Who Will (or Won’t) Survive STRANGER THINGS 5? Here’s Our Predictions

With the fifth and final season of Stranger Things approaching, everyone is wondering who might not make it to the end. We’ve grown to love these characters over the past ten years, so the thought of losing any of them is tough.

The creators of Stranger Things, the Duffer Brothers, aren’t hesitant to eliminate characters, as we’ve already seen with losses like Bob Newby, Alexei, and Eddie Munson. They’re known for shocking twists, so it’s impossible to predict who will make it to the end. Honestly, any character could be in danger, and we’re almost guaranteed to be emotionally devastated. Here’s our prediction of who might not survive and who could make it through Stranger Things 5.

Henry Creel/Vecna – Certain Death

It’s a safe bet that Vecna will die in Stranger Things 5. It would be incredibly disappointing if he didn’t. The real question is how he’ll be defeated. Most likely, Eleven will have a huge, climactic battle with him using her powers. Whatever happens, it’s going to be a major event, and we can be sure Vecna will be gone for good. Now, let’s talk about the heroes.

Mike Wheeler – Safe

From the start, the main six characters have been in constant danger. It’s doubtful everyone will survive. While Mike could be killed off to create drama with Eleven, I believe other choices would have a bigger impact on the story. Ultimately, I expect Mike to make it through alright.

Dustin Henderson – Safe

Dustin is the lovable heart of the group, and most fans wouldn’t expect him to be killed off. In fact, keeping him alive would likely be more meaningful to the story. He has strong relationships with several characters who are already facing danger, and we’ll discuss that soon. After losing Eddie last season, another devastating loss would be particularly impactful for Dustin.

Lucas Sinclair – Safe

I still don’t think Lucas will die. After everything he’s gone through with Max’s coma, it wouldn’t feel right to end his story without some closure. (Hopefully, that’s true!) The Duffer brothers have surprised us before, and it would be a cruel twist if he died right after Max recovered. I believe Lucas will ultimately be okay and make it through the final season of Stranger Things.

Will Byers – At Risk

Vecna has controlled Will from the start, so it’s no surprise he’s making things incredibly difficult for him. Between being stuck in the Upside Down and being a puppet for the Mind Flayer, Will is in a really bad situation. And it all started with his disappearance in the first season. Will’s always been connected to the Upside Down, and it feels like his story might tragically end there, bringing everything full circle. He was the one who started all of this, so it seems fitting that he might be the one to finish it.

The season five trailer makes it clear Vecna has plans for Will, specifically saying, “You are going to help me one last time.” This suggests Vecna might finally succeed in taking control of Will for good this season.

Max Mayfield – Safe

Even though things look bad, I’m confident Max will recover. If the show’s creators intended for her to die, they would have killed her off in the last season. By leaving her in a coma, they’ve indicated she still has a chance, even if her situation is serious.

A recent report in TIME suggests Max will be sidelined for much of the season, although the trailer hints at a possible recovery. It would be disappointing to eliminate her character after everything she’s been through – nearly dying in a terrifying encounter with Vecna, falling into a coma, and finally waking up only to be killed off. It feels unnecessarily grim. Many fans, myself included, believe Max will survive Stranger Things 5, and we’re hoping she does.

Eleven – At Risk

Eleven, like Will, is crucial to everything happening in the story. She originally opened the gateway to the Upside Down and is the only one who can defeat Vecna. The trailer shows her using her powers intensely in the Upside Down, and while it’s unlikely Vecna will kill her directly (she’ll probably defeat him first), it’s clear she’s in serious danger, possibly from something less direct.

Her abilities often leave her weakened, and this fight might push her too far. However, we’re hoping she survives, even if it means sacrificing everything and becoming the new ruler of the Upside Down in Vecna’s place.

Steve Harrington – At Risk

Man, the thought of Steve dying in Stranger Things 5 really worries me. He’s come so far – from being kind of a jerk at the beginning to becoming a total hero, and it feels like the writers might be setting him up for a really sad ending. It would be a perfect, though heartbreaking, way to finish his story, and honestly, it would finally resolve that whole love triangle with Nancy and Jonathan. Knowing how huge the finale is supposed to be, and how devastated everyone would be if Steve died, I’m honestly bracing myself for the worst.

I really want Steve to make it through the final season of Stranger Things, just for my own peace of mind! But honestly, it doesn’t look good – especially after seeing that sad scene in the trailer of Dustin hugging him. I find myself yelling, “He’s going to live!” even though I know it’s probably wishful thinking.

