As the final chapter of the hit Netflix series Stranger Things unfolds, a chorus of discontent has emerged from its dedicated fanbase. The release of the second part of Season Five on Christmas Day, leading into the highly anticipated New Year's Eve finale, has left many viewers questioning the show's narrative courage, particularly its reluctance to kill off major characters.
Fan Frustration Erupts on Social Media
Following the Christmas Day drop of Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 2, fans swiftly took to social media platform X to express their bewilderment. A common thread in the discussion was the perceived lack of stakes, with many pointing out that no central character has met a permanent end since the first season.
"Not like I desire anyone to die but why is no one dying in Stranger Things," wrote one fan, capturing the sentiment of many. Another agreed emphatically, stating, "not one single main character has died since season 1. where's the stakes?!?!?!?" The anxiety is now squarely focused on the upcoming finale, with one viewer posting, "Im so scared for the last episode of Stranger Things. NO ONE HAS DIED YET WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN."
Criticism extended beyond just the survival rate. Some fans lamented the volume's writing, with one calling it "a massacre… not that anyone died because god forbid there’s any stakes in this show it was just written horribly." Another found the instalment "decent" but criticised "the constant expository dialogue" and the disappointing absence of a major death, warning that the finale must deliver.
The Duffer Brothers Defend Their Vision
The show's creators, Matt and Ross Duffer, have directly addressed the expectation for a bloodbath finale. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Matt Duffer made a clear distinction between their series and other famously ruthless shows. "It’s not Game of Thrones. We’re not in Westeros," he stated. "I love Game of Thrones, but it’s just a very different type of show than that. There’s not going to be a Red Wedding situation."
He emphasised that while the finale will contain surprises, shock value is not the goal. "I think some things happen in the finale that are very surprising, but we’re not trying to shock or upset anyone," Matt continued. "I hope by the time people get to the end of the finale that it just feels like there’s something inevitable about what happens, and that it doesn’t feel painful but feels satisfying."
The brothers also touched on rampant fan theories regarding the fate of fan-favourite Steve Harrington, played by Joe Keery. Speculation intensified after suggestive dialogue in a season trailer. Matt acknowledged the logic, saying, "As for Steve’s fate. I don’t know. I can’t say. It would be the next logical step. He keeps getting beaten up more and more. The only way we could take it further is death."
The Final Countdown Begins
Despite the online debate, the Duffer brothers expressed confidence in their ending. Ross Duffer added, "We feel really happy with how the show ended up." The first two volumes of Stranger Things’s final season are currently available for streaming on Netflix. The saga will conclude with a super-sized finale episode, which will premiere on the platform and in select cinemas across the country on 31 December 2025.
As the clock ticks down to the series' conclusion, the central question remains: will the finale provide the satisfying, high-stakes resolution fans are craving, or will the show maintain its core ensemble intact to the very end?
