As Stranger Things gears up to come to an end, there are a lot of characters we want to see back but there are also some we do not need back next season.
Looking ahead to the final season of Stranger Things, there is a lot on our wish list. The thought of bringing this amazing show to an end with just a few more episodes is something that definitely has us anxious but we have faith that the Duffers will be able to do the show justice in closing out the story with an amazing final episode.
To close out this final chapter in the show’s story, we’re looking forward to the return of many favorite characters, particularly those who have been and remain at the center of the show’s core storylines. There are a lot of characters we want to see back to close out the show, but there are also some we do not need back next season.
Bringing back certain characters risks diluting the focus of the final season, potentially distracting from the core plotlines and character development that need closure. It’s important to consider which characters have served their purpose in the story and should gracefully bow out, and for us these particular characters really have no business being back for season 5.
1. Martin Brenner
From the beginning, Brenner has been one of the biggest antagonists on the show and played a major role across the series. He gave us a character we loved to hate and oh how we loved to hate him — after all, how can you not hate a scientist who kidnaps kids and then experiments on them?!
We had thought we bid farewell to Brenner way back in season 1 when it was assumed he died at the hands of a Demogorgon. However, he resurfaced in season 4 and ended up playing a large role in the season when he teamed up with Dr. Owens to try to help Eleven on her journey. In typical Brenner fashion, he took things too far again and tried to again which ultimately led to his demise… again.
When we last saw Brenner, he was fatally wounded in the desert and died alone after Eleven said her final goodbyes… or at least what should be her final goodbyes.
As much as we can see the draw of bringing Brenner back into the mix for the final battle against Vecna given his connection to Eleven and Vecna, it’s time we finally put Brenner behind us.
2. Billy Hargrove
Look, we get that people loved Billy but he has absolutely no business coming back for the final season of the show.
Billy’s arc was truly tragic. Yes, he was never a good guy, but he also was dealt a rough hand in life which helped us to understand why he was the way he was — not that we excuse his behavior in any way because we don’t.
Many were heartbroken when Billy was killed in season 3 and wished to see him back. Those fans got their wish in season 4 as Billy’s storyline played a large role in Max’s season 4 storyline, which allowed the writers to bring Dacre Montgomery back for what needs to be the final appearance from Billy.
3. Max Mayfield
Hot take incoming: Max should never have survived the season 4 finale. Now before you at me, no I wasn’t rooting for Max to die and her death in the finale was absolutely gut-wrenching. I too was sobbing as Max seemed to die in Lucas’s arms and it was a moment that made us really see the threat that Vecna posed.
And then the writers went and seemed to pull out their favorite card: a fake-out death.
Having Eleven save Max again gave into the audience’s biggest complaint about the show which is that the Duffer Brothers seem to be unafraid of actually upping the stakes and killing a main character. While Max is in a coma and technically not out of the woods, she shouldn’t even be a factor in the final season.
Max’s death would have helped to hit home just how serious of a threat Vecna is and that sometimes not every character is going to make it out alive.
4. Eddie Munson
This might be controversial to say, but we don’t need to see Eddie back in the final season of Stranger Things… at least not in any new scenes. It’s okay if the show wants to honor Eddie with flashback sequences, but we don’t need to see Eddie back in action in the final season and there is one big reason: Bringing Eddie back would cheapen his death.
Yes, I too hated the show’s decision to kill Eddie off. It was predictable and we’d seen this too many times before with a new character coming into the mix and paying the ultimate sacrifice to help the core group escape. However, there is no denying that Eddie’s death was one of the most heartbreaking and standout moments in the finale as it served as a redemption arc for the character.
To bring Eddie back would cheapen his hero’s death and the impact his sacrifice had on the rest of the characters, especially Dustin. We can honor him in the final episodes, but let’s not bring him back from the dead.