After an almost decade-long run, the first half of “Stranger Things’” final season brings fans closer to unraveling the mysteries behind its ominous Upside Down. The latest volume of the Netflix hit is dropping jaws with its return of beloved and not-so-beloved characters, a possible proposal and a shocking final scene revealing Will Byers’ powers. With the next volume releasing Christmas Day, the wait has intensified a feeling of suspense among the fandom, sparking numerous theories and analyzing each and every shot for clues towards Vecna’s demise.
Prior to the release of Season Five, death predictions floated around the internet due to the show’s infamous kill count. However, in the first volume, the main ensemble miraculously escaped death’s claws with numerous fakeouts and survivals. Despite facing catastrophic demogorgon attacks and bomb threats, both the Wheeler parents and Hopper’s fates were unrealistically protected. Viewers worry for the next two volumes, predicting either a bloodbath of fan favorites or a lack of meaningful sacrifices.
The creators, Matt and Ross Duffer, continue to incite these thoughts by vaguely teasing hints towards the show’s conclusion. According to The Times, the Duffers confirmed the series’ most violent death in its final season. Fans believe Jonathan may be subject to the slaughter, with the reveal of his secret wedding ring for Nancy. This possible engagement increases the lovebirds’ stakes, who became a couple back in Season Two due to their shared traumas. According to ScreenRant, viewers predict Jonathan may sacrifice himself for Nancy as tribute to their love. In addition, Jonathan has yet to propose due to the Wheeler family’s recent fatalities. Nancy may find the ring after his hypothesized death, bringing one of the most tragic killings in the show’s history. To support this theory, a scene in the Season Five teaser portrays the couple in danger and incredibly distressed.
Joining Jonathan’s proposed fate is Eleven, the main protagonist of the series. As the remainder of Season Five will likely destroy Hawkins’s connection to the Upside Down, questions arise about the future of its creator. The first volume features Eleven rigorously strengthening her supernatural abilities. When she has the chance to use her powers in the Upside Down, she’s met with her kryptonite: a sonic force disrupting her psychic superpowers. With this obstruction, the character’s odds don’t look great. Fans speculate Eleven may have to sacrifice herself in order to defeat Vecna and finally sever the two worlds’ bond. According to Collider, the theory would serve as a full circle ending but redefined by Eleven’s journey to attaining her autonomy. Many viewers are worried by the striking possibility of losing one of the show’s most pivotal characters.
However, Eleven may not have to face Vecna alone, assisted by two of the first volume’s most shocking reveals: the return of Kali and introduction of Will’s powers. Behind the door supposedly holding Eleven’s kryptonite, lied one of the fandom’s most hated characters. Kali, also known as 008, was a recurring character from Season Two and enlightened Eleven to a world beyond their painful childhood at Hawkins Lab. Viewers find Kali’s purple-dyed hair and punky attire replaced with a shaved head and hospital gown. This alone concludes that she was used as a resource for Dr. Kay, a complete opposition to her vengeful schemes back in Season Two. The character’s return brings hope to Vecna’s defeat, offering as a source of information behind Eleven’s kryptonite and a potential addition to the team with her mind-conjuring illusions.
Likewise, the introduction of Will’s powers brings a valuable asset towards Vecna’s defeat. As the villain’s first victim, Will has faced many hardships throughout the seasons by being unable to fully disconnect from his severe experience in the Upside Down. Through a powerful montage of Will’s childhood, he is finally able to accept himself and take control of his inseparable connection to Vecna. Will uses his bond with the hivemind to paralyze demogorgons in the air, finally harnessing his powers. According to Variety, the Duffers confirmed the character’s newfound abilities are not innate like Eleven’s but instead channeled from Vecna. His role can serve as a spy against the antagonist, able to manipulate Vecna’s army of creatures and determine more details behind his plan. In the first volume, small sights of this can be seen from Will’s visions of the abducted children on Vecna’s spires. However, the reveal of Will’s connection also brings inquiries on his fate in Hawkins. Due to his connection with the hive mind, Will has also experienced the pain and injuries suffered by its collective creatures leading to fans theorizing Vecna’s defeat may also drag Will down with him.
Even though their fates are threatened, the three supernatural characters have each other’s protection to brawl against Vecna. Fans across the internet have spun memes surrounding the powerful trio, comparing them to the Avengers. As excitement crawls in with the show’s most action-packed season, viewers have also theorized about the trio’s contribution to defeating Vecna. According to Capital FM, the team’s subject names from Hawkins Lab all add up to 20; Eleven, Kali and Will’s powers from Vecna which equal to 20. The same number was rolled in Season Four by Erica Sinclair and used to defeat Vecna in the party’s fictitious Dungeons and Dragons campaign. As previous seasons have implemented DnD campaigns to reflect the show’s real monsters, this fan theory can ensure Vecna’s defeat once and for all.
Throughout the first volume, viewers gradually gain more insight behind Vecna’s plan and find he is targeting the children of Hawkins. He starts off with Holly Wheeler and deceptively traps her in the Creel House, from Season Four. During her time there, a mysterious savior contacts her and their identity is later revealed as Max Mayfield. Vecna has trapped Max in his memories and is forced to reside in a cave, the one place he cannot harm her. Through his fearful expression, Max discovers the villain’s weakness, a strong memory attached to the cave that causes the terrifying figure to begin to whimper. According to Variety, the Duffer Brothers confirmed Max’s cave was a reference to the “Stranger Things” prequel play, “The First Shadow”. The play dives into Henry’s origins, with a scene of his first access to his powers in a cave. Fans believe this memory can help Max, Holly and the other abducted children escape through seeing Vecna’s weak spot.
While Vecna has been viewed as the overarching villain in the universe, his first sight of vulnerability questions that belief. Referring back to the play, a young Henry starts an expedition in a cave and is later sent to a traumatizing other world called Dimension X, encountering the Mindflayer. The Mindflayer was a monster from Season Two and possessed Will, making him view his friends and family as enemies. Similarly in the play, Henry is taken control of and forever left with a murderous strange attitude. According to Movie Web, fans believe Henry is still controlled by the Mindflayer and instead a vessel, like Will, to take over the world. Though the Upside Down is Vecna’s home and under his control, his vengeance towards Eleven may be due to her countless efforts against the Mindflayer in previous seasons.
With multiple character’s fates hanging in the air, fans are eager to tune into “Stranger Things’” final episodes and say goodbye to the show powering Netflix’s screens for the past 10 years. Theories continue to arise and will be confirmed in the next two chapters of the final season. Volume Two drops Dec. 25 and the show will conclude with a two-hour finale on the final day of this year.
