BHS students had been eagerly awaiting Season 5 of Stranger Things, which features one of the most anticipated endings in recent years. 

Volume one, with four episodes, was released on Nov. 26. Volume two, with three episodes, will be released on Dec. 25. And the series finale will be released on Dec. 31. 

Many viewers have spent the three years of waiting guessing plot twists, arguing about theories, and growing up alongside the characters since Season 1 first dropped in 2016.

At the center of much of that excitement is Will Byers. Plenty of students say they want long-running mysteries resolved, especially the lingering questions about Will’s connection to the dark and mysterious universe of the Upside Down. 

Junior Orlee Steinberg is among those hoping that the final season will finally give the character the attention she believes he deserves.

“My favorite character in the show is Will Byers, and they’ve said several times that he’s gonna be the main focus of the season with a bunch of screen time and important moments,” Steinberg said. “I’m really excited to see that.” 

She also hasn’t forgotten the very first mystery that launched the series.

“We don’t really know a whole lot about what happens to Will during that week,” she said, referencing his disappearance in Season 1.

Beyond the story itself, Steinberg emphasized how deeply Stranger Things has influenced broader pop culture.

“They have a lot of influence over music and all these brands are pairing up with Stranger Things,” she said, pointing to the revival of ‘80s aesthetics that followed each season’s release.

Still, like the rest of the fanbase, she’s felt the strain of the long delay.

“It’s annoying, but I get it because the [new] episodes are very long,” she said. 

Yet she remains hopeful. 

“If they do it right, I think it could easily solidify the show as one of the best of all time,” she said.

While Steinberg’s attention is on Will, Senior Arnav Bokil is eager to see Eleven reach her full power.

“From the trailer that they’ve released, I see that Eleven uses a lot more of her powers,” he said. To him, Season 5 finally looks like the moment she becomes “a force to be reckoned with.”

Concerns about character deaths unite fans across grades. Sophomore John Henz voiced one of the most common fears in the fandom: the fate of Steve Harrington.

“I’m excited to see what happens to the main cast of kids,” he said. But he later admitted, “I don’t want Steve to die, but I know he will.”

John’s brother, Junior Ethan Henz, believes the show’s final chapter will raise the stakes beyond anything seen before, and that Hawkins may not survive.

“I think Hawkins is just gonna be completely just done for,” he said. He implores the writers to deliver a finale with real emotional impact.

“I hope they’re not afraid to kill people off,” he said.

Ethan Henz is also fascinated by the internal structure of the Upside Down, something he hopes the final season will finally clarify.

“I’m excited to see who’s more in command between Vecna and the Mind Flayer,” he said.

Senior Nao Okomato feels that Season 5 has been a long time coming, maybe too long.

“I think they’re pushing it like too much,” he said. “Season 4 came out when I was a freshman and now I’m already a senior.”

Like many of his peers, he’s bracing himself for heartbreak.

“Sadly I think Steve Harrington is going to die,” he said. “I have a feeling that Will could die, Mike might die, the fan favorites might die.”

Still, the mystery and uncertainty haven’t dampened enthusiasm. If anything, they’ve amplified it.

Even after watching the first four episodes, BHS students are sharing theories, debating what might happen, and guessing which characters will make it through. Mostly, they just want to see how the story ends and what happens to the characters they’ve been following since the beginning.