(Credits: Netflix)

The years Stranger Things left viewers in the void to guess the next bold curveball awaiting the Upside Down saga on Netflix, fan theories were to the rescue. Now that they are closer than ever to the fifth and final season, this is the final chance to weigh in on those theories to find out whether they could have a place in the Hawkins narrative.

Since the minute Netflix launched us into the gritty world of the shadow dimension, uncovering one unsettling villain at a time, we were sold.

But when each and every season shouldered the responsibility of dialling up the suspense, especially ahead of the final ride, fans couldn’t stay seated anymore. They brainstormed day and night to come up with the possibilities, backed by their best reasoning, to prophecy the future of the Stranger Things universe.

While viewers will get their answers in a hot minute or two when Netflix opens the floodgates of all things strange one last time, for now, let’s revisit the five wildest Stranger Things theories to date.

The five wildest Stranger Things theories to know

Eddie Munson will return in the final ride

If there’s a death that broke hearts and forced even the strongest fans to shed a tear, it was Eddie Munson. While practically speaking, it’s impossible to have someone return from their graves. But fans are caught up in wishful thinking, speculating on his comeback in Stranger Things season five. Since Eddie sacrificed himself to buy more time for his friends in the Upside Down, many fans have refused to gulp the hard truth that he’s dead.

But even those who believe in his demise still expect his return, probably as a monster, since this wouldn’t exactly be the first time Vecna leverages his dead victims to hunt the ones alive. Although the comeback would be welcomed with open arms, the possibility is mostly unlikely, especially considering the metal farewell and its impact on fans last season. Additionally, the Duffer brothers confirmed in a recent conversation with The Hollywood Reporter that despite their love for the character and the actor, Eddie “is very much six fit down under, so RIP.”

A member of the main gang will die

Body bags have been piling in Hawkins since the start of Stranger Things. However, so far, the main gang of the hit Netflix series has remained untouched, often saved in the last minute. While Max Mayfield almost reached the doorstep of the Grim Reaper, ending up comatose in the fourth season, fans cannot help but speculate about losing one of the mainstays of the show this time around.

Even the cast members of the Netflix show, including Gaten Matarazzo, Millie Bobby Brown, and Maya Hawke, have suggested possibilities. Although it’s too early to tell who it could be, hopefully, it won’t be Steve Harrington since his relative absence in the fifth-season trailers has left many concerned.

Will Byers could be the bad guy

Will Byers’ disappearance into the Upside Down kicked off the Stranger Things story. In fact, till now, the show has hinted at the character’s ongoing connection with the shadow dimension on various occasions. Even before the curtains fell on the fourth season, Will could sense Vecna’s presence, meaning the connection is far from broken. Additionally, the Duffer brothers have confirmed that Will’s role would be bigger than ever in the final season.

So, with all of those in consideration, many fans believe betrayal from his end could be in the cards. While Will’s connection to the Upside Down has convinced them halfway, the rest hinges on the potential similarities between his character and that of Henry Creel’s. Given that Dungeons & Dragons also have traitors, the theory could only strengthen the show’s link with the game. Moreover, fans have reasoned that the treachery could come from the routine negligence he has faced throughout.

Although the likelihood of this becoming true isn’t very potent, it doesn’t change the fact that he does play the most crucial role in the fifth season.

Will Byers’ connection to the Upside Down will bring the dimension’s end

If the season five trailers have confirmed anything so far, it’s that Stranger Things is going to the finish line with the one with whom it started: Will Byers. While his turnaround as a villain would be a little far-fetched, a fan theory that has more potential to come true is that his connection with the Upside Down will help defeat Vecna. Stranger Things has always been Will’s story, but this theory suggests there’s a reason why Vecna has kept him alive because he’s the only character to have survived his tenure in the shadow dimension.

This already raises eyebrows about what Vecna’s plan could be with him. However, a few fans believe Vecna is relying on Will’s connection to use him as a vessel to fulfil his plan. This could, in turn, prove advantageous to the Hawkins gang, who could leverage this connection to stay ahead of the big bad. How does it happen? Only time will reveal when the sci-fi series drops on Netflix tomorrow.

Max’s consciousness is in the Upside Down

When Vecna left Max Mayfield levitating on Billy’s graveyard while she ran for her life in the Upside Down, our collective breaths stopped. It seemed that she was probably done this time. But her friends did the unthinkable, blasting Kate Bush’s ‘Running Up That Hill’ on the Walkman to help her escape Vecna’s grasp. While she survived the trance, she ended up comatose in the fourth season. The Stranger Things season confirmed that Max’s subconscious and spirit were not present, which led to a popular theory in the fandom.

Fans believe that her consciousness is either in the Upside Down or inside Vecna, which leaves the rest of the gang to hunt it down for a significant part in the final instalment. The creators definitely let Max survive without a reason, and the Hawkins hospital images only add fuel to the fire. But which theories actually end up ticked off remains to be seen tomorrow as Stranger Things returns on Netflix just in time for Thanksgiving.