After an extended waiting period, the first four episodes of the fifth season of “Stranger Things” have landed on Netflix. As the last season of the show, there are plenty of loose ends left to tie up. Fans have been hungry for answers to the show’s oldest questions, which has brought plenty of speculation on which characters live, which ones die, who ends up with who and how this whole spectacle will come to an end. Two Life writers have teamed up to share their predictions for the finale of one of the greatest shows of all time.
Samantha Brody / Associate Life Editor
Season five of “Stranger Things” is an interesting one so far. As far as the plot goes, I’ve been having a great time. The show is still incredibly engaging, fun, scary and has enough twists and turns to keep me watching. I especially enjoy how many demogorgons we’ve been seeing so far. I’ve always loved monster movies.
The season struggles a bit with its dialogue, however. If I had to guess, I’d say the writers had an easier time writing the dialogue in season one because, if the lines are corny, you can blame it on the fact that the main characters are kids. But the script is objectively bad at this point and I think it’s most noticeable in the older teen characters. Steve says, word-for-word, “Will hasn’t had his goosies since the shake ‘n’ quake.” I’m sorry, what?
To me, it seems like the writers made this script in the hopes of getting some goofy quips and clippable one-liner moments. It’s a social media thing, not a show thing. Now I’m just waiting for someone to say the line “This is strange, but I’ve seen stranger things.”
When it comes to the relationships in the show, I firmly believe Lucas and Max will end up together in the end. Lucas is such a loyal and faithful character and Max is often the show’s hidden underdog (aside from Will). To have the loyal character lose his partner and to have the underdog lose the fight, it just doesn’t work for me.
Character arcs are super important to the Duffer Brothers, as they explained to Entertainment Weekly. They nearly killed off Hopper in season three but kept him because they believed he still had growing to do. That means the characters who die are the ones who have character arcs that naturally lead them down that path.
I can see Hopper finally kicking the bucket. He lost his daughter to cancer in the past, and I can see a natural conclusion to that story involving a final sacrifice for the daughter he found along the way. I can also see Jonathan or Steve dying, for similar reasons — all they’ve ever wanted to do is protect the ones they love. And I can see that as an end to the love triangle with those two and Nancy. The engagement ring thing just sets off some alarm bells for me.
To me, the best ending of that love triangle is for Nancy to end up alone. She asserted in season one that she never wanted to be like her parents, and I think it’s bold to expect her to stay in a relationship she formed when she was, what, 18 or 19? She’s got a whole world out there and I hope she explores it. I don’t know if either of the boys will be a good fit when she has ambitious dreams to pursue.
As for Mike, Will and Eleven, I know my preferences. I never felt like Mike and Eleven worked. I think Eleven gravitated towards him because he was the only person she could trust, and he was the one who showed her what the real world is like. They were important for one another and will remain so but, just like Nancy, I think Eleven needs to go her own way.
As for Will and Mike, I could go either way. Mike’s always seem particularly insistent on Will’s safety and well-being, and I do think that scene at the end of episode four (yes, That scene) might have included some sort of realization for Mike. Unfortunately, if not written well, I can see them getting together as a disservice to Will’s character, who has finally begun to truly be himself. I don’t know if he needs a relationship right now.
Maleena Muzio / Staff Writer
After viewing the first volume of “Stranger Things” season five, I will admit that some of my initial predictions for the remainder of the show have changed. There are many possibilities for how romances may end or begin and endless guesses for which characters will remain living or dead.
Initially, I did not see much hope for the “Byler” ship. However, the lack of scenes containing interactions between Eleven and Mike, as well as their growing lack of chemistry stemming from season three, has changed my mind. Instead of an ending where Mike and El are reunited, I foresee one where she either sacrifices herself or chooses freedom, living on with Eight and others with powers.
As for Mike, his bond with Will from season one seems to be rekindled. Whether or not it is romantic, I am not sure. However, there is a possibility of Will realizing that Mike is his Tammy Thompson, or the two ending up together. Regardless, I think that their connection and friendship at the very least will continue to thrive in the finale.
As for the other couples in the show, Lucas and Max are the only pair that I confidently see making it to the end together — either dead or alive. I think that these two have the most endearing relationship of the show at this point and are either going to both survive and remain together or will both end up together in death.
Nancy’s fate, I cannot say the same for. Nancy embodies the “final girl” trope of horror, and while I see her surviving, her relationships may not. “Stancy” is most likely not happening in my eyes. Possible endings are Steve sacrificing himself for Jonathan (I know, shocker) or Nancy, Jonathan dying and Nancy finding the engagement ring or Nancy also choosing herself to avoid ending up stuck in a loveless marriage like her mother. Regardless, I ship “Jancy” and hope that they still have a chance.
Other potential deaths may be Dustin and Hopper. It is not difficult to imagine Dustin taking the blow of a Demogorgon to be reunited with his late mentor, Eddie. We have already been teased with a Hopper death this season as he opened the mysterious door in the lab, and at the very end of season three when he seemingly was blown up in Russia. If he made it this far, there is a chance the Duffer Brothers wouldn’t bother killing him off, but that is not certain.
Ultimately, I think Holly and the children will all be saved, restoring peace, minus a few essential characters’ deaths. Hawkins will hopefully be a relatively safe place again at the end of the series, with Vecna finally being defeated after the main characters tragically put their lives on the line to save everyone.