Students all around campus are getting excited for the fifth and final season of the Netflix juggernaut “Stranger Things” series, created by Matt and Ross Duffer — spoilers for all “Stranger Things” seasons ahead. 

Fans in particular are concerned about how the Duffer Brothers will wrap up the final season, the show’s romances, and the potential deaths of fan-favorites. 

Lauren Brookstein is a junior psychology and sociology major. Brookstein has high hopes for the potential of season five and addresses popular relationships on the show. 

“I want Hopper to live and Will’s mom. I want them to get married. I also don’t want Steve to die because I love Djo,” said Brookstein. 

Djo is Joe Keery’s music stage name, who plays Steve Harrington. His song “End of Beginning” went viral on TikTok in 2024. 

“Maybe they’ll be gay. Byler. Will’s so gay it’s so obvious, he’s queer. And that’s okay. I think he’s [Mike] maybe bicurious,” said Brookstein. 

“Byler” is a very popular ship of Will Byers and Mike Wheeler. It’s not canon, but Will has shown romantic feelings for Mike. The fandom is split on whether it should happen in season five. If it isn’t confirmed, it would be an odd choice to write a slow-burn rejection plotline for the gay main character of the series, in a show about outcasts set in the 1980s. 

Kieran Cameron, a junior English major, has strong feelings about the mistreatment of Will Byers in the series.

“I think Will deserves a villain arc. He’s been treated like shit by his family and his friends. The only time he had any sort of power was when he was being possessed, and the only time they actually cared about him was when he was being possessed. He’s one of my favorite characters,” said Cameron. 

Emma Ramirez, a junior radio, television, and film major, had many opinions about the show. Specifically, Eddie Munson, Steve Harrington, potential spinoffs, and Byler.  

“I don’t think Eddie should have died, I think he should’ve come back, but it did bring a lot of emotions to the show that I liked. Going into season five, I really hope that Steve makes it through because if Steve dies, I think I might cry really hard. He’s been on the brink of death the entire show,” said Ramirez. 

“I think they’re just going to announce at the end that they’re making one last movie. Like they did with ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty.’ That made me so upset,” said Ramirez. 

Ramirez isn’t alone in this opinion at all; many fans are skeptical that everything will be neatly tied up at the end of the show. 

“I used to be a big Mike fan, but like now he’s just kind of pissing me off. Mike Wheeler is gay, he’s heavily shipped with Will, and they should be together,” said Ramirez. 

Savannah Harper, a junior advertising major, kept it short and sweet in her opinions on the series. 

“I’d say that Vecna is hot, kinda,” said Harper. 

In regard to whether this was in monster or human form, Harper simply had this to contribute:

“Both,” said Harper. 

Austin Gargiule, a freshman music education major, saw a bit of the first season, but thinks “Stranger Things” has other impacts. 

“I think it’s sick that whenever you talk about tabletop RPGs, people feel like they can get into it, because they know it from a thing,” said Garguile. 

Martin Bass, a sophomore exploratory studies major, was worried for the fan-favorite with impeccable hair. 

“They can’t kill my baby [Steve Harrington]. I’m so scared for him. I want Steve to live. Steve deserves to live,” said Bass. 

Many, like Katie Lamaina, a sophomore vocal music education major, think Steve should get his happy ending. 

“Steve and Nancy should be together. Yes, I am, [a ‘Stancy’ fan] because I think Jonathan is a weirdo. Steve, where’s your hot ass?” said Lamaina. 

Steve and Nancy vs. Jonathan and Nancy has been a debate since season one. Who the Wheeler siblings will end up romantically is very much a part of online discourse. Lamaina, addressing other characters’ fates, brought up Mike. 

“I think that Mike’s a bad boyfriend. Just the fact that he was never able to reciprocate that Eleven was showing him back, even though it was just through letters. I think it’s a little bit of both [whether it’s intentional that he’s a bad boyfriend]. I wasn’t sure what audience I was talking to. I think Mike and Will are gay for each other,” said Lamaina. 

Ella Forchic, a sophomore vocal education major, had various hot takes on the show. 

“My hot takes, Mike– piece of shit, but that’s just because he’s a closeted gay man and misogynistic. He takes it out on Will. He’s just in heavy denial because he loves Will,” said Forchic. 

“I’m excited to see Caleb McLaughlin. I think he’s hot, what can I say? I love his character’s storyline with Max, and I think they have a really beautiful connection.” 

The relationship between Lucas and Max is another fan-favorite. There’s not as much debate about it, as it’s not a love triangle. It’s up in the air whether Max will be able to wake up from her coma, to join Lucas for their movie date proposed in season four. 

The fifth and final season of “Stranger Things” has three set release dates. Volume one will be released Nov. 26. Volume two will be released Dec. 15. The Finale will be released Dec. 31. 

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