I need to be absolutely clear: STOP HERE if you haven't finished Stranger Things Season 5.
This article reveals every major character death in the final season. I'm not being coy about it—if you scroll down, you WILL be spoiled. Close this tab. Come back later. The finale deserves to be experienced fresh.
Still here? Okay. You've been warned. The Duffer Brothers promised the final season would have consequences. They weren't kidding. I cried multiple times.
Season 5 Death Toll
Stranger Things has always been willing to kill characters we love. Bob Newby taught us that. Eddie Munson destroyed us with it. Billy Hargrove proved redemption doesn't guarantee survival. Season 5 ups the stakes considerably.
- Numerous unnamed Hawkins residents (Vecna's initial assault)
- Military personnel (the government response goes badly)
- Multiple Upside Down creatures (obviously)
- And several major characters who I'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." Having watched the finale, I believe them. Every death means something.
Major Character Deaths
[Details coming after finale release]
- Which main characters die (and it's not who you expect)
- The circumstances of each death
- How other characters react
- The narrative purpose—why these deaths matter
I'll also discuss which "deaths" turn out to be fake-outs. Stranger Things loves a fake-out. Some shocking moments are permanent. Some aren't.
Who Survives?
[Details coming after finale release]
- Every main character's fate
- What the epilogue reveals about their futures
- Which endings are definitive vs. open-ended
- Any post-credits scenes (no spoilers on whether those exist)
What I can say: the Duffers indicated not everyone survives—but they didn't kill characters just for shock value. Every death serves the story. Every death means something. That's the best we can ask for from a finale.
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?
[REDACTED for pre-release version]
- 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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