6 ‘Stranger Things’ Characters Most Likely To Die in Season 5 (Ranked by Odds of Survival)

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The fourth season of Stranger Things ended on a somber note for the characters in Hawkins. Despite the Byers family, Eleven, and Hopper all making it back home after their adventures in California, Russia, and Nevada, they still faced significant challenges.

Vecna, also known as Henry Creel, successfully opened a new gateway to Hawkins, putting the town – and potentially the world – in danger. While Eleven has regained her powers and Vecna is weakened, he’s on track to become more powerful than ever as the boundary between worlds fades. Adding to the challenges, Max remains in a coma fighting for her life, and Eleven is being hunted by the military, leaving our heroes facing incredibly difficult odds.

6
Jonathan Byers

Some fans might be surprised to see Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) on this list, but his fading relationship with Nancy (Natalia Dyer) is the reason. Early in the series, it looked like Nancy and Jonathan were destined to be together. While she was with Steve (Joe Keery) at first, their shared experiences with the Upside Down brought Nancy and Jonathan closer, and they fell in love. But things changed when Steve showed personal growth and Jonathan’s family moved to California. Now, Nancy and Steve clearly have a connection, with Steve still holding feelings for her and Nancy trying to ignore her own feelings because of Jonathan. Could Steve actually be Nancy’s true match, instead of Jonathan? It’s definitely possible.

The plot involving Neve might not continue until Jonathan is no longer a factor. While Nancy could simply break up with him during the chaos with Vecna, it could be more compelling if Jonathan were to become another one of Vecna’s victims. He might even make the ultimate sacrifice to save Nancy.

Odds of Jonathan’s Survival

Although people are worried about what happened to Jonathan, he likely survives, considering the other characters still around. His survival becomes almost certain if another specific character dies instead.

5
Jim Hopper


Netflix

As a huge fan of Stranger Things, I’ve started to worry about Hopper. Everyone says ‘third time’s the charm,’ but I’m wondering if the third time will finally be his downfall. He’s already faced death twice! Remember when those vines from the Mind Flayer almost got him in season two? Joyce and Bob managed to save him just in the nick of time. Then, at the end of season three, that massive explosion led everyone to believe he was gone, even though he was actually kidnapped and taken to Russia. He’s had a few other scary moments, sure, but those two were really close calls. Knowing how huge this final battle is going to be, I just have a bad feeling Hopper will find himself in a life-or-death situation again. The question is, will he actually make it through this time?

Odds of Hopper’s Survival

The creators of Stranger Things, Matt and Ross Duffer, once considered killing off Hopper in the season 3 finale, as they revealed to Entertainment Weekly. Given they were willing to go there before, it’s possible Hopper could face death again. However, many believe he’ll survive so he and Joyce can finally begin a romantic relationship after Vecna is defeated.

4
Eleven


Image via Netflix

Eleven’s death would be incredibly sad, but it feels almost inevitable, given her journey. Her first fight with Henry Creel is what ultimately turned him into the powerful Vecna and opened the gates to the Upside Down. Now, with Vecna growing stronger than ever, Eleven will likely have to use all her power to save everyone. Some fans are predicting her arc could mirror Iron Man’s sacrifice in the Marvel movies – a heroic end where she gives her life to defeat the ultimate villain and save the world.

If this prediction comes true, the consequences would be felt right away and by many people. The teenagers who play Dungeons & Dragons would be the most affected, especially Mike, who is in love with Eleven. Harper and Joyce would also be devastated, as they’ve helped raise her, and Steve, Nancy, and Jonathan would be heartbroken to learn that someone they’ve protected for so long met a terrible fate.

Odds of Eleven’s Survival

Eleven has a roughly fifty-fifty chance of survival. The story hasn’t given many clues about her fate, meaning she could win without sacrificing herself.

3
Max Mayfield


Netflix

As a huge fan, I was devastated when season 4 ended with Max in a coma after her battle with Vecna! We were all left on the edge of our seats, worried about what would happen to her. The new trailer for season 5 didn’t exactly ease my fears. We only see Lucas carrying her, still unconscious, towards a hospital elevator while they’re being attacked by Demogorgons. Honestly, seeing Vecna’s monsters going after her again doesn’t look good for her chances of survival, and I’m really worried about her!

From a story standpoint, even though Max is a fan favorite, it’s worth considering if her continued survival is essential. Given her current condition, it’s unlikely she’ll be able to help much in the upcoming battle against Vecna, and even if she does survive, her contributions would likely be limited. Her death could actually motivate her friends to fight harder than ever, driven by a desire for revenge. It would be compelling to see Lucas, in particular, embrace a more determined and vengeful side.

Odds of Max’s Survival

There’s an old saying: “Last one in, first one out.” Since Max was the newest member of the main group of teenagers, she’s likely in the most danger and could be killed off soon. While her odds aren’t great, they’re slightly better than the last two on the list. The writers could have easily killed her at the end of season four during the attack, suggesting they might be saving it for later.

2
Will Byers


Netflix

From the start of the series, Will (Noah Schnapp) has always seemed particularly vulnerable. Even after being saved from the Upside Down in season one, he’s struggled to recover and remains connected to the darkness. While all the teenagers have been affected by what happened, the others have at least attempted to move forward – exploring relationships, joining clubs like the Hellfire Club, and even trying out for sports, like Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) did with the basketball team.

I’ve always felt a bit of sadness when watching Will. Even though he has such a wonderful family and close friends, there’s this sense that he still keeps people at arm’s length, like he’s not fully connected. Knowing what he went through with Vecna, and seeing how withdrawn he sometimes is, it honestly makes me worry about his future on the show. It’s a terrible thought, but does it make him seem… more vulnerable, like a character the story might be willing to sacrifice?

In season 4, Will gave Mike a heartfelt speech, telling him he’s the emotional center of their friend group. At first, Mike used this encouragement to help Eleven escape Vecna. However, it’s possible Will’s words will come back to haunt Mike and ultimately inspire him and their friends during the final, major battle, especially after Will is gone.

Odds of Will’s Survival

The season 5 trailer shows Vecna specifically attacking Will, grabbing him by the throat and saying, “Will, you are going to help me one last time.” This line sounds very threatening, suggesting Will might not survive the series. Viewers should prepare for a potentially sad outcome, as his chances don’t look good.

1
Vecna


Netflix

With this being the last season of Stranger Things, and Vecna being the main villain, it’s likely he won’t survive. He’s shown no desire to change, so the only ways to restore peace to Hawkins are to either force him back into the Upside Down and seal the gates he created, or to defeat and kill him.

Most viewers probably want Vecna to be definitively defeated in the series finale, not left with the possibility of returning to cause trouble again. Like many Game of Thrones fans would have felt if the Night King hadn’t been completely destroyed after being a major threat throughout the show, a conclusive ending for Vecna would likely satisfy audiences.

Odds of Vecna’s Survival

Everyone seems to agree Vecna is most likely to be defeated by the end of season 5. The main question now is just how many characters he’ll take down before he’s stopped.

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2025-11-21 23:05