My favorite character just died! The Duffer brothers have gone too far this time. Am I upset? Yes. Am I going to boycott season five, the final season? Not a chance. Now it is personal.
This will no doubt be some of you at the end of season four but how likely will it be your character’s fate who turns your stomach upside down? Some deaths carry more weight than others and some choices would be considered big but still safe. The finale has considerable hype behind it building directly from the cast. No one is safe in the last two episodes so expect Stranger Things to execute its largest plot twist to date.
Taking a look at who is left going into the last two episodes, the selection is extensive. In the interest of time, who are the top five whose deaths will cause the most controversy?
Max Mayfield survives Vecna only to have him increase his efforts to prove that no one can undermine him. How heartbreaking would it be for her to end up losing after the viewers have already deemed her as safe. Episode four of season four saw her escape his literal grasps. The love of her friends helped her to flee the dark realm. Episode “Dear Billy” got so much attention that the song “Running up that Hill” by Kate Bush hit number one in the charts for the first time after its release thirty-seven years ago in 1985! The look on Vecna’s face as she ran away was that of total disrespect to him. I would not be surprised if he took that personally. Two other characters’ feelings have really gotten personal this season as well.
Steve Harrington has won over Nancy Wheeler’s heart. He started out as an antagonist in season one and has grown immensely since then. It is finally looking like all his good deeds are coming full circle and he will get the girl in the end, that is unless he gets killed. Don’t think the creators aren’t above stomping out his romance. He isn’t the only one with his love interest on exhibit.
Joyce Byers has frantically been trying to rescue Hopper for the entire season. She finally has him and all that stands in her way is a Demigorgon, Russian soldiers, and a way home. Everyone is so focused on who Vecna is going to kill that it slips their mind that the villain does not have to be the killer. It could end with Jim and Joyce making it back through the icy terrain only to discover that a Russian bullet hit its mark. The show ends with Hopper holding her cold body in the bloody snow with a new resolve on his face. None of this would have ever happened if it weren’t for the Upside Down. Did somebody create the Upside Down or did it always exist?
Eleven may have the answer to the existence of the Upside Down but will it matter if she is dead? She is obviously the face of Stranger Things and killing her off would obviously leave marketing without a mascot. For this simple fact alone she is considered safe. Throughout all the advertising however the fact that no one is safe has been over stressed to the audience. The show’s uniqueness is what has made it number one on Netflix so don’t expect the same old rehashed storyline that is given out on cable T.V. As huge of a blow the loss of Eleven would be to the Netflix original, another character could really twist that knife in your heart if they met their demise.
Dustin Henderson, also known as the actor Gaten Matarazzo. He became a fan favorite in season one and his comic relief is what led to the series popularity. Season four since day one has been marketed as a darker version. Dustin has been innocent and taking that pure happiness out of the show is probably darker than any monster they could have conjured up.
Past experiences tell me that Steve is going to be the one to die. His story arc is nearly complete. He has redeemed himself and his death will have meaning. If Matt and Ross Duffer want to hit the fans where it hurts and still keep their hero for the final season, Dustin is the clear choice to go.
Once Upon A Dad Time 