Stranger Things: Most Popular Fan Theories

Stranger Things may be inching towards its final season, but the fan theories are getting wilder by the minute. From resurrected heroes to unseen villains the internet is convinced Hawkins is hiding way more than what we think. Here are the biggest theories fans can’t stop talking about.

  1. Eleven will die closing the gate to the upside down

A very popular theory since season 1, fans have long speculated that the story will come full circle: the girl who opened the original gate must be the one to close it at a devastating cost. Her closing the gate ends the chaos she helped unleash but paying the ultimate price. It could be the heartbreaking finale to her story that has been building since season 1.

2. Hawkins is stuck in a time loop

Some fans believe Hawkins is stuck in a time loop, with the upside down frozen in 1983- the moment Will Byers vanished. Every monster attack, vision and psychiatric disturbance might be a part of a repeating cycle, and only Eleven’s final act could break the town free.

3. Eddie Munson returning as Kas from D&D

Eddie Munson may have died, but fans think he will return as Kas the bloody-handed. With Vecna’s influence and D&D parallels, Eddie could come back as a dark antihero – or an enemy the gang never saw coming.

4. Will and Eleven are secretly related

Some fans believe that Will Byers and Eleven are secretly related, possibly even siblings. While the show has never explicitly showed this, there’s several hints such as their shared psychic powers and their unique connection to the upside down.

5. None of it was real – series ends with the kids back in the basement

What if Stranger Things was never real? Fans believe that the upside down, Vecna and all the monsters only exist in the kids’ imagination – and the series could end with them back in Mike’s basement, ready to play another adventure. Hawkins turns into a metaphor for childhood fears and imagination.

6. Steve Harrington will lead the final battle – sacrifice himself?

Steve Harrington isn’t just comic relief anymore – fans believe he could lead the final battle against Vecna and the upside down. He became a fan favourite from season 1, his experiences and bravery and mentorship of the younger kids make him a perfect candidate to guide the group to survival. It’s the ultimate payoff for Hawkins’ favourite babysitter turned hero.