OH flips upside down: The return of Stranger Things

OH has flipped “upside down” as students prepare their Stranger Things predictions for the show’s return on Nov. 26 via Netflix for its fifth and final season.

“I saw the trailer. [It was] dropped a week or two ago [and] it looks good,” said OH English teacher Adam Gordon.

With the previous season being released over three years ago, audiences simply can’t wait for the show’s finale.

A seemingly endless wait

OH sophomore Aiden Lozano said, “I’ve waited three years. [I’ve been] anticipating [this], and I just want to watch it already!”

The prolonged wait for the finale has left some fans disinterested. “I kinda forgot about the show for a long time,” said Gordon.

However, to many, the wait is seen as a positive sign, showing the effort dedicated to the season’s preparation.

“I’m glad [there has been a wait.] I hate things that are rushed. I’m a Game of Thrones fan, [and] I don’t know how long they spent on that last season it felt rushed. I’m really hoping this feels anything but rushed, and I think we’re gonna get that,” said Ty Conrad, an OH student teacher.

For newer fans, the wait has been minimal.

Abby Valien, an OH sophomore, said, “Personally, I don’t have to wait that long because I just started Stranger Things three months ago.”

Student predictions for the finale

As the season finale approaches, fans everywhere are busy stirring up their very own Stranger Things predictions.

Some viewers are concerned about the show’s relationships and expect them to fall apart.

“I have a feeling that one of the relationships is going to have a very unhappy ending. I’m not sure who, and I don’t really want to think about it because I want them all to stay together, but I don’t think they’re all going to last in season five,” said Conrad.

However, some feel that new relationships will evolve.

“I think that Steve and Nancy are going to get together. There was a lot of chemistry [in season four,]” said OH junior Audrianna Flud.

For many viewers, there is a strong desire for a happy ending. “Max is going to wake up from her coma, and she and Lucas will be happy,” said Lozano.

Gordon said, “I want to see how they beat Vecna.”

Stranger Things is notorious for its emotional, impactful, and brutal deaths. With the new season approaching, the possibility of losing the audience’s favorite characters grows.

“Max was in the hospital when [season four] ended. 
She might die,” said Gordon.

Flud said, “I think that either Steve or Jonathan are gonna die or Murray… I just feel like everybody likes them, and they’re heroic.”

A recurring theme in Stranger Things is the selfless sacrifice of likeable characters for the greater good. With this, audience members highly anticipate sacrificial deaths from their on-screen favorites.

“Will is going to die… because he’s gonna sacrifice himself,” said Lozano.

Valien said, “My prediction is that Eleven is going to sacrifice herself.”

“Dustin will die because that is such an unexpected and painful loss… He’ll make the sacrifice,” said Conrad.

The gate closes for good

With its final season, Stranger Things promises an epic conclusion to the series, resolving the many mysteries and answering the audience’s questions.

We’ve seen only a few of the many theories that viewers have, and only the Duffer Brothers, the show’s directors, truly know how Stranger Things’ journey will unfold.

“I’m excited [to] see the plot and see how the characters all interact with each other,” said Flud with anticipation.