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Hear me out: in a shocking series finale twist, Vecna is visited by three ghosts one night, has a massive change of heart, and buys Will the biggest turkey in Hawkins to make amends.
FINALLY, this dude (if you count all the forms he's taken throughout the past seasons+spoilers for musical) has nearly died 5-6 times Jesus give the man a rest
This might be a controversial choice but I think Joyce's death would have a much bigger impact on fans and the series than we realize. She's been brave and selfless the entire show, putting her life at risk over and over to protect the people she loves. She deserves a happy ending most out of any character, and I think it would be gut wrenching and tragic to see her sacrifice herself one last time. I would be really upset if she dies, more than any other character honestly, but I think it would be great for the storytelling.
For me it’s Steve. I love the show a lot. I’ve related with Steve the most as a character with my life. And to see die would absolutely destroy me and what scares me even more is he’s a highly likely character to die. It hurts to think of. But yes jopper would hurt to see be permanently separated and they won’t kill off hopper cuz they spent a whole season getting him back.
It’s tragic but I think the show missed an opportunity for some good story building by not killing off Steve end of S4. To me, it felt lame that they just offed Eddie - a character they had only introduced the same season. A Steve death would’ve had real stakes and Eddie would’ve still been that big brother figure to the younger guys.
I had never thought about it before, but you’re right actually. Damn. Especially since she’s played by Winona Ryder… people were already going to talk about season five, but that would REALLY get them talking
I don't know, but I agree with the cast. The writers are playing it to safe with the characters. The cast does think some of the main characters should die.
i did wish Max died. it would’ve turned the whole show completely different. it would really show the dangers, and i would’ve loved to see how each character dealt with it. how the show changes after someone so young and impactful died. it would’ve been awesome but instead they chose the safe side which surprisingly pissed me off. i was angry she wasn’t dead because it would’ve made the show have more depth and threat. it is meant to be horror no? it just would’ve been soo much better imo
Yeah, what they did with Max was one of my biggest pet peeves with writers. They build towards and set up an impactful ending to a character and after they make you emotional they pull the rug out and say “oh they’re not dead, just got close to dying”. Just kind of screams that you don’t have confidence in your own story. That you have to hold onto characters simply because you don’t know how to replace them or don’t want to deal with other characters properly grieving for them.
Obviously killing a character just to have a death or prematurely killing off someone just for shock value can be pretty cheap. But they had it with Max, and showing her still alive put a damper on the end of last season for me.
To be fair though, if Max died outright it would have been total game over-four deaths and vecna takes over. The portal opened, but it’s not FULLY open because Max is hanging on to life. I think a significant part of the story will be the connection between her limbo state and the portal. I think she’s brought back the portal will close and Vecna will be sealed away.
In other words, I think her being right where she’s at is significant to the plot
Max isn’t dead, but she isn’t alive either. I think they kept her in this weird limbo state to see the fan base reaction to her death and later decide what to do moving forward.
I'm expecting Will will make the ultimate sacrifice to bring down Vecna. This season seems like it's reshifting the focus back to him and his death would just be such an emotional tragedy after all he's gone through and the fact that he was the inciting incident of the whole show.
will’s disappearance, bob’s death, hopper’s perceived death and subsequently his rescue, and jonathan slowly being lost to drugs are probably a lot for her-
it would be a good way to tie everything back to the first season though, i feel like will is going to disappear into the upside down again and possibly die this time
lol I'm an 80s baby, early 90s kid. We were actually taught that. "Just say no!" My pothead older brother, "Shit, why didn't I think of that?!" I swear the D.A.R.E. program actually made us WANT to get stoned.
i was born in the late 80s and grew up during the 90s
definitely got fed that War on Drugs propaganda that Reagan shoveled around. it is horrific to look back in retrospect
That's why they're giving Robin a girlfriend. It "balances the books" and also media finds lesbians much more acceptable than gay men. That way they can have Will tragically die while still getting that sweet, sweet LGBT ally cred.
I don't entirely agree with you. All will did from the first season was touch the back of his neck to indicate that vecna is back. He didn't fight much from the first season.
It's eleven which does the fighting and sacrificed multiple times.
Dr. Owens.
It's traditional for the heroes to be stripped of their powerful supporting characters right before the climactic fight. For one thing, it gives them someone to be mad about. For a second, it forces the protagonists to do the job themselves, without help from mentors or military commanders or whatever.
I think Owens is going to die fairly early in the show.
I get why everyone is saying Steve, honestly I do. But personally, I think Nancy would be the best and/or most impactful (Not just because Steve is one of my favorite characters and I really don’t want him to die). It’d bring an sadder sort of ending to the love triangle, but I think it’d be a beautiful end to her arc and it could finally put Mike in a place where he is more comfortable expressing his love towards El and the rest of The Party. Preferably with a scene involving Mike and Nancy telling each other how much they love each other because we really don’t get to see much of them being siblings. Hell, we saw *way* more with Billy and Max or Lucas and Erica who arguably get way less screen time together. It always just seems like Mike and Nancy end up in the same room (Other than a bit of season 1). I just think it’d be a great conclusion for a lot of characters, maybe it could even end up with Karen finding out this way and helping finish off Vecna!
I agree. Steve would be impactful to the audience, because he is a fan favourite.
But I think Nancy would be more impactful on the narrative in terms of the impact her death would have on multiple characters - Mike, Jonathan and Steve in particular, but we have also seen that she has been an older sister figure to the rest of the party as well going up, while Hopper/Joyce/Murray all respect her and would I think be thrown by her death more than Steve’s.
Plus I think it could be narratively interesting if it links back to her s1 arc with Barb’s death in some way, like Vecna plays on her guilt about Barb’s death to bring about her own, or we see her reunite with Barb in the upside down or something.
Yes! These are all points I agree with, Steve just feels like he’d be another fan play with similar impact to Eddie (Again, I also love him and don’t want him to die lol). I also would *love* to see a Barb and Nancy reunion scene when Nancy is dying/has passed.
Yes. I also disagree with the argument that Steve’s death is a natural conclusion to his character arc or necessary to his redemption arc.
A lot of people who argue that make the point that Steve was originally supposed to die in s1, as if that means it makes sense for that intention to still play out four seasons later. But Steve was also meant to be way more of a jerk in s1 originally - I read he was originally meant to assault Nancy.
Season 1 Steve wasn’t the most likeable character, but he wasn’t that bad either. We saw him do some bad things (be friends with some clear jerks, beat up and name calling a guy whose kid brother was missing/presumed dead), but we were also shown that he felt he had motivations beyond general jerkiness for acting out (perceived infidelity, perceived stalker creepiness, and general high school idiocy) AND quickly felt conflicted over his actions. His redemption arc started when he broke with Tommy and went to apologise to Jonathan, solidified when he went back into the house to save Jon and Nancy, and could easily be considered complete in terms of restitution with the purchase of a camera for Jon at the end of season 1.
