(Credits: Netflix)

We have all loved Stranger Things for years now. From that very first Demogorgon jump scare to the emotional weight of Max levitating to Running Up That Hill, the series has been a full-on emotional and nostalgic rollercoaster. It gave us friendships to root for, monsters to fear, and one of the most loyal fan bases of our time.

But for all the love it gets and deserves, there is one thing this show has a habit of doing: forgetting its own storylines. Not the big ones, but the quietly important stuff. The weird clues that popped up in Season 1, the characters who vanished without explanation, and the wild twists that never got a follow-up.

And now, with Stranger Things Season 5 around the corner and the teaser finally landing, fans are buzzing with excitement. But also? A little wary. Because if this really is the end, we want answers. We need closure. Not just another season of cool shots and pop culture references.

So, here are all the lingering questions Stranger Things needs to answer before it wraps. And no, we are not letting it slide this time.

1. What even happened to Kali?

Remember when Eleven met Kali, aka Eight, back in Season 2? She had illusion powers, serious eyeliner, and a gang. Netflix gave her a full solo episode and then completely ghosted her. Did the writers change their minds mid-draft? She is clearly alive and important. If this is a show about powerful kids, and Kali was one of them, why is she missing from the narrative now?

Even if they do not bring her back in a major way, they owe us some kind of update. A mention. A flashback. Anything.

2. Why is the Upside Down frozen in 1983?

This was a huge detail that got slipped in like an afterthought. Nancy realises the Upside Down is stuck on the exact day Will went missing, November 6, 1983. That is not a small thing. That is the day this entire show began.

Why is time frozen there? Is it when Eleven first opened the gate? Did the dimension stop evolving after contact with our world? Or is it a clue to something even bigger? If they skip this, it will feel like a wasted opportunity.

3. Is Papa really gone?

We have seen Dr Brenner “die” before. This man has more fake deaths than a Marvel villain. Season 4 seemed to finally kill him off for good, but knowing how slippery he is, we are not betting on it. The man was manipulative, obsessed with power, and always had backup plans.

If he is actually dead, give us confirmation. Not just a fade-to-black and radio silence. If he is not, fine, but use him well. No more disappearing acts.

4. What happened to Dr Owens?

Owens was one of the few people at the lab who genuinely seemed to care. He helped Eleven. He stood up to the military. Then, in Season 4, he got handcuffed and… what? Did he die? Get rescued? Escape?

Nothing. Not even a line. Not even a Post-it note. He deserved better. And so did we.

5. What exactly is the Upside Down?

We have been walking through this creepy shadow realm since Season 1 of Stranger Things, and we still don’t know what it actually is. Is it a mirror of our world? A product of Eleven’s mind? A dimension that Vecna controls? The longer the show goes without explaining it, the more frustrating it gets.

This is the final season. Time to pull back the curtain. Give us lore. Give us answers. Not just cool visuals and growling monsters.

6. Why is Will still connected?

Will has always had a special link to the Upside Down. He feels Vecna’s presence, gets those cold shivers, and senses things before others do. But why? Was it because of the Mind Flayer? Did the dimension change him somehow?

Will’s been through hell since day one. If the show ends without explaining why he’s still carrying the weight, it will feel incomplete.

7. Why does it all go down in Hawkins?

There is a whole planet out there. Why is this small Indiana town the epicentre of every nightmare? Is the town sitting on a rift? Is it cursed? Did the lab choose it randomly? The answer has to be something more than “plot convenience”. This has gone on for too long to be a coincidence.

8. What is Vecna’s floaty red space?

You know the one. The creepy psychic realm where bodies float and memories get twisted. It is where most of Season 4’s horror played out. But the show never told us what it is. Is it a mind palace? A purgatory? A Vecna dreamland?

We need to know. Because it looks cool, sure, but what does it actually mean?

9. Were there more test subjects?

We have seen a few of the other kids Eleven grew up with. Some died. Some survived. But how many were there in total? Are there more out there? Did they scatter? Hide? Join the circus?

The lab did not just experiment on Eleven. There is a whole missing story here, and now is the time to close that chapter.

10. Why does music break Vecna’s curse?

Max’s moment with Running Up That Hill was one of the best scenes in Stranger Things. But… how did it work? What was the science behind it? Or was it just vibes and emotion? Everyone has been using music since then, like it is a potion, but we never got a real explanation.

11. Who was the first to open the gate?

We have always assumed Eleven created the gate to the Upside Down. But in Season 4, there were hints that it might have existed before her. Was Vecna responsible? Was Brenner lying? The origin of the gate is still fuzzy, and it deserves to be crystal clear now.