STRANGER THINGS Star Feels Final Season Would Benefit From More Characters Being Killed Off

STRANGER THINGS Star Feels Final Season Would Benefit From More Characters Being Killed Off

Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin Henderson) has echoed the sentiments of a lot of fans, and believes that the fifth and final season of Stranger Things should be more ruthless with its main characters...

By MarkCassidy - Feb 13, 2024 10:02 AM EST
Filed Under: Stranger Things
Source: Via FearHQ.com

With one more season of Stranger Things to go, we're sure to lose at least one major character before the end... right?

Over the course of its 4-season run, the phenomenally successful sci-fi/horror series has killed off a few supporting players, and while these individuals were certainly well-liked - Shannon Purser’s Barb in season 1 and Joseph Quinn’s Eddie Munson in Season 4, for example - the show's core heroes have (so far) managed to avoid being taken out by the various horrors of the Upside-Down.

This is not to suggest that they've all emerged unscathed (just ask Sadie Sink's Max), but the series has been accused of playing it a bit safe, and it seems some of the cast members would agree.

While appearing at a panel at Mega Con Orlando, Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin Henderson) was asked what changes, if any, he would make to the show.

“It might sound messed up, but we should kill more people,” Matarazzo responded. “This show would be so much better if the stakes were much higher, like at any moment, any of these kids can kick it. I feel like we’re all too safe.”

Back in 2022, Maya Hawke (Robin Buckley) said something similar in relation to her own character potentially getting a noble send-off in the upcoming fifth and final season.

“I would love to die and get my hero’s moment,” she told Rolling Stone. “I’d love to die with honor, as any actor would. But I love the way that the Duffer Brothers love their actors. The reason that they write so beautifully for me and for everyone else is because they fall in love with their actors and their characters, and they don’t want to kill them. I think that’s a beautiful quality that they have, and I wouldn’t wish it away.”

We don't necessarily want to see any of these guys meet their maker, but nor do we see everyone making it to the end of the final season, so Hawke might just get her wish!

Season 5 of Stranger Things is expected to consist of eight episodes, with the first confirmed to be titled "The Crawl". No premiere date has been announced, but the show was set to return to our screens early next year prior to the delay. It may still arrive before the end of next year, but there's a slim chance it won't be ready until 2026.

Filming recently resumed after the strikes were resolved, and you can check out a behind-the-scenes photo of the cast below.

In the season 4 finale, Eleven and her friends managed to defeat the evil entity known as Vecna, but at great cost. Eddie was killed (there's been some speculation that he might return, but we're not buying it), and Max was left blind, broken and in a coma.

Vecna - who was ultimately revealed to be the deranged Henry Creel - was vanquished, but It was only a temporary victory, as the concluding moments of the episode confirmed that dark forces in the Upside-down are amassing for what will almost certainly be a massive final battle.

Are you up to date with Stranger Things? If so, what do you hope to see from this final season?

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WhatIfRickJames
WhatIfRickJames - 2/13/2024, 10:18 AM
Wholeheartedly agree. Kill a bunch of them.
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 2/13/2024, 11:14 AM
@WhatIfRickJames - end the show with the leads being killed. That would be ballsy.
Rastarapha
Rastarapha - 2/13/2024, 12:46 PM
@lazlodaytona - Dustin or Steve...
UrbanTheEmcee
UrbanTheEmcee - 2/13/2024, 10:22 AM
Been saying this. They only write new characters to kill them off.
F*ck Barb, justice for Eddie and Bob.
Clintthahamster
Clintthahamster - 2/14/2024, 9:33 AM
@UrbanTheEmcee - Come on, Barb was great.
Origame
Origame - 2/13/2024, 10:28 AM
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Slotherin
Slotherin - 2/13/2024, 10:34 AM
It would help the stakes and all... As someone else pointed out they only seem to kill new characters.
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 2/13/2024, 11:13 AM
I made it through one season. It was alright. Couldn't get passed season 2 episode 1. I was done with this show. I Will never understand the popularity of it.

Are you all still into it or has the nostalgia worn out?
WhatIfRickJames
WhatIfRickJames - 2/13/2024, 11:16 AM
@lazlodaytona - the show is basically a snapshot of my childhood so the nostalgia is high, last season especially
HammerLegFoot
HammerLegFoot - 2/13/2024, 11:21 AM
@WhatIfRickJames - Geez you are old
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 2/13/2024, 11:23 AM
@HammerLegFoot - hey! I grew up in the 80s as a kid :D
mountainman
mountainman - 2/13/2024, 11:23 AM
@lazlodaytona - The second season was the worst one by far. And the nostalgia is still strong, but the show isn’t as good as all the hype it gets. I’m just sticking with it out of habit at this point.
HammerLegFoot
HammerLegFoot - 2/13/2024, 11:24 AM
@lazlodaytona - lol I came right at the end in 88
Scarilian
Scarilian - 2/13/2024, 11:24 AM
Eleven and Will have a connection to the Upsidown that needs to be severed and killing off them would make the final season feel like it's actually the final season, because those two were the foundation of the story being told when it started.

