Duffer Brothers suggest fans “brace themselves” ahead of ‘Stranger Things’ finale
The second volume of Stranger Things season five on Netflix was explosive, to say the least. And now that we’re just days away from the finale, it’s fair to say that anything and everything can happen in this strange universe.
While the fan theories already reached a fever pitch when the first volume landed on the streamer, with the second volume now out, the question of who dies in the finale keeps our heads occupied.
Over the course of the five Stranger Things instalments, fans have had to bid untimely farewell to several fan-favourite characters, including Barb, Bob Newby, and Eddie Munson, among others. So, ahead of the finale, scheduled to drop on New Year’s Eve, the Duffer brothers finally addressed the fan theories and speculations about who could actually die.
In a recent conversation with TODAY.com, Ross Duffer said, “Oh man… I don’t know what I would say to them. I mean, obviously, it’s [an] emotional ending to the show for a variety of factors. But I don’t want to say too much.”
Although no character has ended up in a body bag so far in Stranger Things five, considering they’re headed to the most dangerous showdown with Vecna yet, some blood will inevitably be shed. While of course, the Duffers won’t give away the details of who and how, they do have a suggestion for the fans.
“I want people to brace themselves as they go into the finale. But I can promise you it’s not a ‘Red Wedding’ situation, like from Game of Thrones. We’re not gonna wipe out eight of our characters,” Ross Duffer assured. That clearly saves us from suspecting the worst, but he also added that no part of Stranger Things season five is meant for “shock value.” However, “it’ll be easier to talk about it once it comes out,” he explained.
As of now, the suspicions surrounding Steve Harrington’s potential death have kept fans busy, especially after the Duffers’ Funko Pops teaser at The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon last week. The cast even addressed the theories, with Maya Hawke telling The Hollywood Reporter how she’s seen several fans saying they’d be heartbroken if Steve dies. While many others joked about the theory as well, the jests are not enough to wipe away the fears.
Upon being asked how the creators want the fans to feel after the series finale, Matt Duffer said, “It’s hard to know. I’m really curious to see how they react. I’m not entirely sure. I’m imagining they’re gonna feel something like we felt and the cast felt, which is this really confusing mix of emotions.” However, they do hope the conclusion feels “inevitable,” and that it’s “the right ending and the right time to be ending the story, and they’ll understand that.”