The fourth season of Stranger Things had a brilliant ending that left us dazzled. At the same time, it opened the doors to a, yes, fifth and final season. An event that will culminate the journey of the series as a television milestone. The announcement was made official through the publication of a letter written by the Duffer brothers, creators of the series, where they explained:

“Seven years ago we planned the entire story arc for Stranger Things. At the time we predicted that the story would last between four and five seasons. It became clear that it was impossible to tell everything in four, so, the fourth season will be the penultimate; the fifth will be the final .” Netflix’s flagship production not only became a mass phenomenon. Also, in a before and after of contemporary pop culture, which will try to continue as much as possible, through a possible spin-off.

From his ability to analyze the historical fact of entertainment as a set of references, to create iconic moments for the collective memory. The production advanced towards new terrains that surprise for its possibilities and especially for the doors, it opens towards narrative places. But, in particular, the future fifth season will have the responsibility to delve into the main concepts of the series. If anything keeps Stranger Things interesting, it can retain the essentials of its approach. That’s despite lower pacing moments and the frequent accusation that the core formula of its premise is beginning to wear thin. But if the third season was disappointed precisely by clumsily facing the narrative difficulties of a series with a simple approach, the fourth recovered in full form.

It was not only the most ambitious bet to date but also the most compact, best structured, and linked to emotion. At the same time, it managed to create the immediate feeling that the world of the series is beginning to prepare to fragment. With the announced spin-off as an insistent rumor about the future of the series, the fifth season of Stranger Things will have to go through all the known elements of its mythology to generate a universe that can be sustained without its best-known characters. Or at least most of them. Will you be able to get it?

For now, the only thing clear is that the fifth season of Stranger Things will probably be an event on a colossal scale for Netflix. What can we expect from the last embers of a story that matured with its audience? Will there be a definitive change in the way of presenting its narrative core? We tell you the three probable scenarios that can narrate the upcoming last installment of Stranger Things, perhaps two years away.

In the fifth season, the struggle would extend beyond Hawkins

During the last two episodes—dubbed “volume 2” —of Stranger Things season four, there were a fair amount of hints as to what could be expected in season five. Especially in Nancy’s chilling recounting of the vision, Vecna tormented her while she was held captive in her power. “I saw the darkness. Armies of monsters, approach through that darkness, “explained the character. Which makes it clear that there is a considerable probability that the fifth season narrates a new dimension of the events that occurred in Hawkins.

Later, Martin Brenner explained to Eleven the possibility that if Vecna is not stopped, an unimaginable tragedy will most likely occur. In the character’s words, the villain’s ability to open portals on his own weakened the boundaries between the upside-down world and the real world. What, in addition, would trigger unprecedented destruction that would destroy everything in its path. Something that Dr. Wells came to announce in the first chapters of the season, explaining to Eleven the danger that was coming. “It can wipe out life as we know it,” he explained. In addition, he pointed out that the risk was much greater and closer than anyone supposed.

Finally, the most obvious indication that the supernatural events of Hawkins will cease to be local, came from an unexpected place. In the ninth episode of the fourth season, Vecna dedicates a long monologue to explain to Eleven the nature of the reverse. Especially how he created through his power a terrifying dimension filled with creatures. And that he has always been the one who causes everything that happens in the dark dimension. Specifically, the villain details his immediate plans. “Once I destroy Hawkins, I will destroy the entire world and with the pieces, I will build something new and beautiful.”

Given the terrifying landscape of the season finale, a full-scale attack on Vecna will most likely be impossible to prevent. After all, the vision of darkness spreading around the town is very similar to the one narrated by Nancy. As if that wasn’t enough, with what looks like the shadow of The Mind Flayer rising, it’s clear that Vecna’s power is greater. Or at least, that the injuries he sustained at the hands of Hawkins’ gang barely stopped him on what seemed like an accelerated march to destruction.

With the story turned into an epic battle between good and evil, the production could analyze a wide scenario. One that includes defeating Vecna spectacularly and completely, in a fight that becomes more than just a series of curious and focused events.

Season 5 of Stranger Things features Eleven as the show’s quintessential superheroine

In several of the moments of the series, it was hinted that Eleven’s power is increasing. So completely and so quickly that, once his abilities are recovered, he is capable of destroying NINA’s structure and bringing down a helicopter. Also, the extent of his abilities allowed him to fight Vecna and triumph through Max’s mind.

In addition, Vecna - who controls the backhand – hinted that Eleven “is her equal”. Everything points to the fact that she most likely only used a fraction of her power. The fifth season could be the perfect scenario in which the character shows her total transformation.

To that? It’s still unclear how the writers will conceive of Eleven’s growing power. From having telekinetic powers to the ability to open portals, the character has gone through various phases in recent seasons. The current one includes a considerable increase in his gifts, including the rare power to restore life, as he demonstrated with Max. However, it seems to be a partial capacity. For now, Sadie Sink‘s character has survived, but her mind has been irreparably damaged.

Will we see an Eleven capable of “flying and moving mountains”, as Mike announced? Is there something more to the power to open and close portals that the character already showed? It is still not very clear the direction that it will follow, as the center of everything that happens in the series. But one thing is very clear: it is the only chance for success that Hawkins’ group has within their reach. Perhaps the world?

Are we going to see a significant time shift in the fifth season of Stranger Things?

One point of interest that the Duffer brothers have made clear is that the fifth and final season of Stranger Things will take a temporary step. That, despite the sense of imminent danger that he left in his wake in the last episode. But the truth is that there will be temporary changes in the next one. That could include the definitive separation of the group due to the destruction of the town.

But the important thing is that the series could lose part of its identity and above all, it would finally show the adult side of its characters. The latter is something that the series avoided during previous installments and that, for the fourth, was more complex than expected. With the premise of a group of children who analyze the inexplicable from naivety, maturity in Stranger Things is a complicated subject. However, the fifth season will make the inevitable journey to the first years of adulthood of its characters. Also, there is no choice, child actors become adults in front of the cameras, and it is impossible to hide it.

The question is how will they do it? In a short conversation in the last chapter, Nancy and Jonathan talked about their move to college. Which could provide a frame of reference for where the chronology of the series is headed. Will we see their characters five years in the future? With the end of the decade at hand and a total paradigm shift in every way, Stranger Things will have to rethink its origins. Will that be the core of the spin-off?

It is not very clear what will happen to the residents of Hawkins and his group of heroes who are still young but are no longer children. What is clear is that the destruction of the town left in its wake the immediate notion of the end of a long journey. And so start a bigger, broader, and perhaps more complex one. At the moment, Netflix has not announced the premiere date of the fifth and final season of Stranger Things.