The creators of Stranger Things have disclosed that Chief Jim Hopper and Max Mayfield were the two main characters who came closest to being killed off. Since the Netflix series began in 2016, none of the principal cast have been written out, leading to criticism that the show's scary events lack impact.
In an interview with The Independent, the Duffer brothers explained that their reluctance to kill main characters stems from a desire to avoid shock value. 'We could kill anyone off at any point very easily – it’s not difficult,' they said. 'It’s more about the repercussions that would have for all of our other characters.'
Hopper, played by David Harbour, was nearly killed at the end of season three. While his fate was left ambiguous, he returned in season four. The creators admitted, 'You have those discussions, but I think it was just hard for us to let go of that character.'
Similarly, Max (Sadie Sink) was considered for death, but the writers felt it would undermine her character development. 'It would sort of defeat the purpose of her growth that entire year,' they said. 'She goes through all of that to die? She finds the light and then… Some of those you talk about and it just feels mean.'
The Duffer brothers emphasised that Stranger Things is a coming-of-age story, differentiating it from shows like Game of Thrones that are more willing to kill main characters. They added that any future deaths must serve the story, such as Eddie's death in season four, which will resonate in the final season.
The first four episodes of the fifth and final season will be released on Netflix on 27 November, with the series concluding in December.
