With only a few mysterious teaser trailers, it looks as if Netflix and the Duffer brothers want Stranger Things fans to remain as uneducated as possible about how this season will end. While this is no different from previous seasons, the decision to release season four in two parts is causing some fans to panic. There is a haunting feeling that these teasers are hiding a major plot point: an inevitable character death. This is a trope the Duffers have done before, but, with how intense Volume 1 has already been, should season four end with a main character death?
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In the past three seasons, a lovable (and sometimes important) character sometimes ends up kicking the bucket in some form. In season one, Barb Holland had an unfortunate run-in with the Demogorgon. In season two, Bob Newby (the superhero, as Will’s drawing has declared him) met his doom while trying to escape the Demodog-infested lab. In season three, the new and beloved character of Alexi was killed by betraying his comrades, as well as fan-favorite character Billy Hargrove who was killed by the Mind Flayer in an attempt to save Eleven.
The Duffer brothers are no strangers when it comes to killing off main characters, but does that mean they should? In a season already filled with plot-changing revelations and near-death experiences for a few loved characters, does season four need to end with a tragic main character death? In short: yes and no.
The Stranger Things series has done something that very few shows can do. Every character is vital to the story, and every character has had their turn to shine. Whether it’s showing Hopper grow as a man and as a parent in season two, or exploring how Will’s lost childhood years are affecting his relationships in season three, the Stranger Things team has made it so every character is important to the story and, in return, the audience at large. It seems difficult to find a fan of the show who dislikes one or more characters, especially when it comes to those like Steve and Robin.
The platonic duo generated a large fanbase following the growth of their relationship after season three. While Steve (Joe Keery) has been a fan favorite since season one, appreciation for him has only grown as his relationships with the kids and with Robin (Maya Hawke) has developed. Fans of the series have noticed, however, that Volume One seemed to have a few telltale signs that Steve may be the one to bite the bullet in the finale. The season so far has teased him and Nancy (Natalia Dyer) getting back together (just ask Bob and Joyce how their romance ended), and has shown him get brutally attacked by killer bats after being forcibly dragged into the Upside Down.
Whether the attack was a foreshadowing of what’s to come or not, many speculate that the revival of the season one romance is a way of setting up a happy ending that Steve will not receive. This has caused mass panic among Steve Harrington fans, who love the character and want nothing more than to see him survive and go on to live a happy life. While that would be the dream ending for all the characters fans have been with since the first season, it seems inevitable at this point that a major character may die.
It may be hard to address, but it looks as though Steve makes the most sense to go. Nancy and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) already have established future college plot lines. Robin has yet to graduate high school, and has the possibility of going to college. The Hawkins kids still have yet to finish high school and grow even more than they already have (add in the fact that the Duffer brothers have confirmed they will address their age gap in season five), which means that they have a future after season four. Steve, on the other hand, has finished high school. He doesn’t have plans to go to college. Aside from his close relationships with Robin and Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo), there isn’t much keeping him tethered to the story. While the Duffers could easily maneuver the plot to keep him around for season five, which seems more and more likely with the buildup to volume two, what would his future hold? Would it be worth it to try and figure out a way to fit him into the final season?
Aside from a potential ending for the beloved Steve Harrington, many fans also theorize that Max (Sadie Sink) may fall victim to Vecna’s curse during the finale. As fans saw in volume one of season four, Max became one of Vecna’s targets, and from the newest teasers, he still hasn’t given up on getting her. She is still playing the special 40-minute tape of “Running Up That Hill” on her Walkman that she and Lucas made to keep Vecna out of her mind.
However, is it possible that he finds a way to get through the music barrier? In one scene, in particular, Vecna seems to have crossed over into Hawkins, so fans have begun to have the realization that he could forcibly take Max in person rather than through her mind. The season so far has already teased her death, with her barely escaping Vecna during episode four, “Dear Billy”. While fans were relieved to see her pull through, it doesn’t seem like a stretch to theorize that she may not survive Vecna’s curse.
All in all, it seems inevitable that fans will once again watch another tragic character death. At this point in the series, it seems like a staple for the finales. While volume one may hold some Easter eggs for what’s to come, nothing about the future of Stranger Things is known for certain. However, those shivering with anticipation don’t have to wait much longer.
Volume Two will be released on Netflix on July 1.
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