Stranger Things might genuinely have the best marketing team ever, because even though I’m excited to spend Christmas Day with my family, all I can think about is Part 2 of the final season dropping on the 25th. While everyone else is planning outfits and menus, fans are mentally preparing for emotional damage.
As we all anxiously wait for the new episodes to release, it feels like the perfect time to look back on how far this show has come, and why saying goodbye is going to be just as bittersweet as it is exciting. From the characters we’ve grown up with to the unanswered mysteries still haunting Hawkins, Stranger Things has truly become a cultural phenomenon. And of course, we have to talk predictions.
We Literally Grew Up With These Characters
Let’s start with the fact that we’ve grown up alongside these characters. Season 1 introduced us to a group of awkward, bike-riding kids playing Dungeons & Dragons in a basement. Now, we’re watching them face world-ending threats as adults navigating trauma, love, and responsibility.
The passage of time is honestly wild. Millie Bobby Brown, who played Eleven as a shaved-headed child, is now married and a mother. Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas) has facial hair. These aren’t just characters anymore, they’re people we’ve watched mature in real time.
Beyond appearances, the acting has evolved tremendously. Each season feels more layered, more emotional, and more cinematic than the last. You can tell the cast has grown into their craft, and it shows in every scene.
Hawkins Is in Shambles (And We’re Stressing)
Now for the nitty gritty. If you haven’t seen the new season yet, consider this your official spoiler warning.
If you have been watching, we can all agree on one thing: Hawkins is a mess. This season has opened the door to answers fans have been waiting years for, while somehow creating even more questions at the same time.
We’re learning more about Vecna’s origins, his connection to the Upside Down, and the unsettling link between him and Will. I think all the fans are collectively trying to figure out what exactly Mr. Whatsit has planned for all of the kids he’s been abducting. And Will with this new power? He went from being curled up during the battles to being the hero. At the perfect time too. The tension feels heavier this season, and the stakes are higher than ever.
Fan Theories We Can’t Stop Thinking About
TikTok has been booming with fan theories since the play and new season were released. One major theory suggests that Vecna is afraid of the cave Max is hiding in. These theories stem from scenes shown in the play. If you were lucky enough to see it, please give us that haven’t more theories!
Another theory dives into Henry Creel knowing the kids’ parents in high school. In the episode where we see Max walking through Henry’s memories, we see all of the kids’ parents’ names on a flyer along with Hopper and Henry. How did they know Henry? Why was this scene necessary? Is there something the parents know that the kids don’t?
Fans and gamers speculate about the “Vecna’s Hand” theory involving Will’s left hand being used for evil by Vecna after he used his power himself for good. These theories stem from the Dungeons and Dragons games.
Lastly, many fans fear Robin may be playing her final song in the “Disk Jockey” episode. Especially since she has been absent from new promotional flyers.
The Beginning of the End
As much as we want answers, it’s impossible to ignore the emotional weight of this season. Stranger Things isn’t just ending a storyline — it’s closing a chapter of our lives.
No matter how it ends, one thing is certain: Stranger Things changed television forever.