Stranger Things 5 is coming to an end soon. Everyone is speculating about the same thing: Which characters will die in the final episodes of Stranger Things 5?
It's definitely something I've been thinking about for three years—maybe even longer, honestly. After Stranger Things 4, we've been hearing just how emotional the final season will be, and it has not disappointed so far. Heading into Stranger Things 5 Vol. 2, there are definitely a handful of characters who I'm worried about more than others. So, I put together a list of 10 characters I'm worried about heading into the next batch of episodes, along with three characters who are definitely safe.
Do I think all 10 characters in danger will actually die in Stranger Things 5? No, but there's no way we're walking out Vol. 2 and the finale with all of these characters still alive. There's going to be some deaths. The stakes are simply too high, although they could feel even higher.
Let's get the list started with a character guaranteed to die in Stranger Things 5, Dr. Kay.
Dr. Kay
Status: About to die
Dr. Kay is still a big mystery in Stranger Things 5. We really don't know who she is, what she is up to, and why she was holding Kali in the base in the Upside Down. I have a feeling more will be revealed about her backstory, and possible connections to Dr. Brenner (Matthew Modine) or Dr. Owens (Paul Reiser), who have been mysteriously absent so far in the season.
Make no mistake: Dr. Kay is going to die. She was dead, dead, dead when she opposed Eleven and Hopper. I'm surprised she made it this long, honestly, with Vecna lurking. Perhaps, she's already been possessed by the Mind Flayer? That wouldn't really make sense, though, when she was bested so easily by Eleven and Hopper.
Kali/Eight
Status: Basically dead already
Kali, also known as Eight (Linnea Berthelsen), returning in Stranger Things 5 Vol. 1 was clearly one of the biggest surprises of the season. We haven't seen the series address "The Lost Sister" story since season 2, really, and I don't think anyone had Kali's return on their bingo card heading into the season.
After Hopper discovered Kali being held by Dr. Kay (Linda Hamilton), I knew Kali's days were numbered. I don't know how and I don't know why, but there is no way that Kali is making it out of Stranger Things 5 alive. Will she die in Vol. 2 and not the finale? I don't know about that, but it's definitely possible.
I have a feeling Kali will definitely have a hand in defeating Vecna, but I can't see a world in which she survives. There has to be some collateral damage, and Kali will be one of those characters who does not make it out.
Holly Wheeler
Status: In danger
Holly Wheeler (Nell Fisher) is easily one of the most important characters in Stranger Things 5, and she is in grave danger.
Holly, though, knows that Mr. Whatsit isn't a good guy, thanks to Max, and I'm worried about what that could mean for her moving forward. She's going to try to make a run for it to get back to her real life, but it's going to take a lot to defeat Henry and find her way out.
Plus, the Duffers do have a pretty consistent history of killing a character who takes a bigger role in a given season. We saw it with Bob, Billy, and Eddie, and it could happen to Holly, too, if things play out differently than I think they will.
Speaking of that, in my heart, I do think Holly is going to make it out alive, but it's not really to do with her. It's much more about what that would mean to the Wheeler family, specially Nancy and Mike (Finn Wolfhard) who left their family in the dark while all of this was happening and there was time to save them.
Max Mayfield
Status: Safe
Max (Sadie Sink) was knock, knock, knocking on death's door for most of Stranger Things 4. While she technically died to fill Vecna's vision, Max is still very much alive in Stranger Things 5, even if she's still in a coma. She's alive somewhere in Henry's memories, and she's so close to finding a way out.
Personally, I don't think there's any way, at this point, that Max will die. The Duffers had the chance to make that happen in season 4, and they didn't take it. They're not going to make Max, Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin), and these other great characters wait for Max to return to Hawkins only to kill her off. We still don't know how Max is going to make it back, but I have a feeling it's going to go down in episode 6, "Escape From Camazots," for obvious reasons.
Murray Bauman
Status: In danger
There's no doubt Murray (Brett Gelman) is a key character in Stranger Things, but one has to wonder just how much stake the Duffers have in keeping Murray alive at this point. Introduced as a journalist way back in season 2, Murray is officially part of the gang and a very important part of the crew. He's basically supplying all of their adventures, but I just have to wonder how long that will continue?
Of all the characters, Murray's death would hit hard and be impactful, but while he is beloved among some, his death would not be as devastating as some of the other major players in the series. It's sad to say that, but it's the truth. And, that's why I think Murray is likely to die in the upcoming episodes.
Robin Buckley
Status: In a little bit of danger
Robin (Maya Hawke) is one of my favorite characters, so it totally pains me to include her on this list as one of the characters in danger, but it's the truth. I'm mostly worried about Robin because the fifth episode of Stranger Things 5, and the first episode of Vol. 2, is called "Shock Jock." We know something is going to happen at the Squawk based on the trailer, and I'm worried it's going to leave Robin or Steve in a bad spot... or dead.
