We’re looking forward to the long-awaited premiere of Stranger Things’ final season with a mixture of excitement and dread; the former since it’s sure to be a thrill ride, the latter since it’s a thrill ride that (as all of them must) is going to end. But the Duffer Brothers’ Netflix hit can still do a few things in its last episodes to dull the sting of our having to say goodbye to characters we’ve known and loved since 2016.
We don’t mean theoretically, either. We’ve literally made up a list of the seven plot twists that the 1980s-set series needs to turn out before it signs off in order to leave us well and truly satisfied. We’re not even being unreasonable and asking that the kids still look like kids. (My, how they’ve grown; see for yourself in TVLine’s then-and-now photo gallery.) We’re only angling for a sense of resolution here and there, squinting to see a glimmer of hope…
Oh, and yeah, there’s one couple that we’re surprised to discover that we really, really want to break up.
You’ll understand why we’ve turned into match-breakers when you scroll through our Season 5 wish list below. When you’re done, hit the comments with the moments you’re most dying to see in the show’s swan song.
Though Eduardo Franco wasn’t invited back for Season 5, we’d still like to know that our favorite pothead is high on life. Maybe we could get at least a throwaway line from Jonathan to say that his buddy left Hawkins for Salt Lake City in hopes of wooing crush Eden?
Broken home. Abusive brother. Dead abusive brother. Max has been through more than enough over the course of Stranger Things. So it would be beyond cruel to leave her in limbo, especially right when it was looking like she and Lucas would reunite.
As beautiful a moment as it was in Season 4, when Dustin told his pal’s uncle what a hero he’d been, we want more. Perhaps when the dust settles, Murray could write an exposé about what really happened to Hawkins — and its unlikely martyr.
Maya Hawke may have mixed feelings about the show pursuing her character’s crush on the Molly Ringwald lookalike. But we 100-percent want to get a peek at the happy new beginning that awaits Steve’s bestie once Vecna’s reign of terror is in rearview.
We’ve cried right along with Jonathan’s kid brother as he’s struggled with his sexuality. So, in addition to seeing Will lead the charge against Vecna, we’re hoping that we’ll get a hint that he won’t for much longer be the odd man out in his friend group.
Sorry, Jonathan. But Steve’s redemption arc has been so long and so successful that our rooting value has shifted to Nancy’s ex. And not for nothing, but before his untimely passing, even Eddie suggested that she still loved Steve, too.
They’ll no doubt be too busy for romance while battling the erstwhile Henry Creel. However, if we get flash-forwards to the aftermath of the assault on Hawkins, we’d happily RSVP “yes” to a front-row seat at the sweethearts’ nuptials.
I’m on the fence regarding Nancy and Steve. Steve has done a lot of things right, but Jonathan still hasn’t really done anything wrong, so I can’t picture Nancy just dumping him.
I could see three situations that could pave the way to a reunion:
1) Jonathan dies (heroically)
2) Jonathan makes some sort of drastic/unforgivable choice that fundamentally changes how we see him
3) Jonathan and Nancy have a mature conversation about how they’ve grown apart and are headed in different directions
Yes! I absolutely want Steve/Nancy to circle back with the show ending.
8) Episodes that aren’t ridiculously long.
(It took me forever to finally finish the last season, because I didn’t want to sit through 2+ hour-long episodes. My wife’s already given up on the show.)
You could also just pause the episodes and not commit to a full one at a time if it’s too long. They already said last season are basically all movies. I do agree they are a bit long last season, but it’s not changing
True, it was just a wish on my part.
I’ll likely skip the final season.
100% agree with you. Those episodes were movies not a television show.
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Will grows up to date Milo Yiannopoulos
Steve and nan y reunion can’t wait and hope they’re the end game 🙏🙏🙏plsss
I am only on season two episode five, and damn this series is a difficult chore to get through. I keep hoping it gets better, but it is just stuck on suck for whatever reason. I don’t begrudge people for liking it, whatever floats their boat, but I just can’t seem to get into it.
Bridgerton is a snooze. With all of the dancing, the episodes just seem to run together. There isn’t a lot of there, there.
I am only on season two of Game of Thrones, and am struggling with that, because I can only watch so much violence before I get turned off by it.
The fact that this guy keeps switching to shows the article isn’t about and trashes those too suggests he is not real. Yes, there’s such a thing as AI bots built to sow conflict in comment sections. Ignore ol’ Spanky.
Will finally gets a better haircut.
7) I dunno, Argyle was quite the divisive character among the fanbase. Also his actor says he wasn’t invited back for Season 5.
6) I really don’t know where the whole thing with Max is going (which is a good thing; you don’t want to be predictable) but I hope it’s a good ending for her as well. In real life recovery from such an injury would be impossible, but this is NOT a realistic show! Heal, Max, heal!
5) I doubt it, as much as I’d like it.
4) I think Robin needs a more interesting love interest than Vickie; she was barely there.
3) If anyone’s been treated worse than Max…Will needs some darn happiness for once in his life; I was disgusted that they gave him a crush on the most unavailable, committed male character in the series. Fix it and have him find his true love; it’s not too late.
2) Aha, I detect a Nancy-Steve bias! JK. All I know is Jonathan is almost as boring as Vickie.
1) This is the one thing I think is an absolute guarantee. There is no way a Hopper/Joyce wedding isn’t one of the final scenes.
The last thing Will needs is a boyfriend. This character is so traumatized and messed up in the head, essentially stuck as a 12 year old. THAT is the interesting arc with him. He should essentially be asexual at this point.
That said, it’d be kinda funny if they pulled a St Elmo’s Fire move and have him turn out not to be gay at all, after everyone just assumed he was for all this time. He’s been in love with Eleven all along 🤣