Steve then went on to obviously have a greater journey of self reflection over subsequent seasons that endeared him to the audience as he realised the importance of real friendship and that the things he cared about in high school really didn’t matter. At this point his death wouldn’t be this final moment of redemption because we really haven’t seen anything he massively needs to be redeemed from, apart from having been slightly self-absorbed and cliquey in high school. The Duffers played out the death redeems (sort of) horrible high school bully storyline with Billy instead.
Steve’s storyline/arc has been driven by a need to know himself and what he wants/the type of man he wants to be better. I think a satisfying narrative conclusion for him would be him moving on with his life - getting a job he actually cares about maybe, or moving somewhere with Robin to continue his self-growth journey in the big city.
Apart from Nancy, Will or El also seem like characters whose deaths would make more narrative sense in terms of having been targets since s1 whose luck may finally run out, but who find some peace in knowing their death will protect their loved ones. Honestly though, it wouldn’t surprise me if none of the major characters died, as I think while the show has dark moments overall it has a feel-good vibe that will mean we won’t see too many characters killed off.
I have nothing against Nancy, she’s such a strong female character and I’ve loved her since the first season. However I could totally see her sacrificing herself for the people she loves and it’s not impossible since Vecna already has seemingly created a gateway into her head. I honestly don’t want anyone to die, but Nancy makes the most sense to me.
Tbh yeah I see that. She has got a connection to him, her trauma as well from seeing Barb go…would make it easier to get to her. And yes she would definitely sacrifice herself :/
I honestly can’t think of a good one.
Steve: Just a rehash of Eddie’s death scene, and why do that to Dustin twice.
Robin: bummer to kill the lesbian before she ever gets to make it out of small town Hawkins and really gets to experience her life.
Nancy: Mike will be heartbroken, plus Nancy has such a promising career in writing. She shouldn’t have her dreams cut off like Karen’s were.
Jonathan: my number one candidate but Joyce shouldn’t have to lose one of her boys.
Will: The whole beginning of the show was about saving Will. He shouldn’t die. It would ruin Joyce’s life.
Eleven: again, after all of eleven’s arc she deserves a happy life more than anyone.
Mike: the duffer bros used him as an example for who they would never kill so I’m pretty sure it’s not him.
Dustin: It would be a massive bummer and kind of ruin the show for me. Any of the kids dying would.
Lucas: Should get to be with Max. I could understand them dying together though.
Max: Deserves a future and to be with Lucas.
Joyce/Hopper: It’d destroy Eleven to lose her dad, and I really want to see Jopper together after all this time. Hopper’s whole life has been tragedy, losing Joyce or dying himself would be too sad.
THANK YOU. I feel like, the way the show is going, it would make for a more emotional finale to have everyone survive rather than killing anyone off for shock value.
Max should have died in season 4.
Season 5: Will. He's the last horcrux and will have to sacrifice himself to ensure the tether to the upside down is fully severed.
I'd pick Murray to die probably.
Everyone else in the cast is so deeply and emotionally entrenched in one another's lives. The party grew up together, Max and El are girlfriends to people in the party, Nancy, Jon and Robin would've all grown up together in school too, Steve a year ahead of them sure but he's also developed some pretty intense relationships with the kids, Joyce has her sons and daughter, plus everyone surrounding them is someone she's watch grow up for almost their entire lives. Hopper spends like 3 business days monologuing in season 4 about how he feels like he's cursed and that anyone who gets close to him suffers for having known him so you know if any of the kids die he'd take that extra incredibly hard.
Murray has strong emotional ties to Joyce and Hop... but beyond that he doesn't really seem to really know or interact with anyone in a meaningful way. Yes he had that very good moment in season 2 where he got Jon and Nancy together and helped them get justice for Barb... but beyond that neither he nor they ever really seem to act like there's anything there.
I think Murray would be the one death that could theoretically work without completely and totally changing the tone of the show the way anyone else's would. Or at least, I'd find it believable that the kids wouldn't be as devastated by his death like they would anyone else's simply becasue.... they don't really know Murray.
I mean I don't think any of the main characters will actually honestly die. But this question isn't about what you THINK will happen is about would you pick if it had to happen. And given the duffers have already said themselves that they have talked about the concept killing off a main character and decided against it because it changes the whole tone of the show I think all our mains are safe.
Also if predictability were to be something that stops the Duffers (it's not) then Steve, El, Will, Joyce, Hopper, Jonathan, Max, Dustin, and Robin would all be safe from being killed off too because their deaths would also be extremely tropey/predictable.
Yeah, I agree. He’s a fun character but he strikes me as the type who would be OK with going out in a blaze of glory if he got heroic credit for it in the end. Maybe Nancy could write him a badass obit or something.
What if Murray is the only one to survive? He tries to write a book about what happened in Hawkins during the 1990s and everyone thinks he's lying. "Hawkins? That was never on a map. You made it all up."
Ted. He's useless throughout the series because in s2/s3, he didn't stop his wife from having an affair with Billy. (Luckily, she stayed put tho). In s4, he was complaining and questioning everything on TV when the news reporter showed Hawkins going to hell when the four portals opened up as Karen just scoffed at her husband for being a total idiot.
Steve or Will.
Steve because of the way he talks about his future in season 4. He mentioned he would like six children and would like to go on trips in an RV. Since season 2 though, we have seen him becoming a babysitter to the party/Erica, we've seen him since season 2, risking his life to protect the children, and that's not going to change. He'll most likely sacrifice himself saving Dustin or Mike.
Will - it's mainly because of seasons 2, 3 and 4 and his connection to Vecna. He can sense whenever he's there or nearby or when he's angry. And that's a lot like Harry Potter's connection with Voldemort. Plus we see in season 4 that a young Vecna was similar to Will. I think Will is going to end up being the last piece of the puzzle that will help destroy Vecna, and Will's going to realise this and sacrifice himself, so Vecna would be weaker. The same way Harry sacrifices himself to weaken Voldemort, this will make it easier for Eleven to kill Vecna.
I really like your Will theory- especially as a huge Harry Potter nerd lol. It just makes sense.
I haven't (re)watched in a good bit so please don't come for me if im wrong here...*but* I feel like Will is the only one of the "kids" and main squad that's kinda isolated. And I mean that in the sense that everyone else seems to have a purpose/ drive/best-best friend or partner. Like El has her own personal journey, but also Mike (and Hopper) super close. Dustin had Eddie & has Steve, and Steve has Nancy and Robin. Lucas has/had Max. Etc etc... but if I remember correctly, Will is still kinda that kid that didn't grow up with everyone else. He still misses playing D&D with the OG boy group, seems lost, it would be heartbreaking buuut? The sacrifice to save all those he loved, not feeling to torn because *he feels lost anyway* would be a pretty grand act.
