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Found you. Stranger Things 5 is imminent! I cannot believe that this season comes out in just two days . That's insane. I'm so excited. I am honest when I tell you that I have not been this excited for something since Avengers: Endgame . So here is the last post before the season comes out! I have to make my official predictions. Honestly, I have no idea what's going to happen in season five, but I've read and made theories of my own, so here they are. Can't believe it's this week! 10. The OG Four Spend a Lot of the Season Together In the teaser trailers and behind-the-scenes pictures we've gotten, there are definitely a lot of glimpses of the OG party spending a lot of time together. I personally would love that. For how iconic this show and its characters are, we've not gotten a lot of time with the main four boys together. Seasons one and two had Will in a very different place than the other three and seasons three and four have had the group split up across Hawkins or across the entire country. Season five looks like it might get back to the four boys together, and I think that would make for a nice bookend, since we started this show with the four of them in Mike's basement playing D&D. 9. The Vanishing of [Blank] is Holly Wheeler This is basically all but confirmed. Nell Fisher of Evil Dead Rise was cast as Holly Wheeler this season, and that immediately gave us a hint that the youngest of the Wheelers was going to have a bigger role. The marketing has shown her in peril multiple times, and it seems like she may be one of Vecna's primary targets at the beginning of the season. When you narrow it down, it's not particularly obvious who else would vanish in the second episode. Sure, it could be The Vanishing of Jane Hopper or The Vanishing of Will Byers Part Two, but I think it's pretty clear that it's going to be Holly vanishing here. 8. Vecna Kidnapped Will, Not the Demogorgon The inciting incident of the entire show is still somewhat shrouded in mystery. Although it seems like the Demogorgon was the one who kidnapped Will, it has never truly been confirmed. There are a few reasons that this remains a question: the Demogorgon killed everyone else it attacked, but it kidnapped Will. We never actually see the Demogorgon - we just see a silhouette that looks like the Demogorgon but could be a primitive version of Vecna. And the biggest indicator to me is that Will's door is telepathically unlocked when he is kidnapped. Demogorgons have never been telepathic, but Vecna is. So I think this could be one of the big reveals of the season: Vecna was the one who kidnapped Will and his abduction was part of 001's larger plan. 7. Will is the Protagonist of This Season Will Byers has long been sidelined by Stranger Things . For being the central focus of the first two seasons, it does seem like he has taken a backseat in recent years. The Duffers and the marketing have implied that Will will be one of our central players this season. Not only do I think he will be one of the central players: I think he will be the central player. I think this season is going to explore Will Byers more than Stranger Things has ever explored a character. There is something that ties him to the Upside Down, maybe even more than Eleven, and I am excited to see what that is. I think he will have the most screen time this season. I think he will have the biggest arc. And I am excited to see Noah Schnapp shine in this final entry of Will's story. 6. Linda Hamilton Plays a Sarah Connor Subversion Linda Hamilton of Terminator fame was cast in this season of Stranger Things . If you look at the legacy castings (Paul Reiser, Sean Astin, Robert Englund, Cary Elwes), they all play subversions of the characters they are best known for. I don't know exactly what a Sarah Connor subversion would be, but I think it will involve her as some high-grade military person who has a softer side than you would expect. I think she will seem like an antagonist at first but maybe soften up and actually help out our main characters. But I don't entirely know. I am curious how she factors in to this story. 5. Steve and Nancy End Up Together I don't know exactly how this will work, because it feels like Jonathan either has to die or get broken up with, and neither seem likely. However, I think Steve and Nancy will end up together. What I could see happening is that Jonathan leaves Hawkins in the end to start up a new life and lets Nancy go because she belongs in Hawkins with her family and with Steve. That could be an emotional and satisfying ending to both characters: Jonathan has always been insecure and a little selfish, so letting Nancy go could be an interesting conclusion to his arc, because it would show his true growth from season one. Also, everyone wants Nancy to end up with Steve, because it's Steve Harrington. If you kill him off, Duffers, I will kill you off (that's a joke). 