A major complaint about the final season of Stranger Things is that it avoided killing off important characters, even when it seemed like a natural fit for the story. Spoiler alert for Season 5, Volume 3! While Eleven appears to sacrifice herself in the finale – though it’s unclear if that sacrifice is permanent – most of the main cast survives. After years of fans predicting which characters might die, many were disappointed by this outcome, with some even saying it negatively impacted the show’s ending.
Though shows don’t have to kill off main characters to be exciting, Stranger Things clearly tries to create a sense of danger. The show often kills supporting characters, and while deaths like those of Bob Newby and Eddie Munson were emotionally impactful, it started to feel like a pattern. Because of this, Kali’s death in Season 5 didn’t have the intended effect. Many viewers hoped the final season would move beyond killing off side characters and explore bigger consequences. This isn’t the first time the show has missed a chance to do that. If Stranger Things had killed off a major character earlier in the series, viewers might have been more satisfied with how Season 5 ended.
7) Eleven Could Have Kept Her Season 1 Ending (But Then We’d Be Missing Out)
Originally, Stranger Things was planned to end after just one season, with Eleven sacrificing herself to close the portal to the Upside Down. Unless Mike’s theory in the final season proves true, that’s essentially where her story ends anyway. While we would have missed out on many memorable scenes, the show’s core message – the power of friendship and protecting loved ones – would have remained the same. Seeing the characters grow has been rewarding, but some argue the series would have been more focused and streamlined if the Duffer brothers had stuck to their initial plan, as detailed in the book Stranger Things: Worlds Turned Upside Down.
6) Hopper Should Have Died for Real in Stranger Things Season 3
Season 3 of Stranger Things seemed like the perfect time to kill off a key character, especially with Jim Hopper seemingly sacrificing himself to destroy a Soviet machine. Although it was later revealed he was transported to Russia instead of dying, this decision feels frustrating now. The Russia storyline in Season 4 didn’t really add much to the overall plot, and Hopper’s character began to feel stuck in a cycle of repeating the same conflicts with Eleven. While he does develop in the final episodes, letting his Season 3 ‘death’ stand might have been a stronger choice. As a father figure whose loss would have deeply impacted Eleven, Hopper felt like a fitting character for a major sacrifice, and it would have raised the stakes significantly midway through the series.
5) The Demobats Could Have Killed Steve Instead of Eddie
Season 4 of Stranger Things finally felt dangerous, and Eddie Munson’s death in “The Piggyback” proved it. However, the show could have made an even bigger impact by killing off one of the original characters. Steve Harrington, for example, seemed destined to die after the events of “Watergate” and his fight with the Demobats. It was surprising he recovered so quickly, and his death would have affected Dustin just as much, if not more, than Eddie’s. Losing a main character like Steve would have also created a much higher sense of urgency going into the final season, even though it would have been sad to see him go.
4) Max Could Have Died at the End of Stranger Things Season 4
Ultimately, Max and Lucas are the strongest couple in Stranger Things, and I’m happy the show didn’t kill Max off. However, to really increase the tension before the final season, the series could have let Max die instead of having Eleven save her. Now that the show is over, it’s hard to see a good reason for Max surviving, other than to give the characters a generally happy conclusion. The show doesn’t really delve into Henry’s past, which felt like the point of exploring his memories, making the time spent on Max and Holly seem less important. Still, without Max, the group might never have been able to defeat Vecna.
3) Stranger Things Season 5, Volume 2 Should Have Killed Jonathan or Nancy
The thought of dying while trapped in a melting room is terrifying, and that almost happened to Jonathan and Nancy. It’s the only moment in the second part of Stranger Things Season 5 where a major character genuinely seemed in danger of dying – right after Nancy shoots the strange substance. They even seemed to accept their fate and began resolving their issues with each other. Luckily, a sudden change saved them, as the room stopped melting when the substance became stable. It was a relief to see them survive, but it also felt like a missed chance for the show to raise the tension and make things feel more dangerous.
2) Steve Harrington Could Have Fallen Off the Tower in the Series Finale
By the time Stranger Things Season 5 tried to make us believe Steve Harrington was in real danger, it didn’t quite feel convincing. Falling from a tower would have been a surprisingly anticlimactic way for such a beloved character to die. Knowing how much Dustin has already been through, it also felt unlikely the show would put him through another devastating loss. However, the season could have started with Steve’s death and made it work, especially since the tower scene sparked so many fan theories. If he’d been doing something brave at the time, it would have felt like a fitting end. I’m not upset Steve is still alive, but starting the final volume with such a shocking loss would have been incredibly impactful.
1) Stranger Things Could Have Killed… Literally Anyone During Its Final Mind Flayer Fight
The final installment of Stranger Things, Season 5 Volume 3, brings back the Mind Flayer for one last battle. The Hawkins crew attacks the monster while Eleven confronts Vecna within it – a surprising turn of events that confirms a popular fan prediction. However, the Mind Flayer’s return feels rushed and ends almost as soon as it begins. Notably, no major characters die in the final showdown, which strains credibility. The series could have significantly increased the impact and emotional weight of the ending by sacrificing a lead character or two, and extending the battle itself.
Do you think more characters in Stranger Things should have died? Share your thoughts in the comments and discuss it with other fans in the ComicBook Forum!
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2026-01-09 04:13