Stranger Things fans divided over season 5's major deaths

TV has changed, and not necessarily for the better.

In my teenage years, I was a fan of The Vampire Diaries, Pretty Little Liars, Teen Wolf … the modern teen classics.

We’d get a 24 episode season every single year without fail, beginning the autumn and ending in late spring before a summer hiatus - and before long, the cycle would start again.

These days, streaming services are making us wait a hefty two to three years between seasons for just eight episodes - and with companies like Netflix opting for a binge drop over weekly airing, it only makes the experience feel all the more fleeting.

That being said, I’ll still be relieved to finally see Stranger Things back on my screen next year.

Three years on from season four’s release in 2022, Stranger Things is finally set to return for a fifth and final season - and we can only assume that means our Hawkins friends might finally find themselves in some real peril.

You’ll find some hints about season five’s plot in the prequel stage show Stranger Things: The First Shadow which we’ve handily summarised.

You see, Stranger Things has always shied away from death.

Sure, characters have died but they’ve practically been introduced simply to die. Eddie, Barb, Bob, and Chrissy all fall into that category.

But our main cohort seem to be protected by plot armour, and that’s certainly evidenced by the return of Max in season five.

With this being the final season though, Stranger Things fans believe we may finally see some major deaths, taking to the r/strangerthings subreddit to predict what they may be.

“Andy, Holly, Jonathan, Karen, Will, Max,” listed OP Any-Philospher-2148, seemingly predicting that we’re in for some true carnage.

“Steve,” added Isthisnametakentwo. “I feel like his popularity could lead him to being killed off to spark some emotion for the big final battle, possibly sacrificing himself.”

“Steve, unfortunately,” agreed AquilesJaeger, alongside, “Will, Murray, and Dr. Owens”.

Electrical_Seat7887 posed a good point: “I have wondered about Will and El and I don’t like their odds. I suspect that anyone that had any piece of Mind Flayer in their bodies, whether for a short or long period, will need to die for Vecna/Mind Flayer to be truly destroyed. Anyone else I’m not sure.”

The truth be told, anyone is eligible - although I too find myself worrying about Steve’s odds.

We’ll find out in 2025.