With the final episode of Stranger Things just hours away, dedicated fans of the Netflix phenomenon have unearthed what they are calling a deeply "concerning" clue in the show's last-ever trailer, sparking widespread fears about which beloved characters might meet their end.
The Final Countdown to Hawkins' End
The global hit series is set to conclude with the release of its fifth and final season's climactic episode, titled 'The Right Side Up'. For UK viewers, the end of an era arrives in the early hours of New Year's Day, with the episode landing on Netflix at 1am and running for an epic two hours and eight minutes. The long-awaited finale marks the conclusion of a story that began in 2016, with fans having waited since 2022 for this final chapter.
A Trailer Full of Tears and Omissions
The final trailer, released this week, serves as an emotional montage, revisiting the intense battles fought by Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) over the years. In a poignant voiceover, Jim Hopper (David Harbour) tells Eleven, "I need you to fight one last time... Let's end this, kid." The preview also shows Dustin Henderson (Gaten Matarazzo) mourning a serious loss, looking up in shock to utter, "Mother of God."
However, it was the trailer's omissions, rather than its inclusions, that sent the fanbase into a spiral of anxiety. Sharp-eyed viewers quickly took to social media to note the suspiciously minimal screen time—or complete absence—of several fan-favourite characters.
Fan Theories Run Wild Over Missing Characters
On YouTube and X (formerly Twitter), speculation is rife. One fan directly linked Dustin's distraught scene to a potential fate for Steve Harrington, commenting, "Dustin cry - Steve :(." Another stated plainly, "The lack of Steve in this trailer is concerning," with a third agreeing, "No Steve in the trailer is a straight sign."
Others expressed similar fears, with one viewer writing, "Dustin being held back while screaming makes me extremely concerned about Steve." The speculation wasn't limited to Steve; Mike Wheeler's scant appearance also raised red flags. One theory suggests, "I think Mike will die tbh... which will spark extra rage in El and Will."
Over on X, the concern was summarised by users pointing out the deliberate absences, with one posting, "2 people are suspiciously absent from this trailer," and another bluntly predicting, "Steve is not anywhere in most of the trailer. Unfortunately it looks like he died."
As the clock ticks down to the 1am release on New Year's Day, the Stranger Things fandom is braced for an emotional, and potentially heartbreaking, farewell to the world of Hawkins, Indiana.