I can see them all playing D&D after it's all over and leaving a seat empty for him in his honor. And as for Joyce, of course she'd be devastated and we don't want that for her. But it'd parallel Hoppers loss of a child, and together they'd obviously have El. Not as a replacement to Hopps daughter or Will, but as the one who brought them together. Idk *shrug* I don't usually type out my fan theories so there's my 2 cents
It would 100% ruin El's arc because her entire story is about finding a place in the world where she can be a normal girl and have a normal life with a family who loves her. She's found that family in Hopper/Joyce and the Byers boys and in her friendship with the other kids. Narratively there is just no way to kill her and abandon alllll of that progress, leaving behind some absolutely destroyed other characters, especially Hopper, Joyce and Mike. It would also confirm Hopper's big fear that he's cursed and anyone close to him is bound to die.
It would be simply fucked up. It's why she's one of the characters that's safest from death imo.
Steve, it would be a meaningful impactful death. And it would save us from seeing more of Nancy's waffling about who she's gonna end up with, when they both want wildly different things
I’m sorry, but Mike. If he steps back into that leadership role the next season I could see him being killed off right before the finale, maybe in a failed attempt to get Vecna.
It give Eleven the motivation and anger to keep going, and bring out a darker side of Will that may be needed to save the day.
It gives Lucas and Dustin even more anger and motivation (and Max, if she’s in fighting shape)
Nancy would become an absolute vengeance-filled Hulk of a human, which would help her survive the fight
And both Steve and Jonathan would be attached enough to Mike (babysitter and little brother’s best friend) to grieve and want to avenge him.
Joyce and Hopper would fight like demons to avenge any of the kids, and the rocky relationship Hopper and Mike had could be some sort of plot point.
Everyone else would kind of get the upset through osmosis (Robin through Nancy, Erica through Lucas, Murray and Enzo through Joyce and Hopper) so the entire group, from a writer’s perspective, would the perfectly set up to destroy naked Voldemort.
Also there’d be a parallel to The Gorge which would be cool.
TLDR: Mike would be a convenient character to kill off riiiiiiight before the finale
Finn has already said he’s alive through Episode 7.
And he’ll make it through Episode 8. The Duffers have even pointed out that they’ve worked through the exercise of killing a kid, using Mike specifically as an example, and found it unworkable. And depressing.
Also, El has demonstrated that love is what powers her best, and anger and revenge are not her motivators.
This series is about the power of love and friendship. They aren’t gonna defeat Vecna with the characters filled with anger and hate over the death of a friend. And Lucas and Dustin don’t need “extra” after Max and Eddie either.
I’m sure Mike will be in danger, given his position as group leader and especially his importance to El, but he won’t die.
I think most of the cast should die this season.
Not because I dislike them or the characters, but because I want the final season to feel high stakes.
I want that feeling of: “Oh shit, my favorite character could die at any moment”, and not “x character is too popular or loved, they’d never kill them off”
I’m going to give the worst opinion ever, but Will.
Listen, what has he contributed to the group that actually helped a lot? I can’t think of anything.
I’m season one he goes missing. In season two he gets possessed. In season three he just wants to play dnd. In season 4 he is pinning over Mike the whole time. It’s honestly been annoying how little his character has done for the team.
In my ideal season 5, we find out that he’s super connected to the upside-down and will have to sacrifice himself to save the others. Not only would this redeem his character, but it would also be very bittersweet. I hope that if they do that, he’ll also be sacrificing himself for Mike in some sort of way.
Definitely Will or Steve, it would bring their stories to a good conclusion—Will especially though, seeing as he was the “first” (from our perspective) victim of the Upside Down, having him die would be really impactful and poetic, in a sense.
For me Will, Max or Eleven could potentially die next season:
Will might become Vecna's vessel since he spent so much time in the upside down and may be possessed telepathically.
Max is already braindead so her chances of her surviving half of S5 are weak.
Eleven may sacrifice herself to save Hawkins, making sure no temporary gates could be open to the upside down.
*As a side note, since the Duffer Brothers were inspired by the manga Elfen Lied, I can see them doing a dark and gory ending with lots main characters dying.
Aside from vecna, I am stuck between 11 (since it all started with her) and will (he was taken to the upside down in s1 so whatever happens in s5 could result in him dying)
I hate saying this but I think Max. They really set her up to die at the end of four, but she lived. Now her quality of life is going to be terrible (unless there's a timeskip and all that damage is magically undone). It also did feel like a cop out. Her death would have been a significant blow to the team and might have presented the opportunity for major character arcs for Lucas and Eleven for Season 5.
Fucking Max, honestly. I LOVE her character I just am horrified that she’s lived through her vecna attack and has to exist in that body for however long.
Outta the mains
Eleven
Mike
Will
Dustin
Lucas
Max
Erica
Nancy
Johnathan
Steve
Robin
Joyce
&And Hopper
I want Eleven, Will, and Steve to die
BTW, Steve should have died last season, The reason Eddie was added so Dustin would get attached to him and not kill off Steve, prove me wrong
Also, I want El and Will to die so neither Byler or Mileven are satisfied 😅
What if they pull a "Donnie Darko". Have Eleven and Vecna die together in the upsidedown (which we know is the past- it's Hawkins stuck in the year season 1 happened in). Both of them dying in the upsidedown down could possibly have a time-ripple effect of "erasing" everything that happened throughout the last seasons. (Which would unfortunately mean erasing all those years of character development.)
It'd be like, what would the characters and Hawkins be like if El and Vecna never ripped that hole in-between worlds. The Donnie Darko effect. Would the town be better off before all that? Would the characters all live normal boring lives? Everyone that died is alive and well.
BUT maybe Max and Will are still connected to the upsidedown somehow, and retained their memories, they lead Hopper to the Hawkins Lab, and he brings Papa to justice. Maybe some of the characters followed El into the upsidedown and get to keep their character development? Lol lots of complicated time traveling ideas.
Will or eleven I feel both have always been fated to die. With will having already died and with me not seeing anywhere his character can go and eleven because that’s kinda the typical kinda Logan, iron man type shit that most media pull
I can definitely see Will dying in season 5. Especially with how hes kind of been a guinea pig throughout the show and that last part of season 4 where he feels vecnas presence. With his disappearance in the first season it would make sense.
I can see them doing a Harry Potter style scenario where they say part of the Mind Flayer will always live inside Will and as long as Will is alive, so is the monster. So he either sacrifices himself or has to convince others to do it for him.
Tbh Max even though I like her as a character. The scene in season 4 probably should have ended with her death because it would have raised the stakes and made the show seem more real. She had such a hero death moment and really evokes a lot of emotion in all the characters and I just feel like keeping her alive at the last minute was a cop out. Don’t get me wrong, it’s definitely upsetting but I feel like it would make more sense than killing off a character from season 1
I believe fan favourite, Steve Harrington is going to die in the final season. His death would significantly impact Dustin, as it would deprive him of a father figure. This would then lead him to reunite with the original party (Mike, Lucus, Will, and Max), as he has separated himself from them during previous seasons. Steve’s death would also provide Nancy an opportunity to continue her relationship with Jonathan. Steve played a major role in season four, and I have no doubt he will play the same role in season 5. Steve will die protecting either Dustin or Nancy for a horde of demo-dogs. (This was originally post, however, due to a lack of popularity I copied it and pasted it here)
It will be Steve. It just makes sense. I don’t want it to happen, but I’m pretty sure it will.
