Spoilers Stranger Things Season 5 - SPOILERS

[The Soloist]

I loved how 'natural' Will's coming out dialogue was. It felt like something a teen would say as opposed to an adult overwritten dialogue trying to sound like a teen. The performance was poignant.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I loved how 'natural' Will's coming out dialogue was. It felt like something a teen would say as opposed to an adult overwritten dialogue trying to sound like a teen. The performance was poignant.

He apparently lived with the script for a month and then just improv-ed it on the day of shooting, using his embarrassment at not coming out to his castmates before they read about it in the tabloids several years ago.

But yeah, it was really well done.

 

[Belen]

I enjoyed it although El is phoning it in this season.

I just kept wishing they would stop with the sorc stuff.

 

[payn]

Wrapping up a big series like this is very hard, as Lost famously showed. With one episode to go, I think the Duffer Brothers have done about as well as anyone could expect with wrapping things up well. (I do like that we finally got an explanation for how they all ended up at the radio station, via Max.) We'll see if they stick the landing.

I think everyone but the core kids is expendable -- they're repeatedly putting Karen Wheeler in danger of dying -- but I'm not convinced they'll kill any of the original crew.

Killing Will, Robin or Vickie would play into the very bad "kill your gays" trope, although Vickie otherwise has "killed by a monster" written all over her.

I think Steve and Dustin's "if you die, I die" pact certainly means we're going to come close, at least, to losing one or both of them, although given what Dustin has gone through after Eddie's death, that would be pretty cruel to do to him a second time. Likewise, Max and Lucas are probably safe, for the same reason, with Max probably getting her mobility back at a dramatically appropriate moment.

The science teacher -- whom they should have brought in on the secret at least a season or two ago -- is almost certainly dead meat.

Murray, who hasn't had much to do this season other than to deliver plot coupons, is probably going to be given one great final scene and exit the series in bloody fashion.

Kali almost certainly won't be making it out of this alive. I get the idea that we're supposed to be rooting against her, but she's not wrong with anything she's said so far.

Hopper and Eleven also seem to be in danger of not making it back to Hawkins, although Eleven being trapped in the Abyss once the Upside Down is destroyed also feels like an appropriate ending.

My bet is everyone makes it out except Hopper. Hes gonna have to sacrifice himself to stop Kali at the end. Its already been set up by him declaring hes gonna kill her the second she shows her hand...

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

My bet is everyone makes it out except Hopper. Hes gonna have to sacrifice himself to stop Kali at the end. Its already been set up by him declaring hes gonna kill her the second she shows her hand...

They've also explicitly said something similar with Steve and Dustin, though.

I'm betting we get at least a half-dozen deaths.

 

[payn]

They've also explicitly said something similar with Steve and Dustin, though.

I'm betting we get at least a half-dozen deaths.

Maybe, likely Hopper and anybody adjacent to the main cast. Though, Hopper and Mike living and El dying would be interesting.

 

[payn]

One thing ill say is folks are being pretty hyper critical of this final season. Maybe thats just my perspective as I havent taken this show that seriously since season 2. Its morphed from a sort of supernatural horror story to a young adult scooby doo weekly Rube Goldberg device thing. Which is fun in its own right. Im not too worried about plot holes or getting D&D-isms right. Just enjoying the ride.

One thing I will be critical of though is the "dip@#$% Derek" joke that has been beaten to death. Its obvious he will have a role in the end of turning things, which im sure makes the writers feel it makes up for the barrage of name calling this kid receives. Feels like they are just overworking it to death.

 

[Ryujin]

They've also explicitly said something similar with Steve and Dustin, though.

I'm betting we get at least a half-dozen deaths.

I felt like that telegraphed either Steve or Dustin, but not both. One watching helplessly, while the other dies.

 

[payn]

I felt like that telegraphed either Steve or Dustin, but not both. One watching helplessly, while the other dies.

It seems like they slowly been putting Steve on an island so its not too sad if he dies, though I think that would be very nasty to Dustin as has been mentioned. My guess is they team up and save each other to make it out by the skin of their teeth.

 

[payn]

Just read about Surfer Boy Argyle getting cut from the show. They said he was part of the California side story and that they wanted to focus just on Hawkins.

I'd buy that if they narrowed the focus back to the main group of kids. However, we got Murray, Rockin Robin and her GF Vicki, Wheeler mom, Holly Mike's sister, Delightful Derek, Science teacher, etc.. Seems like a pretty weak reason to leave out a really fun character.