The creators of Stranger Things, Matt and Ross Duffer, have a clear message for fans expecting a bloodbath in the series finale: this is Hawkins, not Westeros. As the global phenomenon prepares to conclude with a super-sized finale episode on December 31, the showrunners have openly addressed years of criticism and jokes about their reluctance to kill off main characters, firmly stating they reject the “shock value” approach of other major series.
In interviews surrounding the final season, the Duffer Brothers explained that their writing philosophy prioritizes emotional realism and character repercussions over satisfying audience “bloodlust”. While major deaths have been discussed and even narrowly avoided for characters like Jim Hopper and Max Mayfield, the creators insist any character’s end must feel earned and meaningful to the story’s core themes of friendship and growing up.
The “Hawkins, Not Westeros” Philosophy
The comparison to Game of Thrones has followed Stranger Things for years, intensifying after star Millie Bobby Brown publicly joked that the Duffer Brothers were “sensitive sallies” who needed to adopt a more ruthless mindset. The creators have consistently pushed back against this comparison, drawing a clear line between the brutal, political fantasy of Westeros and the coming-of-age story they are telling in 1980s Indiana.
“We aren’t Game of Thrones. This is Hawkins, it’s not Westeros,” Matt Duffer stated on the Happy Sad Confused podcast. “The show becomes not Stranger Things anymore because you do have to treat it realistically, right?”.
He elaborated that killing a central character like Mike Wheeler would fundamentally alter the show’s tone, making it “depressing” and shifting the entire narrative focus to grief. For the Duffers, maintaining the show’s identifiable spirit—a blend of supernatural horror, suburban adventure, and deep camaraderie—is more important than artificially inflated stakes.
Why Key Characters Were Spared
The creative team has revealed that two characters in particular came closest to permanent deaths: Police Chief Jim Hopper and Max Mayfield.
- Jim Hopper (David Harbour): At the end of Season 3, Hopper had a full death scene and emotional aftermath, only to be revealed alive in a Russian prison in Season 4. The Duffers admitted it was “hard to let go of that character” and felt he still had more story to tell. His fake-out death remains one of the show’s most debated choices.
- Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink): In Season 4, Max was left in a coma after her battle with Vecna. The creators seriously considered killing her but decided against it. They felt that having her go through an entire season of trauma and growth only to die would “defeat the purpose” and, in their words, “feel mean”.
The show has not been without tragedy, but its most impactful deaths have largely been reserved for beloved characters introduced within a single season, such as Bob Newby, Barb Holland, and Eddie Munson. The Duffers argue that these losses still carry significant weight, deeply affecting the core group. They specifically noted that Eddie’s death in Season 4 will continue to resonate throughout the final season.
Fan Reactions and Finale Expectations
With the release of Season 5, Volume 2 on Christmas Day, fan anticipation has reached a peak. Many viewers have taken to social media to express a mix of anxiety and frustration that no major characters have died yet, questioning the show’s stakes as the final battle approaches.
Fans have speculated intensely about who might not survive the finale, with Steve Harrington (Joe Keery) being a frequent subject of theories. The Duffers have playfully stoked these theories, with Matt noting that after Steve repeatedly gets brutally beaten, “the only way we could take it further is death”. However, they have also firmly tempered expectations.
“I can promise you it’s not a ‘Red Wedding’ situation, like from ‘Game of Thrones,’” Ross Duffer told TODAY.com. “We’re not gonna wipe out eight of our characters”.
The brothers emphasized that while the finale will contain surprises, they are not aiming to shock or upset their audience. Instead, they hope the ending feels “inevitable” and “satisfying,” providing a proper emotional conclusion to an epic story.
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The Stakes for the Final Episode
As the series prepares to end, the narrative stakes are higher than ever. The final episode, titled “The Right Side Up,” will stream on Netflix and play in select theaters on New Year’s Eve. Volume 2 revealed that Eleven’s biology, derived from Vecna’s blood, makes her a target for those who would create more super-powered weapons. This presents a profound dilemma: can she truly have a happy ending, or does saving the world require the ultimate sacrifice?
The Duffers have posed this question directly: “How can there be a happy ending here? That’s the question going into the finale”. This suggests that while a massacre is off the table, the finale may still involve profound and costly choices for its heroes, staying true to the show’s emotional core rather than relying on sudden violence.
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