Death, Fashion, and the Final Showdown: What Stranger Things Fans Can Expect in Season 5
As Stranger Things moves toward its highly anticipated final season, the series continues to captivate audiences with its blend of supernatural thrills and emotional character development. But beyond the intense action and supernatural drama, one pivotal theme stands out: the coming-of-age journey of Eleven, portrayed by the ever-talented Millie Bobby Brown.
In the third season, Eleven, having spent much of her childhood in a lab, steps into Starcourt Mall and is overwhelmed by the dizzying array of choices in the Gap. “How do I know what I like?” she asks her friend Max, played by Sadie Sink. Max, ever the wise-beyond-her-years confidante, offers a simple but profound response: “You just try things on until you find something that feels like you.” While this moment is a reflection on fashion, it also encapsulates the essence of Eleven’s journey — and the series as a whole. Coming of age is not a singular event but rather a process of trial and error, a continual evolution of self-discovery, and that includes, of course, figuring out who you are in terms of both fashion and life.
However, as Stranger Things has evolved through its seasons, its own coming-of-age journey has encountered a few growing pains. The content of the recent penultimate batch of episodes falls into three categories: high-octane action, heartfelt but occasionally convoluted dialogue, and an overload of explanations that often leave viewers wishing the characters would just… do something. The show, which began with a clear narrative and supernatural intrigue, has gradually expanded to incorporate so much lore that by now, it feels like half of the episodes are spent reminding us what’s been happening. It’s as if the story has become too large for its own good, with moments of pause and drawn-out explanations breaking the once-quick pacing. In one particularly baffling scene, Maya Hawke’s character, Robin, has to use props to slow down the action and explain the plot, as if talking to children. While it might be practical, it’s certainly not what fans signed up for.
The coming final season, however, brings with it a certain trepidation, especially when it comes to the question of which characters will make it to the end. Stranger Things has never shied away from killing off fan favorites — Eddie Munson’s tragic death in Season 4 being a prime example. But as we look ahead to the final episodes, co-creators Matt and Ross Duffer have carefully tiptoed around speculations regarding further character deaths.
“We just always want to think ahead and not just do it to shock people or because people have a bloodlust, which they seem to have,” the Duffers explained in a recent interview with The Independent. “We want to make sure that if someone dies, like Eddie, whose death resonated throughout the course of Season 5, it serves the plot.”
Though the Duffers’ comments are meant to reassure fans that character deaths won’t be gratuitous or meaningless, the warning still sends a wave of unease through the fanbase. After all, with the conclusion of the show looming ever closer, we’ve already witnessed several moments that seem to foreshadow the demise of beloved characters. In fact, the second-to-last episode is filled with chilling cues and ominous tension that leave viewers on edge, wondering just who will make it to the final credits.
Despite the show’s sometimes convoluted plotting, one thing is for certain: Stranger Things remains a cultural touchstone, blending ’80s nostalgia, supernatural thrills, and character-driven drama with a skill few other series have mastered. And as the show prepares for its final chapter, the mix of fashion, life choices, and the inevitable farewells make this one of the most anticipated endings in television history.
