5 Theories We’ll Be Checking Off When Stranger Things Drops This Month

We couldn't get enough of the first instalment of the fifth and final season of Stranger Things. And with the next round of episodes hitting our screens on 26 December at 12pm, we've pulled together what you should know about Season 5, and the most unhinged fan theories you’ll want to be across before you buckle in for ep five. 

What We Know About Stranger Things Season 5 So Far

Stranger Things Season 5 Episode Titles:

Episode 1—The Crawl

Episode 2—The Vanishing Of ___ (the name is currently mysteriously blurred out) 

Episode 3—The Turnbow Trap

Episode 4—Sorcerer

Episode 5—Shock Jock

Episode 6—Escape From Camazotz

Episode 7—The Bridge

Episode 8—The Rightside Up (hinting at what is hopefully a happy ending). 

Your Wildest Fan Theories For Stranger Things Season 5

Since Stranger Things fans are some of the internet’s most inquisitive sleuths, we asked you what your biggest Season 5 theories are, including who survives, who carks it and who ends up together.  

Who Will Die?

The final season means the stakes are terminal. Every character could potentially be on the chopping block—not even Mike’s younger sister, Holly Wheeler, is safe.

Eleven, Hopper, Will and Max have already had a fake or near-death death, so there’s one camp that believes that they can't “die” again. However, another camp insists that for the Upside Down to be fully closed, either Elle or Will has to die, as they seem like anchors for the rift.

There’s also major talk that someone will sacrifice themselves to save another character—maybe Steve for Dustin, Jonathan for Will, or even Robin for Nancy. 

If this season follows the trend of the other seasons, a lovable side character will probably die too—Murray, we’re looking at you, chaotic energy and translating Russian can only get you so far. 

Will Will Lose An Eye?

A major circulating fan theory is that Will Byers will lose an eye. Evidence for this starts way back in Season 2 when the story of Phineas Gage is brought up, an American railroad worker who miraculously survived an accidental lobotomy when a pole pierced through his eye—the camera then pans to Will sitting in the classroom. 

This is also alluded to in a shot of Will returning to Hawkins in Season 4 when a pole obscures his eye. 

Alongside this, in the game Dungeons and Dragons—which features heavily throughout the show—the Eye of Vecna is an artifact that grants supernatural powers and can be won by removing one’s own eye.

The posters for Season 5 feature both Will and Vecna’s right eyes covered by shadow. So will Will lose his eye trying to defeat Vecna? We will see—but Will might not. 

Who Will Nancy End Up With?

Nancy Wheeler’s love life has taken some sharp turns throughout the seasons. While Steve was her first love, fans feel his life path no longer aligns with hers. And although Jonathan seemed better suited, their relationship hit rocky ground in Season 4, leaving room for anything to happen. 

We’re a fan of a growing internet theory “Team Namerson” AKA Nancy and Emerson College—a storyline centred around Nancy’s aspirations instead of boys. 

Wanna find out if the fan theories are true? Tune into Stranger Things Season 5 on Netflix from 12pm on 26 December 2025.

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Image: Supplied.