Ultimately, I will be a little surprised if Robin dies at all because, as I will say so many times, that's really not the Duffers' style. But, she is one of the newer, although beloved, characters, and the newly introduced characters typically do not fair very well. There are exceptions, and I hope Robin is one of them.
Steve Harrington
Status: In a little bit of danger
Everyone has been so worried about Steve dying in Stranger Things for as long as I can remember. He's always putting himself in harm's way to save his friends. I have no doubt he's probably going to be doing that in Stranger Things 5 Vol. 2, which means he has to be considered as one of the characters most likely to die. The Duffer brothers even teased Steve's possible death during an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon recently.
While I do think Steve is in danger, I really don't think, deep down, that Steve is going to die in the final episodes. He's definitely on the short list of characters in danger, and if the Duffers do kill off Steve, I would understand. But, I don't think that's going to happen. When it's all said and done, Steve is going to be heading to California with his six little nuggets and partner for a summer vacation.
Eleven
Status: Safe
There's no reason to be worried about Eleven in Stranger Things 5 Vol. 2. Heading into the season, I thought the most reasonable conclusion was that Eleven, somehow, would have to close the gate to the Upside Down from the other side and basically sacrifice herself to save everyone else.
While that could happen, I don't see any way Eleven is actually going to die in Stranger Things 5 at all. And, she's definitely not dying before the finale, obviously.
Eleven is the character who has been basically tortured her whole life. She had no family or friends, and now, she does, and she deserves to have a life after all of this.
Nancy Wheeler and Jonathan Byers
Status: In a little bit of danger
I wouldn't have Nancy and Jonathan on my list of characters most likely to die in Vol. 2 had I not seen the trailer for the new episodes, and now, I'm a medium level of concern for these two characters. In the trailer, we see this giant like ball thing. Maybe, it's the heart of the Upside Down? Maybe it's the real Mind Flayer? I have no idea, but there's like this explosion and Nancy and Jonathan, I believe, go flying backward.
That is not a good sign heading into the next batch of episodes. I don't really know if Stranger Things is really going to kill these young lovers with a proposal possibly in the works, but it would be tragically poetic if Jonathan dies and Nancy finds the ring later. Or, he proposes as he dies? That would be so sad.
Honestly, it's too sad for Stranger Things, but it's possible, and that's why they are on the list.
Will Byers
Status: Safe
Will is as safe as any character heading into Stranger Things 5 Vol. 2. There is absolutely no way that Will will be killed off after getting powers in the fourth episode of the season. He's definitely safe until at least the finale and the final showdown with Vecna or the Mind Flayer or whoever the big villain of the season actually is.
This whole thing started with Will, and I just don't think there's any real way that Will is getting killed off in the final season. That's just too cruel, and as established over the course of five seasons, the Duffers don't do big deaths like this. Will can't die after everything he, his brother, his mom, and his friends have been through. It just can't happen.
If there's any justice in Stranger Things, Will and Eleven are going to team up and land the killing blow on the Mind Flayer and end this once and for all.
Hopper
Status: On the chopping block
Hopper has been flirting with death for like five seasons, and he's still kicking. The biggest fakeout in the series as Hopper's end in season 3 when he was taken to the Russian prison camp after leaping from the platform under the Starcourt Mall.
Then, in Stranger Things 5, Hopper has tried to sacrifice himself at least once already. He's been going into the Upside Down hunting Vecna for more than a year by the time we catch up with him. We know he is ready to go if it means the others will live.
Of the characters, Hopper is the most willing to sacrifice himself, and it's going to take a lot to beat Vecna in the end. That puts him at risk and makes him closer to death than probably any other main character.
Ultimately, I do think Hopper will live. That's what my gut is telling me, but if anyone of the major characters die, it's probably going to be Hopper. I don't want it to happen. I will be very sad. And, that's why I'm really hoping it doesn't happen.
Vecna/Henry Creel
Status: Definitely going to die
There's no way Stranger Things 5 is going to end with Vecna/Henry Creel making it out alive. Eleven and the gang should win, and Vecna will die. It's just a matter of when, honestly, and that's where things get a bit tricky.
There are many theories about Henry Creel simply being possessed by the Mind Flayer, which means that the real villain is the Mind Flayer and Vecna/Henry are just part of the plan. If there's a major battle with Vecna, I think he could die in Vol. 2 and then that sets up the battle with the Mind Flayer in the finale. So, I do think that Vecna/Henry could die before the finale if that theory is true and the Mind Flayer is the one behind this the whole time.
There are some spoilers that reveal at least part of the finale will be set in the 1950s and explore Henry's backstory. That was revealed that LA premiere for Stranger Things 5, so I don't know if it's really likely that Vecna will be killed before the finale. It's possible, though!
Watch Stranger Things 5 Vol. 2 on Dec. 25 at 8 p.m. EST only on Netflix!