go of Barb and Bob in the earlier seasons.
Vecna
I don’t see an end to Stranger Things that doesn’t have our main antagonist, Vecna, dying along with the destruction of the Upside Down. While that might seem obvious, it does give fans at least one death they don’t have to be terrified of as the show wraps up its final season.
The next two volumes of Stranger Things come out on Christmas and New Year’s Eve, so be sure to watch to find out if your favorite character survives to see the end of the Upside Down.
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