“It’s Not Game of Thrones”: But ‘Stranger Things’ Season 5 Still Needs a Major Death

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WARNING: Includes MASSIVE SPOILERS for ‘Stranger Things’ Season 5, Part 2!

The final episodes of Stranger Things have arrived, and surprisingly, no major characters died. This has left some fans disappointed, especially considering the show’s creators and cast hinted at potential deaths in interviews and comments leading up to the release. Now, they seem to be walking back those suggestions. Some viewers feel a tragic death is necessary to deliver the powerful, emotional ending they were expecting, and that was implied throughout the series.

What the Duffer Brothers Have Said After Season 5, Part 2


Image via Netflix

The show’s creators hinted that the middle episodes would be intensely emotional, and while they featured a confusing breakup between Jonathan and Nancy and Will coming out, the episode received the lowest ratings so far. Fans were anticipating more shocking and heartbreaking moments. To avoid a similar reaction to the upcoming two-hour finale, the creators are now sharing more details about what viewers can expect.

In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the creators assured fans that their show won’t be as ruthless as Game of Thrones when it comes to character deaths. Matt Duffer specifically said there won’t be a shocking event like the infamous ‘Red Wedding’ – the episode where beloved characters Robb and Catelyn Stark were killed. He explained that their goal isn’t to shock or upset viewers, but rather to create a finale that feels natural and inevitable.

Fans are confused by a recent statement. It’s unclear whether anyone will die in the upcoming season. Will a death be left open to interpretation, like the ending of Tony Soprano’s character in The Sopranos? Or will it be a minor character who doesn’t survive? The show’s creators seem to be suggesting they don’t want to be known for killing off characters, but the show has killed off beloved characters before – Barb, Bob, Dr. Brenner, Chrissy, Billy, and Eddie, to name a few. So, the idea of character deaths isn’t new to Stranger Things.

The creators, the Duffer Brothers, have admitted they considered killing off characters like Steve and Hopper in previous seasons, but ultimately decided against it. While Stranger Things isn’t as relentlessly shocking as Game of Thrones, where anyone could die at any moment, impactful deaths are still important to the story. They even considered killing Will and Max at different points. A positive aspect of the second part of Season 5, despite it not quite living up to expectations, was Max’s survival after being in a coma. However, this felt like another fake-out, a tactic the show has used since Season 4. Given how long fans waited for these new episodes, the story needs to deliver something truly meaningful to make the wait worthwhile.

If No One Dies, What Happens?


Image via Netflix

Recent interviews have sparked a big question: if no major characters die in the finale, what will make it so emotionally impactful? Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) seems like the most likely candidate, but surprisingly, many fans would even welcome a story where he finds redemption. The only other possibility that makes sense is Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) sacrificing herself, as suggested by Kali (Linnea Berthelsen), if she follows through with a plan to end the cycle of exploitation in the Upside Down. Kali believes this is the only way to stop the government from using people for experiments and turning them into weapons. However, the creators, the Duffer Brothers, have hinted this won’t happen. So, what dramatic event will deliver the emotional punch fans are expecting?

The trailer for Part 2 led viewers to believe Steve might die, especially with his emotional line to Dustin – “If you die, I die” – but it turned out to be a false alarm. According to Matt Duffer, it wouldn’t have mattered what they included in the trailer, people were already worried about Steve’s fate. Similarly, in the first part of Season 5, Eleven learned Hopper was prepared to sacrifice himself to save her. It seemed like he was going to die, but that plan became unnecessary when they realized the military was actually holding Kali, not Vecna.

This season of the show loves to hint at characters dying, but then doesn’t actually kill anyone off. We’ve been led to believe Karen, Ted, Max, Holly, Steve, Dustin, Jonathan, and Nancy were all in serious danger, but they all survived. It feels like the creators want to give fans the impression the show will take a dark, unpredictable turn like Game of Thrones, only to pull back at the last minute and insist that’s never been their intention. It’s frustrating to constantly fear for characters’ lives, only to have the showrunners then claim they never suggested anyone was in real danger. They seem to be saying, “We shouldn’t assume the worst for these characters!” – reminding us this isn’t the same kind of show as Game of Thrones.

In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Matt Duffer, one of the creators of the show, expressed his love for Game of Thrones while noting their shows are quite different. He hopes the finale feels natural and satisfying, not upsetting. Duffer jokingly suggested that Steve might face death, as he’s constantly getting injured, calling it “the next logical step.” However, his laughter indicates he was kidding, implying Steve is likely safe. It seems unlikely any of the original main characters will die, though the creators enjoy keeping viewers guessing about who might be in danger.

Fans Started Chatter, Not Creators


Image via Netflix

Some viewers are frustrated by the lack of character deaths, but it’s largely due to fan speculation, not the show’s creators. The creators never promised anyone would die, and they avoided direct answers to questions about deaths to maintain suspense. While they playfully entertained theories with vague responses to build excitement, this strategy unintentionally created disappointment for some. However, others appreciated the lack of deaths as a welcome surprise. Essentially, the creators’ approach of building intrigue backfired for a segment of the audience, but pleased many others.

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It’s funny that the creators of Stranger Things have tried to avoid comparisons to Game of Thrones when it comes to character deaths, because fans are now making the same comparison for a different reason. Both shows were huge hits while they were on the air, but Game of Thrones was criticized for its disappointing final season. The show built up a lot of anticipation, only to deliver an underwhelming ending – the major villain was defeated too quickly, a key character, Daenerys Targaryen, was killed off suddenly, and the ultimate ruler was a surprise nobody saw coming.

Could Stranger Things suffer the same fate, with a strong series throughout until its final season?

For the final episode of Stranger Things to truly resonate, simply defeating Vecna and returning Hawkins to normal won’t be enough. The show needs a significant emotional moment. Throughout the series, the deaths of supporting characters have deeply affected viewers – even characters with limited screen time, like Chrissy, whose death sparked outrage and unfairly blamed Eddie. Bob’s death was a particularly heartbreaking moment in Season 2, and Billy’s tragic sacrifice in Season 3 was a turning point for both his character and Max. These are the scenes that have stuck with us. To avoid a disappointing ending, the final season needs a similarly powerful moment, even if it means losing a beloved character. Without it, Stranger Things risks becoming a horror story with an overly neat and happy ending.

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2025-12-29 19:22