Warning: Spoilers for Stranger Things season 4, volume 2!

Based on the fate of Sadie Sink's character at the end of season 4, volume 2, there's a reason to wonder if Max will be in Stranger Things season 5. Sink made her debut as Max Mayfield in the second season of the Netflix series. Since then, she has cemented herself as a core member of the Hawkins group and emerged as a vital piece to the Vecna attacks plaguing Hawkins, but Max's fate remains one of the biggest questions stemming from Stranger Things season 4.

After losing her stepbrother Billy during the Battle of Starcourt Mall in the Stranger Things season 3 finale, Max shut down emotionally, distancing herself from her loved ones. She also experienced immense trauma from feeling as if she didn't do enough to help Billy or mend their relationship as siblings. This PTSD causes her to become a target of Vecna's in Stranger Things season 4. Despite almost being the third victim, Max manages to evade Vecna's curse once, but she's not as lucky the second time around.

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In Stranger Things season 4's finale, "The Piggyback," Max agrees to be Vecna's bait so the rest of the Hawkins group can carry out a multi-phase plan to kill him. Though she initially succeeds in protecting herself with the Snow Ball dance memory, Vecna finds her. Eleven arrives and does everything in her power, but Max falls victim to Vecna for real this time. Granted, every indication points to Sadie Sink returning as Max for Stranger Things season 5, the show's fifth and last installment. It's unclear, however, how involved she will be due to her condition.

Is Max Dead In Stranger Things?

Eleven Brings Max Back To Life

Max is last seen unresponsive in a hospital bed in the Stranger Things season 4 finale. Technically, Max does die from sustained from Vecna's curse during "The Piggyback" before Eleven uses her powers to restart her friend's heart. Before doing so, Vecna breaks Max's limbs and causes her to go blind before she dies in Lucas' arms. According to Lucas in the hospital, Max was dead for a whole minute before Eleven brought her back to life. Still, Eleven only managed to bring back Max's physical body as her consciousness is seemingly still trapped with Vecna. This essentially equates to Sink's character being braindead, considering Eleven couldn't find Max in the Void.

How Max Can Return In Stranger Things Season 5

A blended image features Sadie Sing as Max in front of Vecna in Stranger Things

Despite being in bad shape, Max can still return in Stranger Things season 5. The planned time jump is an opportunity to allow Max to heal so that she can remain a pivotal figure in the final season. Unfortunately, it will likely take more than modern medicine to fully bring Max back. It's possible that Vecna forces Max's mind to return as a way to pass on a new message of warning to the Hawkins group, similar to how he let Nancy survive to share visions of Vecna's ultimate plan. Another option would be for Eleven to find a new way to find Max's consciousness and take back control from Vecna. This could be dangerous for both Eleven and Max because it would mean tapping into Vecna's mindscape, but it might be the only viable option in allowing Max to wake up.

Max is now blind and will also need to heal from multiple broken limbs. Even if Max does wake up from her coma, her road to recovery won't be easy. It's unclear if Max will be permanently blind, but based on her injuries before her brief death in Stranger Things season 4, a chance of regaining sight didn't look promising. However, having Max fully conscious and present for the show's conclusion is the most important aspect. Featured in flashbacks and visions would be better than no Max at all, but given how this could be the last chance at a fight, it would be satisfying to see Sadie Sink's character help take down Vecna once and for all, considering the suffering he has caused.

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