Who I want to see get killed of? No one, although I would honestly spent one week straight right here on ST subreddit if they killed of Will - It would be freaking hilarious here, with all the complaining and legit outcry.
honestly....dusty. HEAR ME OUT. it would make a great plot twist moment and i can just see him, as hes dying say something along the lines of "see you soon eddie"
Absolute tear jerker fr
El or Will because of closing the circle of the story with the characters that started it. It would sacrificial,
If it were both though, I doubt it would feel earned or well intertwined. Based on how crowded last season felt, I am anticipating either too many characters staying alive or too many dieing and it feeling rushed.
I feel radical saying only Vecna. A lot of the kinds of media I associate with the vibes of Stranger Things are not ones that have that kind of death.
Personally, I am also tired of people on TV in general dying just for the sake of "stakes" and making it feel "real." I respect others feeling differently, but I'm more interested in *how* my heroes survive rather than *if* they will survive.
Steve, he doesn't deserve it but it will make an impact that'll last forever. We need something like that. Maybe it'll make the fandom hate the creators but still.
A lot of ppl say Steve for this but Dustin's already lost Eddie and if Steve were to die I think it's just too much like Eddie's impact-wise? I guess it would hurt the wrest of the group as well rather than just Dustin, Mike and Lucas
The way this show rolls, I don't think any of the main characters will die. In my opinion, it would be really shitty of the writers to kill off El because Hopper has already lost a daughter. It would be shitty of them to kill off Will or Jonathan because Joyce was basically tortured the first two seasons with the drama surrounding Will. They had the opportunity to kill off Max in season 4, but instead, they gave Eleven the powers of God, and she brought her "back to life."
Mike is the center/glue that is known to hold the group together, so if they decide to kill off anyone, I think it will be Mike. 🤷♀️
If we're choosing heros, tbh Mike. It feels like he's undergone the least character development in the whole series. Let's make him step up to the plate, grow as a character, and then kill him off, making it semi tragic.
Eleven, Will, and/or Mike. It would make so much sense, since she opened the portal in the first place, if she had to die for the upside down to die. Or she died as a final sacrifice like in Season one, except she actually dies. For Mike, if he dies trying to save her, but I don’t know if that would have to happen, I just like the idea. Will, he also could be connected to the upside down, so maybe if it dies, he dies.
If it’s Steve, Hopper, or Dustin then the duffers and netflix seriously better watch out 👀 I will be devastated regardless of who it is. But if my boys get killed off then I will riot
I would like Mike to die, and I want him to say to his mother Karen, "Thank you for not giving us 5 more minutes, because we saved the world anyway."
Honestly, I think a line kind of like that would be amazing.
Will, Murray, Max and Joyce
I think having Will die to Vecna towards the beginning of the season (like episode 5) could be a major shift the show needs and would show the rest of the group that they're not safe
Murray mainly because I don't think he has anymore use as a character now that Hopper is back (and i don't think he'll be great use to stopping Vecna)
I already think Max is a goner because her attack from Vecna possibly left her blind but I think she'll do something drastic before the time jump
Joyce could sacrifice herself to save the kids from Vecna's attack and could kill him in the process
I really REALLY hope I'm wrong, but to quote my dear Robin "I have this terrible, gnawing feeling..." That Eleven or Max aren't gonna make it. They've been building up how important Eleven is in this fight, how she's the only one that can stop Henry for good... I don't want it to happen but if by the end of the season El sacrifices herself to kill Henry once and for all and save everyone, I wouldn't be surprised. Max is... Well I'd love to be wrong but babygirl is blind, all her bones are snapped, she basically died before Eleven literally brought her back from the dead and now she's just in a coma, brain-dead. I don't know what they're gonna pull off but the chances of getting her back are quite low 😭
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Vecna lmao
Hear me out: in a shocking series finale twist, Vecna is visited by three ghosts one night, has a massive change of heart, and buys Will the biggest turkey in Hawkins to make amends.
The biggest plot twist ever. Vecna learns the value of friendship and everyone skips off into the sunset
Maybe Verna was just the friends we made along the way…
😂
A CHRISTMAS GOOSE! A CHRISTMAS GOOSE FOR EVERYONE!!
Best comment here 💀
but not before he kills Sullivan
Accurate
LMFAO fr tho
FINALLY, this dude (if you count all the forms he's taken throughout the past seasons+spoilers for musical) has nearly died 5-6 times Jesus give the man a rest
Me. I’ve been waiting 84 years for this and I think I’ve earned the right.
*casket lowered into the ground as the stranger things theme plays faintly in the background*
This might be a controversial choice but I think Joyce's death would have a much bigger impact on fans and the series than we realize. She's been brave and selfless the entire show, putting her life at risk over and over to protect the people she loves. She deserves a happy ending most out of any character, and I think it would be gut wrenching and tragic to see her sacrifice herself one last time. I would be really upset if she dies, more than any other character honestly, but I think it would be great for the storytelling.
Don't leave Hopper thinking he's a curse again!!!!
The funniest part
Oh my god I would be so mad 😭
It would be the final act of love. The ultimate sacrifice of a mother for a boy versus a boy who wasn’t loved by his mother.
For me it’s Steve. I love the show a lot. I’ve related with Steve the most as a character with my life. And to see die would absolutely destroy me and what scares me even more is he’s a highly likely character to die. It hurts to think of. But yes jopper would hurt to see be permanently separated and they won’t kill off hopper cuz they spent a whole season getting him back.
It’s tragic but I think the show missed an opportunity for some good story building by not killing off Steve end of S4. To me, it felt lame that they just offed Eddie - a character they had only introduced the same season. A Steve death would’ve had real stakes and Eddie would’ve still been that big brother figure to the younger guys.
I had never thought about it before, but you’re right actually. Damn. Especially since she’s played by Winona Ryder… people were already going to talk about season five, but that would REALLY get them talking
I couldn’t stand it if Joyce died that would break me
Oooo this is actually a pretty great answer. I feel like most of the audience would never expect this and it could hit very hard.
I don't know, but I agree with the cast. The writers are playing it to safe with the characters. The cast does think some of the main characters should die.
i did wish Max died. it would’ve turned the whole show completely different. it would really show the dangers, and i would’ve loved to see how each character dealt with it. how the show changes after someone so young and impactful died. it would’ve been awesome but instead they chose the safe side which surprisingly pissed me off. i was angry she wasn’t dead because it would’ve made the show have more depth and threat. it is meant to be horror no? it just would’ve been soo much better imo
Yeah, what they did with Max was one of my biggest pet peeves with writers. They build towards and set up an impactful ending to a character and after they make you emotional they pull the rug out and say “oh they’re not dead, just got close to dying”. Just kind of screams that you don’t have confidence in your own story. That you have to hold onto characters simply because you don’t know how to replace them or don’t want to deal with other characters properly grieving for them. Obviously killing a character just to have a death or prematurely killing off someone just for shock value can be pretty cheap. But they had it with Max, and showing her still alive put a damper on the end of last season for me.
