The highly anticipated final season of Stranger Things has finally arrived on Netflix, answering one of the biggest questions left by Season 4: what happened to Max Mayfield?
Max's Coma and Vecna's Mindscape
At the end of Stranger Things Season 4, Max, portrayed by Sadie Sink, suffered a brutal attack by the villain Vecna. The assault left her with shattered limbs, complete blindness, and she even died for approximately one minute before Eleven managed to restart her heart. This left her in a deep coma, a state in which she remained at the beginning of Season 5.
However, the new season reveals that while Max's body is comatose in a hospital bed in Hawkins, her consciousness is very much alive and aware. She is trapped inside Henry Creel's mindscape, an alternate reality controlled by Vecna. In this dimension, Max is able to act independently and is seen navigating a haunting woodland.
A Crucial Mission From Within
Max's presence inside Vecna's mind is not just a prison sentence; it becomes one of the central plotlines of the new season. She is on a critical mission to dismantle the system he controls from the inside, making her the only character who can directly affect the battle from within the enemy's domain.
In a surprising twist, she is not alone in this endeavour. She joins forces with Holly Wheeler, the younger sister of Mike and Nancy, who has also become ensnared within the same terrifying dimension. Together, they search for an escape route whilst being surrounded by Vecna's realm of haunting memories.
Fan Reaction and Theories
Fans who have started streaming the new season, which was released on 27th November 2025, have taken to social media to express their emotional responses. The opening episode features poignant scenes of Max confined to her hospital bed while her friends, including a devoted Lucas, visit her to update her on their quest to find Vecna and save Hawkins.
Viewers flocked to X, formerly Twitter, with one fan writing, "MAX MY BESTIE OH THIS IS PAINFUL WAKE UP PLEASE. Lucas loves her so bad I'm sick." Another repeatedly posted, "MAX IS GOING TO WAKE UP", in an attempt to reassure themselves. Others questioned narrative points, such as Eleven's reaction to Max's condition, highlighting the deep engagement and theories circulating among the show's dedicated fanbase.
With Stranger Things 5 Volume 1 now available for streaming, the fate of Max Mayfield is finally unfolding, setting the stage for an epic conclusion to the beloved series.
