‘Stranger Things’ Somehow Kept Its Most Exhausting 9-Year Tradition Alive

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Warning: Includes MASSIVE SPOILERS for Stranger Things, Season 5, Part 1!

Despite being a massive hit, Stranger Things has a curious pattern: very few main characters actually die. Amazingly, after five seasons, almost everyone from the very beginning is still alive! While fans love the show’s characters, critics have pointed out that the core group has remained remarkably consistent, with only newer additions like Billy, Bob, and Eddie Munson having been removed from the story.

The fifth and final season of Stranger Things is a huge event, and like Game of Thrones before it, fans are trying to predict who will die. Now that the first part of Season 5 is out—four episodes in—surprisingly, no main characters have died yet. Unlike The Empire Strikes Back, which had a major, shocking death, this season hasn’t had any devastating losses. In fact, with Will developing new abilities and the introduction of Kali, the ending of these first episodes feels more optimistic than ever.

‘Stranger Things’ Season 5 Still Won’t Kill Its Main Characters


Image via Netflix

Throughout its run, Stranger Things has skillfully combined exciting action with a compelling story, usually leading to a big showdown with a monster like the Demogorgon, Mind Flayer, or Vecna. Unlike earlier seasons where special effects budgets limited how much the monsters appeared, Season 5 has plenty of resources, resulting in many Demogorgons. However, these monsters aren’t as scary as they used to be, and feel more like minor obstacles than the major threats they once were.

Many viewers were disappointed by the final season of Game of Thrones, especially how easily main characters survived even when facing seemingly unbeatable enemies. While Stranger Things also relies on plot convenience to keep characters alive, it feels less jarring. The latest season of Stranger Things is a promising start, much better than Game of Thrones‘ final season, but it doesn’t quite recapture the compelling character focus and strong storytelling of the show’s very first season.

What’s most frustrating is that the creators of Stranger Things clearly anticipate viewers expecting major characters to die, and they’re using that. The show features scenes deliberately designed to manipulate our emotions – like lingering shots of Karen Wheeler, heartfelt conversations before someone walks into danger, or Hopper strapping on explosives as a final act. Throughout the first part of Season 5, Stranger Things constantly hints at characters dying, only to pull back at the very last second.

As a big fan of Stranger Things, I’m bracing myself for someone major to die before it’s over, but honestly, it would feel really strange if it was a core character like Derek or Holly Wheeler. The show seems to have a pattern of only killing off people we haven’t known for very long. I mean, remember Karen Wheeler? She literally got attacked by a Demogorgon and was left for dead, but somehow survived! And let’s be real, those kids constantly run into monsters and usually walk away with barely a scratch. Even Ted Wheeler managed to dodge death, which, while surprising, wouldn’t have been the most emotionally impactful loss, would it?

‘Stranger Things’ Season 5 Missed the Perfect Death Opportunity


Netflix

Season 5 of Stranger Things could have made a powerful statement by killing off Hopper. While the show previously faked his death, this was a missed chance to create a truly impactful moment, especially during his and Eleven’s journey into the Upside Down. Hopper tried to convince Eleven she wasn’t ready for the mission, largely because he feared losing her, but she followed him anyway, continuing their familiar protective dynamic. His death while protecting her would have been a fitting and dramatic end for his character.

This storyline would allow Hopper to make up for failing to protect Sara by sacrificing himself to save Eleven, effectively removing the group’s father figure. The impact would be similar to the shocking deaths of Logan Roy in Succession or Joel in The Last of Us. Eleven would then have to deal with the grief of losing her adoptive father while still stepping up as the main hero. Without Hopper, she’d become the best hope for a positive outcome, but would also carry the weight of his fate. This added emotional depth could make her incredibly powerful.

Comparing the characters in Stranger Things to Star Wars, Hopper had the potential to be a mentor figure like Obi-Wan Kenobi. Season 5 could have delivered a shocking twist, like a major character death, but it seems the show is sticking to its established pattern. Instead of focusing on emotionally impactful events, the biggest surprise is that Will Byers now has superpowers.

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2025-11-30 23:03