It’s hard to imagine that the final episodes of Netflix’s Stranger Things will be released in the next few weeks. This is a show that I’ve grown deeply attached to, and in fact, have grown up with. When the first episode was released back in 2016, I was just 11 years old, the same age as the show’s main cast of kids. It’s been incredible watching these characters transform and overcome the challenges they have faced, which makes it so much harder to realize just how high the stakes have gotten since the conclusion of season 4.
It has already been confirmed by The Duffer Brothers that season 5 will be much more violent than the previous season, and will include “the most violent death in the entire series,” which leaves many fans speculating as to whether their favorite main character might tragically take the fall. To me, the two obvious answers as to who has been set up to die are Will and Eleven. Both have suffered immensely throughout the show, and both are deeply rooted in the evils of the Upside Down, so it only makes sense that the season ends with their sacrifice to save the world. For me, I’m not so convinced that either of these characters will be the one to die. Instead, I think it’s going to be Mike. I believe that at some point during their battle, Vecna will become weakened and close to death, but will use his connection to Will’s thoughts to pursue Mike, the friend he cares about the most, and catch him by surprise. Since it’s already been said that any major death will help move the plot forward, I believe this loss will enrage Will enough that he can deliver the final blow and kill Vecna. Also, with the conclusion of episode four, Will has already been set up to move past this grief and find the strength to move on because of the monologue Robin gave about finding the strength to be herself and not depend on Tammy for her identity and self-worth. It’s already been hinted at multiple times throughout the show that Will may have a crush on Mike, and at least has had an unhealthy attachment to him. So, to progress Will’s character forward, find his true strength within and leave behind his identity as the scared, powerless kid that he was, he needs to make an identity for himself outside of his trauma in the Upside Down and his attachment to Mike. This also makes sense, considering how Vecna has exploited Will and his other victims for their weaknesses and traumatic experiences, so freeing himself of this guilt and shame will empower him enough to render Vecna’s control over him useless. Unfortunately, this severance may just be through Mike’s death.
Outside of character deaths, I think a lot of people are also forgetting that Vecna isn’t the main big bad of the series; the Mind Flare is. You guys remember the Mind Flare, right? You know, the big scary monster towering over Hawkins that looks fresh out of the movie Alien. So exactly how will they deal with that massive monstrosity? I believe Vecna has gathered the twelve kids to use as a power source for the Mind Flayer, and to weaken it, they will need to free these kids from its possession somehow. So far, the only thing we really know about the Mind Flayer is that he likes the cold, so in order to free the kids, they may have to use fire to burn through the wall and carve an escape route for them. Once Vecna has been defeated and the children freed, Eleven, Will and Eight will be able to use their powers and destroy the Mind Flayer.
Overall, I am incredibly excited to see how the show ends and cannot wait till the next few episodes are released!