With the epic conclusion of Stranger Things on the horizon, UK fans are bracing themselves for more potential heartbreak. The final episodes of Season 5 volume two are scheduled to drop on Netflix UK at 1am on Boxing Day, but the series' ultimate finale will not arrive until New Year's Day. This extended wait has fuelled intense online speculation about which beloved characters might not survive the battle against the Upside Down.
Season 5 Theories and a Trail of Fallen Heroes
A recent, jaw-dropping trailer for the upcoming instalment has sent the fandom into a frenzy. Many viewers are convinced the preview foreshadows the deaths of two fan favourites: Steve Harrington and Dustin Henderson. Their poignant promise to each other – "You die, I die" – has led some fans to threaten cancelling their Netflix subscriptions if the duo meets a tragic end. Another theory, sparked by a separate clue, suggests Robin Buckley could be the major casualty.
So far in Season 5, the body count among main characters has been surprisingly low. The significant losses have been confined to numerous soldiers during explosive fight scenes and three Demogorgons spectacularly killed by Will Byers. Colonel Sullivan, the government official hunting Eleven, was caught in a blast and is presumed dead, though fervent Reddit theories speculate he may yet return.
A Look Back at the Fallen: Seasons 1-4
The series has never been shy about eliminating characters, creating a substantial roster of the departed. In Season 4 (2022), the apparent death of Max Mayfield at the hands of Vecna left audiences devastated, though Eleven revived her. She remains in a coma, with Season 5 revealing she is trapped inside Vecna's mind. Other major Season 4 losses include Eleven's manipulative 'papa' Dr. Martin Brenner, and the heroic Eddie Munson, who sacrificed himself in the Upside Down. Vecna's victims, Chrissy Cunningham, Fred Benson, and Patrick McKinney, also met grim fates.
Season 3 delivered the tragic end of Billy Hargrove, possessed by the Mind Flayer, and the beloved Russian scientist, Alexei. While Chief Jim Hopper was seemingly killed in an explosion, he made a miraculous return in Season 4.
Perhaps one of the most gut-wrenching moments came in Season 2 (2017) with the death of Bob Newby, Joyce Byers' partner, who was mauled by Demodogs just as escape seemed certain.
The original Season 1 (2016) established the show's stakes with the deaths of kind diner owner Benny Hammond and Nancy Wheeler's best friend, Barb Holland, who vanished into the Upside Down, alongside numerous lab agents and the original Demogorgon.
The Final Countdown Begins
As the countdown to the Boxing Day release ticks away, the legacy of past deaths hangs over Hawkins. The series has built its emotional core on sacrifice and loss, making the anticipation for the finale fraught with anxiety. Whether the theories about Steve, Dustin, or Robin prove true remains to be seen, but the show's history suggests no one is truly safe when facing the horrors from the Upside Down.
