Stranger Things Season 4: Who Will Die In Volume 2's Finale

Warning: contains SPOILERS for Stranger Things season 4, volume 1.

After a tense season building up plenty of stakes, there are several possible characters who could die in Stranger Things season 4, volume 2's finale. Stranger Things returned with season 4 after three years. This fact, coupled with the never-before-done two-volume split, has developed a gargantuan amount of anticipation for its characters. Season 3's finale left on a cliffhanger with Hopper's (David Harbour) assumed demise, only for season 4 to officially confirm that he had been captured by Russians and sent to the Siberian gulag Kamchatka. Hopper's survival was hinted at in a season 3 mid-credit scene, but it was nonetheless a relief to find the character alive. Meanwhile, season 3 did see the deaths of Stranger Things' Alexei and, most notably, Billy Hargrove (Dacre Montgomery).

Aside from Vecna's victims, no one of note died in Stranger Things season 4, volume 1. While that's fortunate for its main characters, the expected two-and-a-half-hour finale bodes plenty of dreadful possibilities in which someone will inevitably be killed. Season 4, volume 1 saw the characters inch closer to understanding Vecna's motives and his role in the Upside Down, yet they still need to understand how to officially stop his terror for good. Furthermore, Hopper, Joyce (Winona Ryder), and Murray (Brett Gelman) all need to return to the United States. A lot is at stake for volume 2, and it's technically anyone's game for who dies.

With that said, even Stranger Things' most shocking deaths are built up with a payoff in mind. For example, Stranger Things killed Sean Astin's Bob in season 2 to give him a heroic and sacrificial moment, to help bring Joyce and Hopper together, and to bring some kind of closure for Will after he inadvertently played a part in his biological father's death. The death of nearly every character listed below would be devasting, yet the weight of their demises is what makes them so likely. Here are the characters who could die in Stranger Things season 4, volume 2 finale, and why.

Vecna/Number One

Vecna/Number One (Jamie Campbell Bower) is likely going to die at some point during the show. He's the main villain, and Stranger Things is gearing up for a showdown between him and the kids as the show does every season. However, the contention about his character's death lies in whether or not Vecna will die for good in season 4. Depending on how connected Vecna is to Stranger Things' Mind Flayer, he may actually come back in the fifth and final season. This isn't out of the question. After all, the Mind Flayer is still alive, despite him being the main monster villain in previous seasons.

With that said, the Mind Flayer seasons had the more pressing conflicts of saving Will and closing gates to the Upside Down. Meanwhile, Vecna is the primary threat of season 4. His death would bring the most closure out of anything in the season, save for Hopper's return to the US. However, considering Vecna's important role in the Upside Down, his return to season 5 is definitely possible.

Steve Harrington

It would be hard to see Hawkins' favorite babysitter go, but there's enough speculation about the death of Steve Harrington (Joe Keery). With Stranger Things suggesting a Nancy-Steve rekindling in season 4, it's not entirely out of the question that such attention between the two characters is actually buildup for either of them to die. Steve, however, has plenty of additional evidence for his demise. In the Stranger Things season 4, volume 1 finale, Steve had succumbed to serious flesh wounds from bat creatures in the Upside Down. Robin (Maya Hawke) also stresses to a strangely high degree about her fear of rabies regarding Steve's bat attack wounds.

Finally, after biking to Eddie's trailer, it's Steve specifically who notes that he inhaled a lot of the Upside Down's air residue. Steve's death would have a significant impact on the group dynamic. Not only is he close to Nancy (Natalia Dyer) and the older kids of Stranger Things, but the chemistry Steve has with Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) also connects him well with the younger group. Having been on the show since the beginning, Steve's death would be Stranger Things' most significant kill to date.

Nancy Wheeler

Nancy is almost equally likely to die as Steve in the Stranger Things season 4, volume 2 finale. While she hasn't succumbed to the same flesh wounds as Steve, Nancy was brought back to the Upside Down by Vecna in volume 1's finale. Nancy is another intrinsic part of the group for her investigating skills and level-headed approach to conflict. Because of her extensive presence on the show, her death would also lead to severe repercussions in Stranger Things.

Nancy's death might not be as immediate as perceived, for season 4 set up a chance for her to survive Vecna's initial grasp. Stranger Things revealed that music helps Vecna's victims escape, as evidenced by Max (Sadie Sink) being able to escape Vecna's clutches when Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)" elicited positive memories for her. Music and happy memories, however, don't rid the curse entirely from a person. It's for this reason that after her close call with Vecna, Max is seen with her Kate Bush-blaring headphones always at the ready. Going on Vecna Curse logic alone, it almost seems just as possible for Max to die as Nancy. However, Stranger Things isn't likely going to try killing Max under Vecna's hand twice in a season. Meanwhile, Nancy's fate remains precariously unknown.

Enzo/Dmitri Antonov

Enzo looking sideways in Stranger Things

Dmitri "Enzo" Antonov (Tom Wlaschiha) escaped with Hopper from the Russian Demogorgon, but Enzo's fate in Stranger Things season 4 isn't hopeful. Hopper, Joyce, and Murray are faced with the already daunting task of returning to the United States after infiltrating Kamchatka. Meanwhile, Enzo's restrictive state as a Soviet citizen makes it essentially impossible for him to leave with them. Escaping prison also means near-certain death as it is, and Enzo's absence will certainly be noticed, considering that he was a former prison guard.

Enzo faces his demise whether he escapes or not. By putting him up against the Demogorgon, Kamchatka already marked him for death. While he escaped the Demogorgon, there's now going to be a killing alternative. Even if he manages to escape Kamchatka, he'll just be hunted down. Enzo was introduced this season as a growingly likable character who helps Hopper more over time. Because Stranger Things likes sympathetic, low-risk sacrifices, Enzo's death would therefore be quite fitting.

Eddie Munson

Eddie making a devil face on Stranger Things

The Hellfire Club's leader, Stranger Things' Eddie Munson (Joseph Quinn), is marked for potential death. Eddie is seen in the Stranger Things season 4 trailer playing his guitar in the Upside Down, which makes him appear like sacrificial bait for Vecna. While this shot alone doesn't necessarily mean that he will be killed, Stranger Things has a trend of killing likable, one-season characters. Eddie also has the added quality of having a redemptive arc play out for him.

During the Dungeons & Dragons game in episode 1, Eddie remarks that "there is no shame in running." He then spends most of the season in hiding to avoid being wrongfully apprehended for Chrissy Cunningham's (Grace Van Dien) death and occasionally expresses shame to the group about his tendency to run away from conflict. All of this is bound to lead to some kind of heroic moment for Eddie - hopefully, not his death.

Jim Hopper

An impactful death would be that of Jim Hopper, whose further-revealed Stranger Things background, coupled with his difficult predicament, sets up a possible demise. Hopefully, Stranger Things would have the sense to not follow through with killing Hopper in its finale after they already gave him a fake-out death in season 3's ending. With that said, Hopper remarks that he would save Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) even if it's "the last thing [he'll] do."

Furthermore, his monologue in which he assumes that instead of being cursed, he is the curse provides a window into his self-perception. He feels that he only puts the ones he loves in harm's way and, therefore, should just remove himself from them. Hopefully, Stranger Things finds a way to redeem Hopper's hope and keep him alive. However, even after spending most of the season trying to rescue him, this doesn't seem entirely guaranteed.

More: Old Stranger Things Characters Who Return In Season 4

Stranger Things season 4, volume 2 releases July 1, 2022, on Netflix.

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