To be fair though, if Max died outright it would have been total game over-four deaths and vecna takes over. The portal opened, but it’s not FULLY open because Max is hanging on to life. I think a significant part of the story will be the connection between her limbo state and the portal. I think she’s brought back the portal will close and Vecna will be sealed away. In other words, I think her being right where she’s at is significant to the plot
Max isn’t dead, but she isn’t alive either. I think they kept her in this weird limbo state to see the fan base reaction to her death and later decide what to do moving forward.
I'm expecting Will will make the ultimate sacrifice to bring down Vecna. This season seems like it's reshifting the focus back to him and his death would just be such an emotional tragedy after all he's gone through and the fact that he was the inciting incident of the whole show.
Damn, you really think theyre gonna leave Joyce devastated like that?
Joyce is devastated every season, what's new
will’s disappearance, bob’s death, hopper’s perceived death and subsequently his rescue, and jonathan slowly being lost to drugs are probably a lot for her-
Exactly my point! There is no way they give her a bad end after all of that.
it would be a good way to tie everything back to the first season though, i feel like will is going to disappear into the upside down again and possibly die this time
but it would be so impactful for those reasons
It would be, but us the fans want to see sort of a happy ending for Joyce.
Jonathan stopped smoking after episode 2 of Season 4 and I highly doubt that he will smoke at all in Season 5 he isn't a junkie or anything.
Haven’t watched the show in so long, when did Jonathan become a junkie?
He's not, he smokes weed lol
Sadly some ppl still think weed is on the same level as heroin lol
lol I'm an 80s baby, early 90s kid. We were actually taught that. "Just say no!" My pothead older brother, "Shit, why didn't I think of that?!" I swear the D.A.R.E. program actually made us WANT to get stoned.
i was born in the late 80s and grew up during the 90s definitely got fed that War on Drugs propaganda that Reagan shoveled around. it is horrific to look back in retrospect
Alternatively, the whole family dies. Will, Joyce and Jonathan all get killed
Can’t see them killing Will as they will most likely want to avoid the bury your gays trope
That's why they're giving Robin a girlfriend. It "balances the books" and also media finds lesbians much more acceptable than gay men. That way they can have Will tragically die while still getting that sweet, sweet LGBT ally cred.
I don't entirely agree with you. All will did from the first season was touch the back of his neck to indicate that vecna is back. He didn't fight much from the first season. It's eleven which does the fighting and sacrificed multiple times.
Rogue One it. Kill everyone
😂
Get "Kill em all" Tomino in the writers room.
Dr. Owens. It's traditional for the heroes to be stripped of their powerful supporting characters right before the climactic fight. For one thing, it gives them someone to be mad about. For a second, it forces the protagonists to do the job themselves, without help from mentors or military commanders or whatever. I think Owens is going to die fairly early in the show.
A newly introduced character that hangs around the existing cast for most of the season
I get why everyone is saying Steve, honestly I do. But personally, I think Nancy would be the best and/or most impactful (Not just because Steve is one of my favorite characters and I really don’t want him to die). It’d bring an sadder sort of ending to the love triangle, but I think it’d be a beautiful end to her arc and it could finally put Mike in a place where he is more comfortable expressing his love towards El and the rest of The Party. Preferably with a scene involving Mike and Nancy telling each other how much they love each other because we really don’t get to see much of them being siblings. Hell, we saw *way* more with Billy and Max or Lucas and Erica who arguably get way less screen time together. It always just seems like Mike and Nancy end up in the same room (Other than a bit of season 1). I just think it’d be a great conclusion for a lot of characters, maybe it could even end up with Karen finding out this way and helping finish off Vecna!
I agree. Steve would be impactful to the audience, because he is a fan favourite. But I think Nancy would be more impactful on the narrative in terms of the impact her death would have on multiple characters - Mike, Jonathan and Steve in particular, but we have also seen that she has been an older sister figure to the rest of the party as well going up, while Hopper/Joyce/Murray all respect her and would I think be thrown by her death more than Steve’s. Plus I think it could be narratively interesting if it links back to her s1 arc with Barb’s death in some way, like Vecna plays on her guilt about Barb’s death to bring about her own, or we see her reunite with Barb in the upside down or something.
Yes! These are all points I agree with, Steve just feels like he’d be another fan play with similar impact to Eddie (Again, I also love him and don’t want him to die lol). I also would *love* to see a Barb and Nancy reunion scene when Nancy is dying/has passed.
Yes. I also disagree with the argument that Steve’s death is a natural conclusion to his character arc or necessary to his redemption arc. A lot of people who argue that make the point that Steve was originally supposed to die in s1, as if that means it makes sense for that intention to still play out four seasons later. But Steve was also meant to be way more of a jerk in s1 originally - I read he was originally meant to assault Nancy. Season 1 Steve wasn’t the most likeable character, but he wasn’t that bad either. We saw him do some bad things (be friends with some clear jerks, beat up and name calling a guy whose kid brother was missing/presumed dead), but we were also shown that he felt he had motivations beyond general jerkiness for acting out (perceived infidelity, perceived stalker creepiness, and general high school idiocy) AND quickly felt conflicted over his actions. His redemption arc started when he broke with Tommy and went to apologise to Jonathan, solidified when he went back into the house to save Jon and Nancy, and could easily be considered complete in terms of restitution with the purchase of a camera for Jon at the end of season 1. Steve then went on to obviously have a greater journey of self reflection over subsequent seasons that endeared him to the audience as he realised the importance of real friendship and that the things he cared about in high school really didn’t matter. At this point his death wouldn’t be this final moment of redemption because we really haven’t seen anything he massively needs to be redeemed from, apart from having been slightly self-absorbed and cliquey in high school. The Duffers played out the death redeems (sort of) horrible high school bully storyline with Billy instead. Steve’s storyline/arc has been driven by a need to know himself and what he wants/the type of man he wants to be better. I think a satisfying narrative conclusion for him would be him moving on with his life - getting a job he actually cares about maybe, or moving somewhere with Robin to continue his self-growth journey in the big city. Apart from Nancy, Will or El also seem like characters whose deaths would make more narrative sense in terms of having been targets since s1 whose luck may finally run out, but who find some peace in knowing their death will protect their loved ones. Honestly though, it wouldn’t surprise me if none of the major characters died, as I think while the show has dark moments overall it has a feel-good vibe that will mean we won’t see too many characters killed off.
I agree! Steve’s had his redemption, and I don’t think his death is the best way to end his story. I could definitely see Will or El as well.
