The first part of the final season of Stranger Things has arrived, bringing Vecna’s terrifying plan to the forefront of Hawkins. While the body count is rising, the initial episodes focus on establishing a grim new status quo and setting the stage for an epic conclusion. For fans worried about their favorite characters, the outcome so may be surprising.
Volume 1, consisting of four episodes, lays the groundwork for the ultimate battle, and though the streets of Hawkins are more dangerous than ever, the core group of heroes has managed to survive the initial onslaught.
A Body Count of Minor Characters
While no main characters from the original cast meet their end in Volume 1, the show does not hold back on violence and death. The casualties primarily consist of military personnel and minor figures who cross paths with Vecna’s forces.
The confirmed deaths in Volume 1 include:
- Lt. Colonel Jack Sullivan: The recurring antagonist from Season 4 meets a fiery end. While leading soldiers against the invading forces from the Upside Down, he is caught in a massive blast when Vecna turns a wall of fire meant for him back on the military.
- Lt. Robert Akers: This lieutenant, tasked with finding Eleven for Dr. Kay, is killed by Jim Hopper during a confrontation inside the military lab.
- A Military Platoon: A significant number of soldiers stationed in Hawkins are killed by Demogorgons and Vecna’s powers during the climactic attack.
- An Unnamed Scientist: A scientist working in Dr. Kay’s lab is tragically killed by friendly fire when soldiers mistake him for Hopper.
These deaths underscore the severe threat that Vecna poses not just to our heroes, but to every living person in Hawkins.
Close Calls for the Hawkins Crew
Although the main cast survives, several beloved characters find themselves in life-threatening situations, leaving viewers on the edge of their seats.
The Wheeler family suffers a brutal home invasion when a Demogorgon breaks in to kidnap Holly Wheeler. Karen Wheeler is viciously attacked and slashed by the creature’s claws, while Ted Wheeler is thrown through a wall after bravely charging the monster with a golf club. Both parents survive but are left badly injured and hospitalized.
Jim Hopper has another brush with death. After being shot during a mission, he later prepares to make the ultimate sacrifice. While infiltrating a military facility in the Upside Down with Eleven, he reveals a bomb vest, his “last resort” plan to create a diversion if the military tries to capture her. Fortunately, the situation is resolved without him needing to trigger the explosion.
The Precarious Fate of Holly Wheeler and Max
Two characters remain in particularly grave danger as Volume 1 concludes. Holly Wheeler, successfully kidnapped by Vecna, is trapped in a dual state of peril. Her physical body is held captive in one of the Upside Down’s spires, hooked up to a feeding tube alongside other abducted children. Simultaneously, her conscious mind is trapped in Vecna’s mental prison, a world he controls.
Also trapped in this same mental landscape is Max Mayfield. Although her real body remains in a coma after her Season 4 ordeal, her consciousness is now active inside Vecna’s mind. She manages to find Holly there, and the two form an alliance, potentially planning an escape from the inside that could be crucial to defeating Vecna.
A New Hero Emerges
Volume 1 ends with one of the biggest revelations in the series: Will Byers has developed telekinetic powers. After a tense confrontation with Vecna, who taunts him for being “easily broken,” Will channels his emotions and newfound self-acceptance. In an iconic moment, he unleashes a powerful blast that destroys several Demogorgons, saving his friends.
The show suggests that Will’s unique and long-standing connection to the Upside Down and Vecna has allowed him to harness this ability. Series co-creator Matt Duffer previously hinted that one of the earliest ideas for Season 5 was exploring what would happen if “Will were able to harness this connection and use it against our villains.” This transformation positions Will as a potential key weapon in the final battle.
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When to Expect the Final Episodes
The story is far from over. Netflix is releasing the final season in three volumes. Volume 1, which consists of four episodes, is now streaming. Volume 2, containing episodes five through seven, will be released on December 25, 2025. The series finale, Volume 3 (episode eight), will arrive on December 31, 2025.
The creators, the Duffer Brothers, have promised that the final episodes contain the most violent death in the show’s history, confirming that the stakes have never been higher for the residents of Hawkins.
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