Now that Stranger Things season 5 is done and dusted, fans are going back to some of the series creators’ pre-season interviews, trying to work out which finale death the Duffer brothers were teasing as the most brutal of the whole series.
Warning, the following article contains spoilers for Stranger Things season 5 episode 8, so make sure you are all caught up before reading on, and check out our Stranger Things season 5 finale review first.
Before the final season of Stranger Things aired on Netflix, the Duffer brothers were not holding back in hyping up the sci-fi show. The directing duo told many outlets that fans should expect shocking twists and violent deaths. In an interview with The Times, Matt Duffer said, “I would say season five is not as violent as season four, but it has the most violent death of any season.”
When the interview first made its way online, fans were worried that the Duffers were alluding to one of the main characters horrifically meeting their end. The Netflix show wouldn’t be the first to end with a bang in that way. Who could forget that Game of Thrones ending? However, now that season 5 has aired, we know that no key heroes die apart from Eleven (maybe), so what did the Duffers mean by this?
One fan took to Twitter to ask that very question, with another fan replying, “You didn’t see Vecna get his head slowly chopped off?” That, of course, is referring to the unforgettable moment when Joyce Byers delivered the final blow to Vecna after Eleven pushed him onto a spike (you can read more on that in our Stranger Things season 5 ending explained). However, others argue that Vecna’s death was not as violent as Chrissy’s demise in season 4.
“You don’t think they were referring to El, do you?” asked another Twitter user, implying that the moment in question may be Eleven sacrificing herself by stepping back into the Upside Down and being blown up by Hopper’s bomb. But the issue with that is that we don’t actually see her die. The most violent death may actually be earlier in season 5, when Vecna pushed his claws into a soldier’s head and out through his eye holes. Unfortunately, until the Duffers confirm, the answer is uncertain.
The complete Stranger Things series is available to watch on Netflix now. For more, check out our guide to the best Netflix shows, and keep up with new TV shows.