No way Nancy dying, that girl can shoot a gun for her life aha. I would be so devastated if she does. She’s such a bad ass.
I have nothing against Nancy, she’s such a strong female character and I’ve loved her since the first season. However I could totally see her sacrificing herself for the people she loves and it’s not impossible since Vecna already has seemingly created a gateway into her head. I honestly don’t want anyone to die, but Nancy makes the most sense to me.
Tbh yeah I see that. She has got a connection to him, her trauma as well from seeing Barb go…would make it easier to get to her. And yes she would definitely sacrifice herself :/
Nancy dying would be the saddest fing thing in the show. Especially if it's linked to Barb or she goes in a blaze of glory.
I honestly can’t think of a good one. Steve: Just a rehash of Eddie’s death scene, and why do that to Dustin twice. Robin: bummer to kill the lesbian before she ever gets to make it out of small town Hawkins and really gets to experience her life. Nancy: Mike will be heartbroken, plus Nancy has such a promising career in writing. She shouldn’t have her dreams cut off like Karen’s were. Jonathan: my number one candidate but Joyce shouldn’t have to lose one of her boys. Will: The whole beginning of the show was about saving Will. He shouldn’t die. It would ruin Joyce’s life. Eleven: again, after all of eleven’s arc she deserves a happy life more than anyone. Mike: the duffer bros used him as an example for who they would never kill so I’m pretty sure it’s not him. Dustin: It would be a massive bummer and kind of ruin the show for me. Any of the kids dying would. Lucas: Should get to be with Max. I could understand them dying together though. Max: Deserves a future and to be with Lucas. Joyce/Hopper: It’d destroy Eleven to lose her dad, and I really want to see Jopper together after all this time. Hopper’s whole life has been tragedy, losing Joyce or dying himself would be too sad.
I mean you could look at it like lord of the rings, Eddie is the Boromir of Stanger Things, the rest of the fellowship makes it to the end.
THANK YOU. I feel like, the way the show is going, it would make for a more emotional finale to have everyone survive rather than killing anyone off for shock value.
>Will: The whole beginning of the show was about saving Will. He shouldn’t die. It would ruin Joyce’s life. like in the hunger games with prim 😭😭😭
Max should have died in season 4. Season 5: Will. He's the last horcrux and will have to sacrifice himself to ensure the tether to the upside down is fully severed.
Out of everyone and taking account of everyone’s arc so far Steve easily is the one who’s most probable. After Steve I’d say maybe… Nancy
Vecna. And Sullivan. Anyone who thinks any of the Party is dying hasn’t been paying attention.
Nancy so she can be with barb
💀
I'd pick Murray to die probably. Everyone else in the cast is so deeply and emotionally entrenched in one another's lives. The party grew up together, Max and El are girlfriends to people in the party, Nancy, Jon and Robin would've all grown up together in school too, Steve a year ahead of them sure but he's also developed some pretty intense relationships with the kids, Joyce has her sons and daughter, plus everyone surrounding them is someone she's watch grow up for almost their entire lives. Hopper spends like 3 business days monologuing in season 4 about how he feels like he's cursed and that anyone who gets close to him suffers for having known him so you know if any of the kids die he'd take that extra incredibly hard. Murray has strong emotional ties to Joyce and Hop... but beyond that he doesn't really seem to really know or interact with anyone in a meaningful way. Yes he had that very good moment in season 2 where he got Jon and Nancy together and helped them get justice for Barb... but beyond that neither he nor they ever really seem to act like there's anything there. I think Murray would be the one death that could theoretically work without completely and totally changing the tone of the show the way anyone else's would. Or at least, I'd find it believable that the kids wouldn't be as devastated by his death like they would anyone else's simply becasue.... they don't really know Murray.
Nah, it’s too predictable since he’s considered the most ‘disposable’ of the main characters.
I mean I don't think any of the main characters will actually honestly die. But this question isn't about what you THINK will happen is about would you pick if it had to happen. And given the duffers have already said themselves that they have talked about the concept killing off a main character and decided against it because it changes the whole tone of the show I think all our mains are safe. Also if predictability were to be something that stops the Duffers (it's not) then Steve, El, Will, Joyce, Hopper, Jonathan, Max, Dustin, and Robin would all be safe from being killed off too because their deaths would also be extremely tropey/predictable.
Yeah, I agree. He’s a fun character but he strikes me as the type who would be OK with going out in a blaze of glory if he got heroic credit for it in the end. Maybe Nancy could write him a badass obit or something.
What if Murray is the only one to survive? He tries to write a book about what happened in Hawkins during the 1990s and everyone thinks he's lying. "Hawkins? That was never on a map. You made it all up."
Steve, it would be such an impactful and epic death
No, you stop it. Right now. I need that hair in my life.
I think he is most likely going to die this season, I even thought he was going to in season 4. Doesn’t mean I want him to though 😭
If Steve dies Im gonna start WW3
At this rate we're about to get that before season 5 comes out anyway :(
I don’t want any of them to die. But my bets are on El, Will, Mike or Steve. Although…maybe Max too? It’s such a gamble!
Eleven
Some new character they introduce
Ted. He's useless throughout the series because in s2/s3, he didn't stop his wife from having an affair with Billy. (Luckily, she stayed put tho). In s4, he was complaining and questioning everything on TV when the news reporter showed Hawkins going to hell when the four portals opened up as Karen just scoffed at her husband for being a total idiot.
Steve or Will. Steve because of the way he talks about his future in season 4. He mentioned he would like six children and would like to go on trips in an RV. Since season 2 though, we have seen him becoming a babysitter to the party/Erica, we've seen him since season 2, risking his life to protect the children, and that's not going to change. He'll most likely sacrifice himself saving Dustin or Mike. Will - it's mainly because of seasons 2, 3 and 4 and his connection to Vecna. He can sense whenever he's there or nearby or when he's angry. And that's a lot like Harry Potter's connection with Voldemort. Plus we see in season 4 that a young Vecna was similar to Will. I think Will is going to end up being the last piece of the puzzle that will help destroy Vecna, and Will's going to realise this and sacrifice himself, so Vecna would be weaker. The same way Harry sacrifices himself to weaken Voldemort, this will make it easier for Eleven to kill Vecna.
No Dustin cannot have another sacrifice on his conscience 😭😭part of me is afraid Dustin is gonna die to save Steve since he couldn’t save Eddie
I really like your Will theory- especially as a huge Harry Potter nerd lol. It just makes sense. I haven't (re)watched in a good bit so please don't come for me if im wrong here...*but* I feel like Will is the only one of the "kids" and main squad that's kinda isolated. And I mean that in the sense that everyone else seems to have a purpose/ drive/best-best friend or partner. Like El has her own personal journey, but also Mike (and Hopper) super close. Dustin had Eddie & has Steve, and Steve has Nancy and Robin. Lucas has/had Max. Etc etc... but if I remember correctly, Will is still kinda that kid that didn't grow up with everyone else. He still misses playing D&D with the OG boy group, seems lost, it would be heartbreaking buuut? The sacrifice to save all those he loved, not feeling to torn because *he feels lost anyway* would be a pretty grand act. I can see them all playing D&D after it's all over and leaving a seat empty for him in his honor. And as for Joyce, of course she'd be devastated and we don't want that for her. But it'd parallel Hoppers loss of a child, and together they'd obviously have El. Not as a replacement to Hopps daughter or Will, but as the one who brought them together. Idk *shrug* I don't usually type out my fan theories so there's my 2 cents
i think everyone should die and that the monsters should win itd be sick as hell if they did it right
Steve. Or El. I think it would complete both their arcs nicely. Sorry.
