How Will Stranger Things End? The Biggest Season 5 Theories

WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for Stranger Things season 4, vol. 2!

With the final episodes of season 4 now streaming on Netflix, speculation is running rampant on how Stranger Things season 5 will bring the beloved series to an end. Stranger Things premiered in 2016 as an unprecedented success for Netflix, with the sci-fi show quickly becoming one of, if not the streaming service’s most popular original series. As it has progressed, the scope and stakes of the series–including its massive budget–have increased exponentially. With Stranger Things season 4's ending turning Hawkins into ground zero for the Upside Down's incursion, season 5 will see the entire expanded crew team up to face their biggest challenge yet.

Stranger Things season 1 began with 12-year-old Will Byers being abducted by a mysterious creature after a Dungeons & Dragons game with his friends, with superpowered 12-year-old Eleven escaping Hawkins National Lab at the same time. As the events unfolded, Stranger Things’ characters entered a battle with beings from another dimension, the Upside Down, in which the alternate world seeks a complete takeover of Hawkins. The stakes of the Hawkins’ fights with the Upside Down have grown more dire over the course of the series, which has included the deaths of many beloved Stranger Things characters. With the Upside Down increasingly achieving the upper hand over Hawkins, Stranger Things has been building to a massive, world-ending battle for the season 5 ending.

The Stranger Things season 5 will end.

Eleven Will Sacrifice Herself To Destroy The Upside Down

Perhaps the biggest theory for Stranger Things’ season 5 ending claims that Eleven will sacrifice herself in order to destroy the Upside Down and save the world. Eleven opened the gate that allowed Vecna to reach back into the world, with her powers looking to be the only way to close the barrier for good. Since Eleven closing single gates in previous Stranger Things seasons caused incredible strain on her, using her powers to completely close the barrier could end up killing her. Had Stranger Things season 1 been a miniseries like it had originally been pitched, it would have ended with Eleven dying, so season 5 may be reusing this idea in its finale to save Hawkins.

Stranger Things’ Entire Series Is Revealed As The Kids’ D&D Campaign

Stranger Things Playing Dungeons and Dragons

One of the more controversial (and far less likely) fan theories about Stranger Things’ season 5 ending suggests that the finale will reveal the entire series was just an elaborate Dungeons & Dragons campaign by Mike, Will, Dustin, and Lucas. This theory falls in line with the stereotypical “it was all a dream” or “imagined” twist ending—and would actually be similar to Wes Craven's original plan for Nightmare on Elm Street's ending—but wouldn’t be faithful to how Stranger Things’ emotional storylines have progressed. However, rather than making the entire plot of Stranger Things fake, the ending could still feature the grown-up or teenage versions of the characters playing another round of D&D after defeating the Upside Down.

Kali Will Return To Help Eleven Finally Defeat Vecna

While Kali, AKA Eight, didn’t return in Stranger Things season 4, one popular theory suggests she’ll come back for the final fight against Vecna in season 5’s ending. Aside from Eleven, Kali was the only kid from Hawkins Lab to survive One’s massacre, as she had already escaped the location before his attack. While Eleven wasn’t able to defeat Vecna’s control with just her own powers in Stranger Things’ season 4 finale, she may be able to do so by working together with Kali in season 5. Since Kali exhibits one of Vecna’s powers that none of the other “siblings” shared, her abilities being paired with Elevens could finally be the way that One/Henry Creel is destroyed.

Stranger Things’ Characters Travel Back In Time To Undo Their Mistakes

Stranger Things Season 4 Eleven Creel Clock Monster

One of the most plausible theories for Stranger Things’ season 5 ending takes a page from the MCU’s Avengers: Endgame plan to save the world. In this theory, Stranger Things’ characters, particularly Eleven, travel back in time to undo their mistakes in failing to destroy Vecna and the Upside Down. Stranger Things season 4 revealed that the Upside Down is stuck on November 6, 1983, the date that Eleven opened the gate and Will Byers was abducted by a Demogorgon, making it the perfect day to travel back to for a "full circle" ending.

Stranger Things season 4 already introduced the concept of time travel to be used by the characters (sort of), so Eleven may be able to use Vecna’s time-traveling abilities in order to go back to the fateful day that the Upside Down is stuck in 1983. If so, Eleven may be able to stop herself from touching the Demogorgon in the void and opening a gate between Hawkins and the Upside Down, which would also keep Will Byers from being captured and Vecna from ever reaching the normal world again. This would inevitably create a new timeline for Stranger Things that would undo many of the series’ more beautiful moments, but it also may be the only way to destroy the Upside Down and save the world.

The Hawkins Characters Will Defeat The Upside Down (With Minimal Deaths)

Joe Keery, Natalia Dyer and Maya Hawke in Stranger Things Season 4 Part 2

Stranger Things’ season 4 ending featured the deaths of some notable characters like Eddie Munson, but many are expecting a bigger bloodbath for the series finale. In the ultimate fight against the Upside Down, Stranger Things is predicted to kill off a few major characters such as Eleven, Hopper, Steve, Jonathan, Will, and others as they sacrifice themselves to save the world. However, Stranger Things season 4’s bleak finale sets up a happier ending, with death not being necessary to have an impactful conclusion.

Eleven has been building toward a happy and normal life and realizing that she was never a “monster,” so killing her off in Stranger Things’ ending would undo her progression into someone beyond just a superhero capable of mass destruction. Similarly, a satisfying ending for Stranger Things’ series wouldn’t require the deaths of many characters, as they could all still work together to stop Vecna's Upside Down plan without the mission being widely fatal. As such, a major theory for Stranger Things’ season 5 ending suggests Eleven and Hawkins’ characters will finally defeat the Upside Down/Vecna for good, but it won’t require the mass casualties that many are dreading.

Will’s Death Kills Vecna & Closes The Portal To The Upside Down

Will Senses Vecna In Stranger Things 4 Ending

Just like Eleven, Stranger Things season 1 began with Will’s connection to the Upside Down, and is set to end with it. In the final moments of Stranger Things season 4, Will felt a tingle in his neck while revealing that Vecna wasn’t defeated, and wouldn’t stop until he had taken down everything and everyone. Vecna had already possessed Will back in Stranger Things season 2, with many theories speculating that Will is apt to be used as another host in Stranger Things season 5, especially since Henry Creel’s physical body was presumably destroyed.

If Will sacrifices himself at the end of Stranger Things season 5 while Vecna is inhabiting him, it could destroy the series’ villain for good. Just as several deaths were required to open the gates between the Upside Down and Hawkins, certain deaths may be needed to close the barrier forever. Since Vecna and Will’s connection is teased to be a major plot point in Stranger Things season 5, it’s predicted that the series’ ending will feature a fatal battle between the two in order to finally cease Henry Creel’s powers over him.

Next: Erm, About That Stranger Things Season 5 Time Jump...?!

Stranger Things season 4 is available to watch on Netflix.

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