Who Will Die in the 'Stranger Things' Finale? Season 5 Main Theories & Speculations

Stranger Things has become a cultural phenomenon, so the fifth and final season of the show will be a major event.

Ahead of its release, we're exploring the main theories and speculation about what will happen in the finale of Netflix's flagship series.

'Stranger Things' Season 5 Release Dates

In May, Netflix officially announced at TUDUM that the first part of the fifth season of Stranger Things will premiere on November 26, 2025.

The second part will premiere on Christmas Day, December 25, and the finale will air on New Year's Eve, December 31.

'Stranger Things' Season 5 Episodes' Titles

Maya Hawke, who plays Robin, noted that each episode of the new season will be very long, comparable in length to a full-length film.

There will also be a small time jump between Seasons 4 and 5 – the final chapter will take place in the fall of 1987, a year and a half after Vecna's first visit to Hawkins.

Season 5 will consist of eight episodes with the following titles:

• "The Crawl"

• "The Vanishing of…"

• "The Turnbow Trap"

• "Sorcerer"

• "Shock Jock"

• "Escape from Camazotz"

• "The Bridge"

• "The Rightside Up"

'Stranger Things' Season 5 Main Theories & Speculations

1. What Will Happen to Max?

In the Season 4 finale, Vecna manages to stop Max's heart for a moment, causing her to fall into a coma. What are her chances of survival? It's hard to say.

One theory is that Max's consciousness is trapped in Vecna's twisted mind, which seems quite plausible. If their minds are so tightly linked, perhaps the main battle lies with Max rather than Eleven and Will.

2. Will Eddie Return?

We're all secretly waiting for Eddie's return. Fans speculate that the charming outcast could be resurrected as Kas, Vecna's second-in-command, only to betray him.

3. What If the Whole Story Is a Dungeons & Dragons Game?

Vecna, Demogorgon, and the Mind Flayer are all characters from Dungeons & Dragons. But what if this entire epic in Hawkins is just a grand game played out by Will, Mike, Lucas, and Dustin?

4. Who Will Die in Season 5?

Since the first season, Will has had a special connection to the Upside Down, and he will play a key role in the confrontation with Vecna. It's possible that his character will sacrifice himself to save his family and friends.

Since the first season, Eleven has done everything in her power to protect Hawkins from the Upside Down monsters. Millie Bobby Brown's character may be destined for a tragic end in the finale.

After all, she is the one who has saved humanity from irreversible destruction throughout all the seasons. Moreover, she is the only one capable of confronting Vecna.

Steve also has a good chance of saying goodbye to viewers in the Season 5 finale. As the oldest member of the Hawkins gang, Joe Keery's character often takes on more responsibility – he has repeatedly risked his life to protect Dustin, Max, Nancy, and Mike from the monsters living on the other side of town.