Jonathan has unfortunately been treated poorly the past season so I expect he's just around for a heroic act to protect Nancy at which point it frees her up to get back with Steve who has now matured as a character.

Argyle has kinda just been there and feels like he's here to be killed off by a monster.

Robin's whole rushed relationship with a brand new character, Vickie, along with her generally being paired with Steve makes me imagine they intend to kill off Robin.

Murray going out with a blaze of glory seems about right for his character, finally having his theories be proved real and with the potential for retaliation from the human factors in the story.

Joyce has always felt like a character where tragedy happens around her, but in this case I think it's going to happen to her considering the amount of times they've baited Jim dying they couldn't kill Jim.

Sam is the last aspect of the Nina Project left to be cleared up, killing him off would provide a finality.

So, ideally:
• Eleven
• Will
• Jonathan
• Argyle
• Robin
• Murray
• Joyce
• Sam Owens

Leaving the group as:
• Mike
• Max (Who will be recovering and support Mike mentally)
• Lucas
• Erica
• Dustin
• Suzie
• Jim
• Steve
• Nancy

I don't imagine the creators actually having the balls to do the homosexual endings they have been teasing with certain characters so killing them off seems an easy way to avoid that, though naturally would fall into the 'bury your gays' trope.
ReverseFlasher
ReverseFlasher - 2/13/2024, 12:31 PM
@Scarilian - will, jonathan, robin, and Murray make most sense to me, mostly for the reasons you stated.

For Will, his whole thing has always been tragedy, and after his arc last season admitting to loving Mike, I see a tragic sacrifice in his future to allow eleven and Mike to live and be together in the end.

Also I think the actor who plays Argyle confirmed he wasnt asked back for the new season.
Taonrey
Taonrey - 2/13/2024, 1:04 PM
@Scarilian - from what I understand Argylle isn't even returning
Taonrey
Taonrey - 2/13/2024, 1:04 PM
@ReverseFlasher - nah they won't kill Will after the Gay reveal lol not in this climate. He's safest character there
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 2/13/2024, 2:38 PM
@Scarilian - If some characters die, it's probably not gonna be anyone from the S1 cast but instead (again) secondary characters.
Scarilian
Scarilian - 2/13/2024, 6:59 PM
@ReverseFlasher -
@Taonrey -
In regards to Argyle, did not realize he was not returning. If so it'll just be Jonathan as they seem to have made the decision to try and pair Nancy with Steve and having Jonathan accept that might be something I guess.

@Taonrey -
I can see them doing so and doing it in a way where Mike states that he always wanted to tell him something but never managed to. At most an 'I love you' or 'Kiss' if they are feeling daring. Actually developing a homosexual romance and handling it well is beyond the grasp of these writers.

I've also seen this dynamic play out in quite a lot of media, most notably the BBC Sherlock fanbase where they spent several seasons baiting that segment of the fanbase. It's a common practice nowadays because they get all the praise/attention without putting in any effort to actually write a realistic portrayal of the characters as having an attraction.

@bkmeijer1 -
I'd generally agree, but they seemed to be quite clear with last season that the nature of the Upsidown is permanently tied to Will and Eleven. As long as they remain, alive/in this world, then the Upsidown will always be able to bleed into this side of reality.
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 2/14/2024, 2:05 AM
@Scarilian - that's a good point. Either they gotta sever the connection, or they indeed gonna die.

I kinda forgot though, so wasn't it Eleven who created the Upsidedown? Or was it just a portal she opened
Order66
Order66 - 2/13/2024, 11:28 AM
How about no.
JustAWaffle
JustAWaffle - 2/13/2024, 11:48 AM
I love this show. It has its flaws but it’s an amazing mix of genres and tasteful call backs.

I agree a few could die off in season 4, but it would have to fit the story with the imagination piqued for what happens after it all ends. That said Eleven sacrificing herself to save her friends would be the best one to bite it to save her friends.
Deklipz
Deklipz - 2/13/2024, 12:02 PM
TPK during the final battle.
Rastarapha
Rastarapha - 2/13/2024, 12:45 PM
Main ones, I hope
LSHF
LSHF - 2/13/2024, 1:23 PM
Then more potential buyers of home media will have more reasons NOT to buy the last reason! Duh!!!

She's probably thinking the story would benefit, but it will effect the sales. And this is a business.
LSHF
LSHF - 2/13/2024, 1:24 PM
@LSHF - Hell, I even know a couple of people who lost a lot of interest in the MCU after Stark died.
NinnesMBC
NinnesMBC - 2/14/2024, 12:39 AM
Be careful what you wish for, Gaten.
TheOtherOn
TheOtherOn - 2/14/2024, 10:25 AM

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