Stranger Things season 5 part 1 predictions: 5 things I expect to happen when the hit Netflix show returns

It's almost time to say goodbye to Stranger Things.

The fifth and final season of the incredibly popular Netflix show, which helped supercharge the platform's own success, will finally make its debut on November 26/27. And, while Netflix is only treating us to the first four episodes, aka volume 1, of Stranger Things season 5, they're bound to be full of major talking points.

Ahead of the supernatural sci-fi horror franchise's return, everyone has their own ideas of what'll happen – myself included. To that end, I've compiled a list of five things that I believe will happen in the first part of Stranger Things 5. So, grab some Eggos and your Walkman, and cycle over to my house (read: scroll on) to get my predictions for season 5 volume 1.

1. One of Stranger Things' key cast members will die

Stranger Things has always been an ensemble piece. Yes, some characters feature more prominently than others, but each season has boasted an array of main and supporting characters.

So, one of the best Netflix shows' final hurrah is no different. As I pointed out in my guide to Stranger Things season 5, over 20 actors – 21, to be precise – are confirmed to appear. That's not counting minor characters I'd expect to see again, too, which could take the roster count up to 30 stars.

With franchise creators/overlords Ross and Matt Duffer teasing that Stranger Things 5 will be the deadliest entry yet, it's inevitable that some characters will meet their end. And, while it's safe to assume that bit-part players are likely to perish in part 1, I think it would be far more impactful if one or two key characters die as well.

I imagine many of Stranger Things' core cast will make it to part 2, but it would be an emotionally devastating way to close out season 5 volume 1 with the death of, say, Joyce Byers, Jim Hopper, or even one of the kids.

If Netflix wants Stranger Things season 5 to dominate the news cycle and online discussions until season 5 volume 2 arrives in December, killing someone important would go a long way to achieving that goal.

2. Volume 1 will end on a cliffhanger

This might be an obvious prediction to make. However, if the Duffer brothers don't kill off a major player or two in episodes 1 through 4, the next best option to keep the conversation flowing between volumes is for volume 1's finale to end on a cliffhanger.

Think about it. Someone's in a perilous situation that they can't get out of, and just when you think they're about to meet their end, the screen cuts to black. Roll credits. Cue shocked expressions from viewers, with eyes wide and mouths agape, who've now got to wait a whole month to learn the outcome.

We've already glimpsed a potential cliffhanger moment involving Will and Vecna in Stranger Things 5's spoiler-y final trailer. However, I don't think this scene will be the final one we'll see in this season's fourth episode, mainly because of its appearance in said teaser. And, with Stranger Things season 5's eight episodes basically being movie-length events, we've only seen a fraction of this season's footage. There are countless unreleased sequences that could fit the cliffhanger bill instead.

3. We'll learn what Vecna's full plan is – and more about his past

It's clear that Vecna, aka Stranger Things' overarching villain, has an ax to grind with Eleven and her allies. It's also evident that the person formerly known as Henry Creel wants to punish the rest of the world for traumatic events that eventually led him to become the monstrous entity he is.

Yet there's plenty we still don't know about Vecna's master plan. Does he want to destroy the world and humanity? Or is he trying to convert it into a realm like the Upside Down? And why does he need Will Byers to help him achieve whatever his primary goal is?

It's also in the Duffers' best interest to reveal some crucial details about Vecna's past.

Fans who've seen the stage play prequel Stranger Things: The First Shadow will know more about Creel's backstory than those who haven't. To ensure Stranger Things 5 doesn't hit the big Marvel and Star Wars problem, it'll need to recap key moments from the play, preferably at some point in its first four episodes. Otherwise, some viewers might think they've missed crucial information from a previous season, and/or be confused about how Eleven and company know certain things about Vecna that weren't explained in past seasons.

4. A specific scene will go viral

It was inevitable that Stranger Things season 4 was going to be a big hit for Netflix ahead of its July 2022 debut. Even so, I don't think any executive on the streamer's payroll expected so many of its scenes to go viral.

Any sequence involving Joseph Quinn's Eddie Munson – his guitar-shredding final stand against the demo-bats and that 'Chrissy, Wake Up!' meme video to name just two – immediately springs to mind. So does that iconic scene depicting Max's escape from Vecna, i.e., the one set to the Kate Bush song 'Running Up That Hill' that achieved cultural phenomenon status after being streamed over 1 billion times on Spotify.

It seems inevitable, then, that Stranger Things 5 will have its own instantly meme-able and/or viral moments. Whether it's one set to Queen's 'Who Wants to Live Forever', aka the song used in Stranger Things season 5's official trailer, or a sequence that nobody expected to be a breakout clip, I bet there's a scene or two created with the aim of becoming the show's next viral incident.

5. A trailer for season 5 part 2 will be shown

Another easy observation to make, especially given Netflix's penchant for book-ending one volume of a show's latest season with a teaser for its next part.

Nonetheless, there's no better way of hinting at what's to come than showing a trailer for Stranger Things season 5 part 2 once volume 1's final end credits have rolled.

Sure, the world's best streaming service could wait a day or two, but Netflix knows what the people want – and, if you're anything like me, you'll want new footage to pore over once part 1 is over. After all, with a month to wait for episodes 5 to 7, we'll need a teaser to scour for clues about where the story will go next. Make it so, Netflix.

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