Predicting Who Lives & Who Dies in Stranger Things Season 5: All 12 Main Characters, Ranked By Likelihood of Death

Children’s movies and TV shows usually avoid focusing on death. While there are exceptions, like the film Bridge to Terabithia, which handles the sensitive topic of a character’s death with care, some shows don’t shy away from it. Stranger Things, for example, doesn’t hesitate to put its characters in dangerous situations. In the first season, Barb Holland, a kind and supportive friend, is killed by a monster. Later, characters like Bob Newby and Eddie Munson also die while fighting the evil forces from the Upside Down.

As Stranger Things approaches its final season, many viewers anticipate that several characters won’t survive. With Vecna still threatening Hawkins, Indiana, he’s unlikely to let these teenagers stop him again. Here’s a ranking of the main characters, from most to least likely to die in Season 5.

12) Max Mayfield

In the climactic fight against Vecna during Stranger Things 4, Max Mayfield bravely distracts him, allowing the others to attack in the Upside Down. Things are going well until Vecna realizes what’s happening and starts to kill Max. She almost dies, but Eleven manages to save her just in time. Though Max is left with severe injuries and blindness, it seems unlikely she’ll face another life-threatening situation – that would be too much.

11) Dustin Henderson

Dustin Henderson is often at the center of things, but surprisingly, he rarely faces serious danger. He benefits from usually having older, braver companions who are willing to protect him. We saw this with Eddie in Season 4, and it’s likely another character will step up to do the same for him in Season 5.

10) Lucas Sinclair

I think Lucas, much like Dustin, has a knack for dodging the worst of it. While I’m sure he’ll have his heroic moments in Season 5, I get the feeling his priority will be keeping Max safe, meaning he probably won’t be the one directly confronting Vecna. And honestly, after everything Max went through, it would just feel…wrong if something happened to Lucas. They’ve built up their relationship so much, it wouldn’t make sense to have her recover just to lose him.

9) Robin Buckley

The teens in Stranger Things often take on challenges they aren’t prepared for. Robin Buckley tends to be supportive rather than leading the charge. While she’s brave and won’t avoid a fight, her connection to the mysteries of the Upside Down and Vecna isn’t strong enough to make her death feel believable.

8) Eleven

Eleven faces the biggest challenges in the fifth season of Stranger Things. She appears to be the only one who can close the gate between Hawkins and the Upside Down, putting her in constant peril. However, killing off Eleven would be risky, as the show has already used the fake-death trope with her twice, and doing it again would feel repetitive and unsatisfying.

7) Mike Wheeler

The connection between Eleven and Mike is central to the entire show. Mike discovers her in the first season and consistently encourages her to reach her full potential. Although harming Mike would definitely upset Eleven, it wouldn’t make sense for the story. Stranger Things is stronger with them as a couple.

6) Nancy Wheeler

Nancy Wheeler, Mike’s sister, consistently puts herself in harm’s way. She’s become increasingly self-assured and eager to confront challenges each season, always stepping up to fight. While her bravery makes her a tough opponent, it also puts her at risk and lowers her chances of surviving the series.

5) Jim Hopper

Jim Hopper isn’t ranked higher because, much like Eleven, he has a habit of putting himself in danger and attempting heroic sacrifices. After dedicating an entire season to rescuing him, killing Hopper off now would be a major disappointment for viewers. However, the show’s creators are known for surprising and upsetting the audience, so it’s still a possibility.

4) Joyce Byers

Joyce Byers’ biggest wish is for her sons to be safe, but that won’t be possible until the threat of the Upside Down is completely gone. Because her family is so central to the story, there’s a real possibility Joyce might not survive Season 5. She might make the ultimate sacrifice, giving her life to secure a future for her children.

3) Steve Harrington

Ever since Steve Harrington became a fan favorite in the early seasons of Stranger Things, it’s felt like his luck would eventually run out. He doesn’t have a clear path forward and is always worried about the kids, who constantly face danger. That combination felt like a setup for something bad to happen, but thankfully, other characters seemed to be in even more precarious situations.

2) Will Byers

The first season of Stranger Things focuses on the disappearance of Will Byers, and his experiences after returning from the Upside Down have clearly changed him. The show hasn’t fully explained what Will went through, and it’s possible Vecna still needs him for his plans. But Will might realize he can use this to help everyone – if he were to disappear again, it could take Vecna’s power away.

1) Jonathan Byers

Jonathan Byers would immediately sacrifice himself to save his brother, Will. Although some fans criticize Jonathan’s character, he consistently does what he needs to do. As the show heads into its final season, it seems likely his luck will run out, and while his death would be sad, it wouldn’t impact the story as much as losing characters with greater potential.

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2025-11-01 21:13