STOP HERE if you haven't finished Stranger Things Season 5.
This article reveals every major character death in the final season. We're not being coy about it—if you scroll down, you will be spoiled. You've been warned.
The Duffer Brothers promised the final season would have consequences. They weren't kidding.
Season 5 Death Toll
Stranger Things has always been willing to kill characters we love—Bob Newby, Eddie Munson, and Billy Hargrove proved that. Season 5 ups the stakes considerably as the final battle for Hawkins claims both heroes and villains.
- Numerous unnamed Hawkins residents (Vecna's initial assault)
- Military personnel (government response)
- Multiple Upside Down creatures (obviously)
- And several major characters who we'll break down below
The Duffers have said they approached Season 5 deaths asking "what serves the story" rather than "who can we afford to lose." That philosophy shows.
Major Character Deaths
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- Which main characters die
- The circumstances of each death
- How other characters react
- The narrative purpose of each death
We'll also discuss which "deaths" turn out to be fake-outs and which shocking moments are permanent.
Who Survives?
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- Every main character's fate
- The epilogue reveals
- Open-ended conclusions vs. definitive endings
- Post-credits scenes (if any)
For now, we can note that the Duffer Brothers have indicated not everyone survives—but also that they didn't kill characters just for shock value.
Death in Stranger Things: A History
To understand Season 5's deaths, let's remember who the show has lost before:
Season 1: Barb Holland (the death that launched a thousand "Justice for Barb" campaigns), Benny Hammond
Season 2: Bob Newby (Sean Astin's beloved character), the Hawkins Lab scientists
Season 3: Billy Hargrove (redemption through sacrifice), Alexei (too pure for this world), multiple Hawkins residents absorbed by the Mind Flayer
Season 4: Eddie Munson (the fan favorite who deserved better), Jason Carver, Fred Benson, Chrissy Cunningham, Patrick McKinney, various Hawkins Lab children (in flashbacks)
The pattern shows Stranger Things values meaningful deaths over survival. Characters who die usually do so protecting others or as consequences of their choices. Season 5 follows this tradition.
What Happens to Vecna?
The ultimate question of Season 5: does Vecna die?
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- Vecna's final fate
- Whether his death (if he dies) is permanent
- The implications for the Upside Down
- Any sequel-baiting left open
The Duffers have confirmed Stranger Things is ending with Season 5, but that doesn't mean every thread will be tied up. Some mysteries may remain.
When We'll Update This Article
This article will be updated in stages:
Volume 1 Release: Initial deaths and speculation Volume 2 Release: Complete death list and analysis Post-Finale: Full breakdown with epilogue information
Bookmark this page and check back as Season 5 drops. We'll have complete coverage within hours of each volume's release.
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