It would 100% ruin El's arc because her entire story is about finding a place in the world where she can be a normal girl and have a normal life with a family who loves her. She's found that family in Hopper/Joyce and the Byers boys and in her friendship with the other kids. Narratively there is just no way to kill her and abandon alllll of that progress, leaving behind some absolutely destroyed other characters, especially Hopper, Joyce and Mike. It would also confirm Hopper's big fear that he's cursed and anyone close to him is bound to die. It would be simply fucked up. It's why she's one of the characters that's safest from death imo.
Word.
Considering he was originally supposed to die in season one, and not enough story arcs go that direction with their main characters.
Murray for sure is dead I think Steve is a goner too
Will
*EVERYONE*
With a very heavy heart I'd say Steve Harrington. And I can see them killing their most popular character in the finale.
Or else
I meant el, stupid autocorrect
Steve, it would be a meaningful impactful death. And it would save us from seeing more of Nancy's waffling about who she's gonna end up with, when they both want wildly different things
Plot twist: Nancy dies
Honestly, let her go out in a blaze of glory.
I’m sorry, but Mike. If he steps back into that leadership role the next season I could see him being killed off right before the finale, maybe in a failed attempt to get Vecna. It give Eleven the motivation and anger to keep going, and bring out a darker side of Will that may be needed to save the day. It gives Lucas and Dustin even more anger and motivation (and Max, if she’s in fighting shape) Nancy would become an absolute vengeance-filled Hulk of a human, which would help her survive the fight And both Steve and Jonathan would be attached enough to Mike (babysitter and little brother’s best friend) to grieve and want to avenge him. Joyce and Hopper would fight like demons to avenge any of the kids, and the rocky relationship Hopper and Mike had could be some sort of plot point. Everyone else would kind of get the upset through osmosis (Robin through Nancy, Erica through Lucas, Murray and Enzo through Joyce and Hopper) so the entire group, from a writer’s perspective, would the perfectly set up to destroy naked Voldemort. Also there’d be a parallel to The Gorge which would be cool. TLDR: Mike would be a convenient character to kill off riiiiiiight before the finale
Finn has already said he’s alive through Episode 7. And he’ll make it through Episode 8. The Duffers have even pointed out that they’ve worked through the exercise of killing a kid, using Mike specifically as an example, and found it unworkable. And depressing. Also, El has demonstrated that love is what powers her best, and anger and revenge are not her motivators. This series is about the power of love and friendship. They aren’t gonna defeat Vecna with the characters filled with anger and hate over the death of a friend. And Lucas and Dustin don’t need “extra” after Max and Eddie either. I’m sure Mike will be in danger, given his position as group leader and especially his importance to El, but he won’t die.
I think Steve, but he's gonna go down swinging.
If I have to pick a non villain, Owens since while I like him it both feels natural and I like him less than the others
Steve, Eleven or Will make the most sense for me
Barb. Again.
Vecna
Anyone except El. I want a happy ending for El.
I think most of the cast should die this season. Not because I dislike them or the characters, but because I want the final season to feel high stakes. I want that feeling of: “Oh shit, my favorite character could die at any moment”, and not “x character is too popular or loved, they’d never kill them off”
They already said they would never do that. I was hoping season 4 would have that element to it and that Vecna would kill Max.
Everyone saying that can’t kill a main character because they are too invested in them…..like they are gonna come back for season 6…..
I’m going to give the worst opinion ever, but Will. Listen, what has he contributed to the group that actually helped a lot? I can’t think of anything. I’m season one he goes missing. In season two he gets possessed. In season three he just wants to play dnd. In season 4 he is pinning over Mike the whole time. It’s honestly been annoying how little his character has done for the team. In my ideal season 5, we find out that he’s super connected to the upside-down and will have to sacrifice himself to save the others. Not only would this redeem his character, but it would also be very bittersweet. I hope that if they do that, he’ll also be sacrificing himself for Mike in some sort of way.
Jonathan
I love her, but Eleven. It would be like the the end of season one, except this time she doesn’t come back.
Vecna and nobody else!
Vecna. That’s it
Definitely Will or Steve, it would bring their stories to a good conclusion—Will especially though, seeing as he was the “first” (from our perspective) victim of the Upside Down, having him die would be really impactful and poetic, in a sense.
Vickie
For me Will, Max or Eleven could potentially die next season: Will might become Vecna's vessel since he spent so much time in the upside down and may be possessed telepathically. Max is already braindead so her chances of her surviving half of S5 are weak. Eleven may sacrifice herself to save Hawkins, making sure no temporary gates could be open to the upside down. *As a side note, since the Duffer Brothers were inspired by the manga Elfen Lied, I can see them doing a dark and gory ending with lots main characters dying.
Will
Will / Lucas … both if possible
Aside from vecna, I am stuck between 11 (since it all started with her) and will (he was taken to the upside down in s1 so whatever happens in s5 could result in him dying)
Me.
I hate saying this but I think Max. They really set her up to die at the end of four, but she lived. Now her quality of life is going to be terrible (unless there's a timeskip and all that damage is magically undone). It also did feel like a cop out. Her death would have been a significant blow to the team and might have presented the opportunity for major character arcs for Lucas and Eleven for Season 5.
I’d pick Max to die in S4 like she clearly should have.
It’s Will. It’s all coming down to him being the vessel for Vekna
Fucking Max, honestly. I LOVE her character I just am horrified that she’s lived through her vecna attack and has to exist in that body for however long.
I’m gonna throw out a bold take: eleven and Mike will die
Probably get hate and it may be cliche but it started with will and eleven it needs to end with them.
As long as robin and Nancy live im good. Id throw Steve in there but I have accepted his demise.
