It's hard to believe, but in less than two weeks Netflix will premiere the fifth and final season of Stranger Things. The 1980s-themed sci-fi horror series has enraptured audiences for nearly a decade, but soon we'll get to see how it all ends for Eleven, Mike Wheeler, Dustin Henderson, Will Byers, Lucas Sinclair, and the rest of their friends and family. Can they triumph over the dark forces of the nefarious Vecna? And even if they can, what will Hawkins, Indiana look like when the dust settles?
Stranger Things is an excellent series for a close watch, largely thanks to the extreme attention to detail of its creators, Matt and Ross Duffer. This show is the Duffer Brothers' baby, which they've shepherded to become one of the most iconic science fiction series of modern times. And as with any show that rewards viewers for paying attention, there are some major mysteries we need solved in its final stretch.
As we gear up for Stranger Things 5, let's go over five questions we need answers to in the show's final season.
1. What exactly is the Upside Down?
The mysterious and spooky parallel dimension known as the Upside Down has been at the heart of Stranger Things since its very first season, when Will Byers ended up trapped there after an encounter with a Demogorgon. This dimension isn't necessarily the sort of thing I'd want completely spelled out in most shows, but the Duffer Brothers have hinted numerous times that they're prepared to finally break down the exact nature of the Upside Down in season 5.
Considering that season 4 ended with the Upside Down spilling over into Hawkins, Indiana, it's never been more important for our characters to understand what they're up against with this otherworldly dimension. The Duffer Brothers have been planning this reveal for a long time, so I'm looking forward to seeing what they've got in store.
2. What is Will Byers' connection to Vecna?
Speaking of Will Byers, another big mystery we're expecting to see solved in season 5 is how Will is connected to Vecna. Season 4 spent a lot of time digging into the bond between Vecna and Eleven, but since we learned of Vecna's union with the Mind Flayer in the season finale, we now know that he's bonded to Will as well.
In a video unveiling the first five minutes of the season, we see Will get captured by the Demogorgon and brought to Vecna's lair during his time in the Upside Down. Vecna then uses a tentacle to pump some gross substance into Will's mouth, murmuring about how he can finally begin his plans now. It's clear that Will's abduction was a catalyst for the entire series, but I think we've all underestimated just how important it was to Vecna himself. Stranger Things 5 will need to finally give closure to the show's longest-running plotline.
3. Will Max wake up from her coma?
The most brutal moment from the Stranger Things 4 finale was when Vecna attacked Max, telepathically snapping her limbs and killing her for a few brief seconds before Eleven brought her back to life. This provided the last sacrifice Vecna needed to unleash the Upside Down on Hawkins.
Max ended up in a coma at the Hawkins hospital, with no signs of ever waking up. But let's be real, Stranger Things wouldn't keep Max alive just to have actress Sadie Sink lay inert for the entire final season of the series. At some point, Max is going to be important to season 5, and we'll get to see why the show kept her around rather than going for the throat and killing her off in season 4.
4. How will Eleven's 'sister' Eight fit into the show's endgame?
Perhaps the weirdest episode of Stranger Things happened in its second season, when Eleven went on a solo road trip to Chicago and met up with her 'sister,' Eight, also known as Kali. This Lost Boys-style sequence saw Eleven fall in with Eight's gang of hooligans, while she and the other psionically enhanced teenager dredged through their painful past together in Hawkins National Laboratory, where they were subjected to torturous experiments.
Stranger Things 4 established that Eight escaped Hawkins Lab before Henry Creel massacred everyone there, but she didn't actually appear on screen. As such, we haven't seen her in the show since season 2. But with season 5 wrapping up all stories, it's time to bring Kali back for the big showdown with Vecna. Actor Linnea Berthelsen was photographed at the premiere for Stranger Things 5, so it seems very likely that Eight is appearing in the show's final season.
5. Will we see Eddie Munson again?
There are a ton of beloved characters in Stranger Things, but one who broke out in a massive way from the show's fourth season is metalhead Eddie Munson, played to perfection by Joseph Quinn. Eddie died heroically buying time for his friends to take on Vecna in the season 4 finale, but that was in the Upside Down. Who's to say Vecna couldn't repurpose his body for some devious end? Or that Eddie couldn't show up in a flashback?
Look, all I'm saying, the people want to see Eddie Munson again in Stranger Things. Quinn has been teasing a possible return for years, but recently the Duffer Brother seemed to finally shut down those rumors by saying that Eddie will not appear in Stranger Things 5. But isn't that exactly what they would say if they wanted to throw us off the scent and make it a better surprise? I don't trust anything until I see the episodes with my own eyes!
Stranger Things 5 premieres in three parts on Netflix over the next few months. Part One consists of four episodes and drops on November 26. Part Two is three episodes, dropping on December 25. And the big series finale lands on New Years Eve, finishing out the year in style.
We'll be covering the season in depth here at Winter Is Coming, so check back for more during Stranger Things season!