Robin Buckley – Safe

Season three of Stranger Things was a delight, especially introducing Robin! Her witty, sarcastic humor and fun friendship with Steve immediately won fans over. While the show has a history of unfortunate fates for comedic side characters (like Eddie Munson), I’m pretty sure Robin will make it to the end. She’s already survived two full seasons, and she clearly has a strong will to live, which gives me confidence she’ll pull through.

Nancy Wheeler – Safe

Nancy’s transformation from a sweet, innocent character into a strong, capable fighter has been incredible to watch. Because of this growth, it seems unlikely she’ll be killed off so suddenly. While Vecna targeted her before, she’s consistently shown she can handle herself. It would make more sense, story-wise, if one of her romantic interests, Steve or Jonathan, were to be the one to die instead.

Jonathan Byers – Uncertain

As I mentioned earlier, Jonathan’s death would primarily serve the story by impacting Nancy. He’s the type of person who would do anything for those he cares about, raising the question of whether he might sacrifice himself to save Will or Nancy. It’s definitely a possibility the writers could explore. Plus, killing off Jonathan would be more surprising than killing Steve, and the Duffer brothers might choose that unexpected path. Ultimately, his fate is uncertain.

Joyce Byers – Safe

Considering the possibility that some characters might not make it to the end of Stranger Things 5, Joyce seems very likely to survive. She’s already been through so much hardship, both emotionally and physically, that killing her off now would feel unnecessarily harsh. Plus, her death wouldn’t really advance the story – while it would be upsetting for the kids and Hopper, it wouldn’t have a significant impact. It’s safe to say Joyce will make it through to the end.

Jim Hopper – Uncertain

The creators of the show, the Duffer brothers, have tricked us before with a fake-out regarding Hopper’s fate. It makes you wonder if they’d do it again, particularly if it meant protecting Eleven. Hopper often puts himself in danger for the people he loves, so it’s certainly possible. His character development is similar to Steve’s – he started as unlikeable but became a father figure. While Hopper’s death would make sense for the story, this time it feels like it would be permanent.

Murray Bauman – Uncertain

It seems Murray is destined to be the show’s comic relief, and unfortunately, that often means he’s vulnerable. He’s been around since season two, surviving quite a bit, but I suspect his time might be up. He doesn’t play a crucial role in the overall story, so his departure wouldn’t derail things. Removing him would be a way to create some emotional impact without major consequences for the plot.

Karen Wheeler – Safe

The Wheelers can’t remain clueless much longer, and Karen, who’s been a recurring character – even with that strange storyline involving Billy in season three – is definitely hiding something. Many fans think she’s actually Alice Creel, meaning she knows far more than she’s letting on. Regardless of whether that’s true, it seems likely Karen will come through this situation without being harmed.

Ted Wheeler – At Risk

Okay, so initially I thought Ted Wheeler was safe – just your classic, oblivious ’80s dad who’s somehow made it through everything. But the more I think about it, the less certain I am. The show has kept him around for a reason, right? I’m starting to suspect he’ll become a key player, maybe even jumping into the thick of things to protect his kids. And that trailer… Nancy cleaning blood off her hands? It could be anyone’s, but honestly, the idea that it’s her dad’s blood feels… significant. It would be a powerful, heartbreaking moment, and it definitely has me worried about Ted’s fate.

Erica Sinclair – Safe

Honestly, it’s very unlikely Erica will die in the final season of Stranger Things. While the show’s creators might put other characters in danger, Erica’s death wouldn’t make sense. She was introduced in season three to help the others with a crucial mission at the mall and has been a valuable part of the group ever since. Killing her off would feel pointless.

Holly Wheeler – Uncertain

Holly has been a quiet, background character until now. But she’s older now and is suddenly being asked to play a much more important part in the story. Many fans believe she’s connected to the mystery in episode two, “The Vanishing Of…”, and has been a hidden figure all along. If that’s true, she could be in serious danger, especially considering what happened in the very first episode. It’s likely someone will have to sacrifice themselves, and while it’s hard to say for sure, Ted seems like a possible candidate. Ultimately, it’s anyone’s guess who will be affected.

These ideas are just guesses, so feel free to disagree! Everyone’s interpretation is valid, and it’s okay to have your own thoughts on how things could go. Ideally, everyone would make it out okay – Steve would get his favorite snacks, and we’d all live happily in Hawkins without Vecna causing trouble.

There’s no way that’s going to happen! The frustrating part is, we won’t know who the Duffer Brothers are planning to eliminate until it actually happens, so you might want to grab some tissues now. Stranger Things 5: Volume One will be released on November 26th.

2025-11-06 23:07