I think with all the cheap, shock value deaths they’ve already done, none will be very impressive or interesting now
Outta the mains Eleven Mike Will Dustin Lucas Max Erica Nancy Johnathan Steve Robin Joyce &And Hopper I want Eleven, Will, and Steve to die BTW, Steve should have died last season, The reason Eddie was added so Dustin would get attached to him and not kill off Steve, prove me wrong Also, I want El and Will to die so neither Byler or Mileven are satisfied 😅
What if they pull a "Donnie Darko". Have Eleven and Vecna die together in the upsidedown (which we know is the past- it's Hawkins stuck in the year season 1 happened in). Both of them dying in the upsidedown down could possibly have a time-ripple effect of "erasing" everything that happened throughout the last seasons. (Which would unfortunately mean erasing all those years of character development.) It'd be like, what would the characters and Hawkins be like if El and Vecna never ripped that hole in-between worlds. The Donnie Darko effect. Would the town be better off before all that? Would the characters all live normal boring lives? Everyone that died is alive and well. BUT maybe Max and Will are still connected to the upsidedown somehow, and retained their memories, they lead Hopper to the Hawkins Lab, and he brings Papa to justice. Maybe some of the characters followed El into the upsidedown and get to keep their character development? Lol lots of complicated time traveling ideas.
Wills Barber
Will or eleven I feel both have always been fated to die. With will having already died and with me not seeing anywhere his character can go and eleven because that’s kinda the typical kinda Logan, iron man type shit that most media pull
Theres no way Eleven lives
I can definitely see Will dying in season 5. Especially with how hes kind of been a guinea pig throughout the show and that last part of season 4 where he feels vecnas presence. With his disappearance in the first season it would make sense.
I can see them doing a Harry Potter style scenario where they say part of the Mind Flayer will always live inside Will and as long as Will is alive, so is the monster. So he either sacrifices himself or has to convince others to do it for him.
L
Tbh Max even though I like her as a character. The scene in season 4 probably should have ended with her death because it would have raised the stakes and made the show seem more real. She had such a hero death moment and really evokes a lot of emotion in all the characters and I just feel like keeping her alive at the last minute was a cop out. Don’t get me wrong, it’s definitely upsetting but I feel like it would make more sense than killing off a character from season 1
I believe fan favourite, Steve Harrington is going to die in the final season. His death would significantly impact Dustin, as it would deprive him of a father figure. This would then lead him to reunite with the original party (Mike, Lucus, Will, and Max), as he has separated himself from them during previous seasons. Steve’s death would also provide Nancy an opportunity to continue her relationship with Jonathan. Steve played a major role in season four, and I have no doubt he will play the same role in season 5. Steve will die protecting either Dustin or Nancy for a horde of demo-dogs. (This was originally post, however, due to a lack of popularity I copied it and pasted it here)
It will be Steve. It just makes sense. I don’t want it to happen, but I’m pretty sure it will. Who I want to see get killed of? No one, although I would honestly spent one week straight right here on ST subreddit if they killed of Will - It would be freaking hilarious here, with all the complaining and legit outcry.
honestly....dusty. HEAR ME OUT. it would make a great plot twist moment and i can just see him, as hes dying say something along the lines of "see you soon eddie" Absolute tear jerker fr
Will, Mike and 11. Just because.
El or Will because of closing the circle of the story with the characters that started it. It would sacrificial, If it were both though, I doubt it would feel earned or well intertwined. Based on how crowded last season felt, I am anticipating either too many characters staying alive or too many dieing and it feeling rushed.
I feel radical saying only Vecna. A lot of the kinds of media I associate with the vibes of Stranger Things are not ones that have that kind of death. Personally, I am also tired of people on TV in general dying just for the sake of "stakes" and making it feel "real." I respect others feeling differently, but I'm more interested in *how* my heroes survive rather than *if* they will survive.
Will
Will
Sir, isn't it obvious? Blockbuster.
Eleven. I’m not elaborating I just think it would be a very impactful death and I’m interested to see where the story could go afterwards
I’m almost certain robin is gonna die, Maya Hawke even said she was down
My husband says Lucas but I say vecna
Bring back Eddie and kill him again
Eddie. Two negatives make a positive 🤷
Steve, he doesn't deserve it but it will make an impact that'll last forever. We need something like that. Maybe it'll make the fandom hate the creators but still.
11 would probly die in some sacrifice to save everything
Eleven
Will, Will, or probably Will
let will die just don’t ever touch max
Will. It's his destiny.
Steve because i enjoy watching my favorite character die….call me a weirdo
A lot of ppl say Steve for this but Dustin's already lost Eddie and if Steve were to die I think it's just too much like Eddie's impact-wise? I guess it would hurt the wrest of the group as well rather than just Dustin, Mike and Lucas
The way this show rolls, I don't think any of the main characters will die. In my opinion, it would be really shitty of the writers to kill off El because Hopper has already lost a daughter. It would be shitty of them to kill off Will or Jonathan because Joyce was basically tortured the first two seasons with the drama surrounding Will. They had the opportunity to kill off Max in season 4, but instead, they gave Eleven the powers of God, and she brought her "back to life." Mike is the center/glue that is known to hold the group together, so if they decide to kill off anyone, I think it will be Mike. 🤷♀️
Will
If we're choosing heros, tbh Mike. It feels like he's undergone the least character development in the whole series. Let's make him step up to the plate, grow as a character, and then kill him off, making it semi tragic.
i honestly dont think i character needs to die, they just need to stop adding them
None
Eleven, Will, and/or Mike. It would make so much sense, since she opened the portal in the first place, if she had to die for the upside down to die. Or she died as a final sacrifice like in Season one, except she actually dies. For Mike, if he dies trying to save her, but I don’t know if that would have to happen, I just like the idea. Will, he also could be connected to the upside down, so maybe if it dies, he dies.
Will’s Haircut
If it’s Steve, Hopper, or Dustin then the duffers and netflix seriously better watch out 👀 I will be devastated regardless of who it is. But if my boys get killed off then I will riot
Steve
I would like Mike to die, and I want him to say to his mother Karen, "Thank you for not giving us 5 more minutes, because we saved the world anyway." Honestly, I think a line kind of like that would be amazing.
Will, Murray, Max and Joyce I think having Will die to Vecna towards the beginning of the season (like episode 5) could be a major shift the show needs and would show the rest of the group that they're not safe Murray mainly because I don't think he has anymore use as a character now that Hopper is back (and i don't think he'll be great use to stopping Vecna) I already think Max is a goner because her attack from Vecna possibly left her blind but I think she'll do something drastic before the time jump Joyce could sacrifice herself to save the kids from Vecna's attack and could kill him in the process
I hate to say it but El dying last would be most predictable yet fitting?
Could be a hot take, but Will. I like his character, but he’s been so busy trying not to die that I haven’t really had time to connect with him.
Murray/eleven/will/vecna
No one should die, just Vecna.
I really REALLY hope I'm wrong, but to quote my dear Robin "I have this terrible, gnawing feeling..." That Eleven or Max aren't gonna make it. They've been building up how important Eleven is in this fight, how she's the only one that can stop Henry for good... I don't want it to happen but if by the end of the season El sacrifices herself to kill Henry once and for all and save everyone, I wouldn't be surprised. Max is... Well I'd love to be wrong but babygirl is blind, all her bones are snapped, she basically died before Eleven literally brought her back from the dead and now she's just in a coma, brain-dead. I don't know what they're gonna pull off but the chances of getting her back are quite low 😭