The Stranger Things character everyone thinks is doomed in season 5 (and I’m worried)

I’ve been obsessed with Stranger Things since the very first season, and it's hard to believe that in just a week, the fifth and final installment will finally premiere on Netflix. As everyone gears up for the show's return, rumors and predictions have been circulating across the internet. Among all the speculation, fans are worried that one character’s storyline might be heading toward a tragic end. And if I'm being honest, I’m right there with them.

Fans believe that Steve Harrington might die in Stranger Things 5

Look, I don't want Steve to die, but I can’t ignore the mounting fan theories that suggest it might actually happen in Stranger Things 5. It all started when Netflix dropped the official trailer for the highly anticipated fifth season. For casual viewers, you might have watched the 2 minutes and 54 seconds trailer and thought, “Okay, just another thrilling season." But for longtime fans, every frame felt loaded with tension, heartbreak, and foreshadowing.

What really stood out and led fans to believe Steve might not make it through the season was his barely visible appearance in the trailer. Unlike some of the other main characters, who are shown front and center, facing monsters or taking action, Steve appears only fleetingly. Two particular short clips in the trailer really had my radar going off. One shows Steve tightly hugging an emotional Dustin.

Could he be hugging Dustin because he’s about to put himself in harm’s way to protect him and the others? It wouldn't be the first time that Steve has risked everything for the kids. From battling Demogorgons in the early seasons to facing down other countless dangers in Hawkins, Steve has repeatedly shown that he’ll put himself on the line to keep others safe.

Then, there's the other clip showing Nancy washing her bloody hands in a sink. Everyone knows about Nancy and Steve's former romantic relationship. Although they broke up a long time ago, there’s still a deep bond and history between them.

Seeing Nancy in that moment, visibly shaken and covered in blood, immediately raises questions: Is she trying to save Steve? Is she reacting to something that’s happened to him? The trailer doesn’t give us answers, but it does make one thing painfully clear. Steve could be in serious danger this season, and the emotional weight of that possibility is almost unbearable.

What's also worrying is that the Duffer Brothers have stated in a previous interview that Steve was originally written to die in the first season. While this didn't happen because of Joe Keery's outstanding performance as Steve, it does make one wonder whether the show could finally be circling back to that original plan.

Stranger Things has never been afraid to take bold risks, and over the seasons, it has repeatedly reminded fans that no character can be considered truly safe. Steve has grown so much since those early episodes, transforming from a self-centered, arrogant teen into a courageous, selfless, and surprisingly heroic figure. But knowing that he was once intended to die makes the possibility of him facing life-threatening danger in Stranger Things 5 feel all the more real and terrifying.

While I don't want anyone to die in the fifth season, I really don’t know how I would cope if it were Steve. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he somehow makes it through the final season alive and well!

Stranger Things 5 is slated to premiere on Netflix on Nov. 26.