Summary
Stranger Thingsbecame a pop-culture juggernaut upon the release of its first season in 2016 and has grown even more popular with its subsequent seasons. From its beginnings, exploring the town of Hawkins in the 1980s, fans have seen the perils of the upside down and the core group of kids looking to escape from the clutches of the monsters from the upside down. Season four was released in 2022 and since then,fans have been eagerly awaiting the fifth and final season.
Along the way, fans have grown attached to a variety of incredible characters inStranger Things, and have had their hearts ripped out by some of the characters that have met their end. With the final season approaching, it’s safe to assume that this season will see casualties among the core cast of characters.With the pending return of the villain Vecnaand the risk being amplified from season four, which characters are most likely to die inStranger Thingsseason five?

7Max
Max Was Targeted By Vecna In Season Four
Max was put through the wringer inStranger Thingsseason four, being attacked by Vecna,who played on the trauma of the loss of her brother, Billy. By the climax of the season, Max is put in the most danger, with her friends devising a plan to defeat Vecna before he gets to Max.
Unfortunately for Max, the efforts to fight off Vecna succeed, but she is left in a coma somewhere between life and death. With Max set to return in season five, she will be at risk of Vecna looking to complete his mission. However, it’s highly unlikely that after faking Max’s death, the Duffer Brothers would kill her off.
6Hopper
Hawkins Police Chief Will Throw Himself Into Danger To Protect The Kids
Fans ofStranger Thingshave seen Detective Jim Hopper go from a man tortured by the loss of his daughter to embracing Eleven as his daughter.Hopper is always ready to throw himself into dangerto protect the people he loves.
For this reason, Hopper has to feature on this list as he’s always willing to put himself in danger to save others. However, the likelihood of Hopper dying is somewhat reduced due to his deathalready being faked in season three when escaping the Russian’s underground lab, with him coming back seemingly stronger. For the reasons listed, Hopper could die inStranger Thingsseason five, but it’s a longer shot than some of the other names on this list.
5Eleven
Eleven’s Link To Vecna And The Upside Down Puts Her At Risk
Eleven’sability to face the horrors of the upside downhas saved the town of Hawkins and the other kids many times over the last four seasons. Eleven’s psychokinetic and telepathic abilities put a constant target on her back and her link to the season four villain Vecna, who is set to return in season five, means Eleven is once again in danger.
Eleven is in the best position to fight back against the evilspresent from the upside down and has defeated everything put in front of her each time previously. But with the stakes set to rise once again, there is a risk that Eleven may be pushed too far this time.
4Steve Harrington
The Jock With A Heart Of Gold Is In The Firing Line
When Steve Harrington was first introduced,he was the archetypal high-school jock and a bully to go along with it. Fans have got to see Steve become one of the most likable and brave characters on the show,and his friendship with Dustin brings some of the best momentsin the show.
Over the last few seasons, Steve has always done everything he can to protect the kids on the show, often putting himself in danger. And in season five, fans are expecting more danger, with Steve undoubtedly being near its center. Due to his likability and character, Steve will be at risk of dying in season five, and his death would certainly devastate fans.
3Nancy Wheeler
The Wheeler Family Is At Risk In Season Five
The Wheeler family is definitely at risk inStranger Things, and with her tendency to be on the front line, Nancy is one of the most at risk. From season one, Nancy proved herself to be smart and brave, two traits that have only grown in the later seasons.
At the end of season four, Nancy takes down Vecna in the upside down alongside Steve and Robin, further cementing her bravery and standing up to evil to help her friends. However, it’s thisbravery that makes her death in season five a high possibility, especially with Vecna set to return and take down the protectors of Hawkins.
2Will Byers
Having Been Connected To The Upside Down Since Season One, Will Is Definitely At Risk
Over the course ofStranger Things’first four seasons,Will Byers has been through a lot. From being kidnapped by the Demogorgan in season one to his possession by the Mind Flayer in season three. Will’s character is defined by trauma and his connection to the upside down.
This connection is what puts Will at risk in season five. As he’s previously been under the control of the mind-flayer, it is a possibility that Vecna will attempt to abuse this link with a fatal end for Will. Having been the character to introduce viewers to the upside down, he could be the one to close the connection, putting him at risk of dying in season five.
1Vecna
The Final Villain Will Meet His End In Season Five
Vecna’s introduction inStranger Thingsseason four firmly cemented him as a force to be reckoned with. Stalking those who have experienced trauma within Hawkins with the ultimate goal of totalitarian rule over every dimension he can inhabit. Defeated but not killed at the end of season four, fans are set for a climactic battle with the big bad of the upside down.
It’s safe to assume thatVecna is the character most at risk in season five, with him being the villain and everyone hoping for a happy ending for the town of Hawkins. This makes his death the most likely unless theDuffer Brothers decide to go with the darkest ending possible, with Vecna winning and Hawkins being forever lost to the upside down and its dark forces.