4. Multiple Wheelers Die I think we may be losing a large chunk of the Wheeler family this season. What an interesting kickoff it would be to have Holly be abducted and then her and Karen murdered in the beginning of the season. That would just add so much weight, emotion, and stakes to this season, and it's absolutely something I could see happening. The Duffers have been criticized for not having enough balls to kill off major characters in the past. Well, killing off Mike and Nancy's younger sister and mom in the beginning of season five would certainly remedy that and show us that nobody is safe. If I were a Wheeler, I would be scared for my fate this season. Mike and Nancy, you are not safe either. Ted probably is, because no one would care if he died, but maybe he makes an unexpected sacrifice for his wife or kids. Who knows? 3. Kali Shows Up This has long been theorized, but I think it could finally pay off in the final season. Kali Prasad, also known as 008, appeared in the Lost Sister plot line in season two. Since that plot was so heavily criticized, she has not re-appeared in the show. I think it would be cool if they can find a sensical way to bring her back and have her help Eleven in the final showdown against Vecna. It would make sense: she likely knew 001 and maybe was even a little bit scared of him, and I don't think she harbors bad feelings against Eleven, so she could definitely make a return in the final season to help take down Vecna. 2. There Are Multiple Deaths Before the Finale I really think the carnage is going to be heavy this season. I think we are losing multiple characters before the finale. I don't know if it'll necessarily be main main characters, but I could see any Wheeler going. I could see Max succumbing to her coma and dying. I don't even want to say it, but I could see Steve's epic sacrifice being a stage-setter for the finale. I really think the Duffers are going to surprise us with how many characters die off before the finale. It will really make this season feel heavy and impactful, and I think it could make for an epic buildup to the final episode of this show. 1. We Will See Will's Perspective of Season One This is, in my opinion, one of the coolest things they could do with season five. And I really think they're going to, because it looks like it's been hinted at in the marketing. We don't know that much about the Upside Down, but if Will is going to be a major focus, I really think we are going to see what happened to him during season one. I think we are going to get tons of reveals regarding his connection to the hive mind and Vecna and his possible powers (?). There have been shots of a character resembling young Will in the Upside Down, and it really makes me think that a good portion of this season will be devoted to those flashbacks, which I just cannot wait to see. Ugh. November 27 cannot come any sooner!

It's time...for this ranking...to end...(read this in Vecna's voice). Guys. The final ranking before season five. It's coming. I can't believe it. I'm losing my mind. I'm so excited. Anyways, it's time to talk season four characters. Season four really does a great job of focusing on some previously smaller characters and giving them big upgrades while also introducing two of the best and most important new additions to the cast. There's so many great characters in this season, so this was a really tough ranking to get down. But I did it, so here it is. 10. Steve Harrington Still great, but there's a lot of great characters this season Look, it's Steve. He's always great and he will always be on one of these lists. However, I do think this is his weakest season yet. Stranger Things 4 is massive, so the characters really have to share the screen. And, because of that, Steve gets a little bit of the short end of the stick. He is abnormally stupid and the brunt of many jokes here, which can get frustrating. But, when he needs to, he still has some great, iconic moments. He is still the most selfless character on the show, whether its him diving into one of the gates or protecting the kids at all costs. He still feels like Steve, and that is the most important thing. 9. Nancy Wheeler The aspiring journalist some of her most iconic moments Nancy maybe took a bit of a step back in season three, but that is fixed when season four lets her take a step forward. She owns some of the best and most badass moments of the season. It feels like she has fully come into her own by this time in the show, and this season especially lets her shine because she doesn't have to deal with Jonathan. If you shoot Vecna with a sawed-off shotgun, you are making the character ranking for the season. Because that is awesome. In my opinion, Nancy almost takes over as group leader this season. It feels like Dustin is the brains of the operation and Nancy is the brawn, and she gets plenty of awesome, brawny moments here. 8. Martin Brenner An unexpected return that adds complexity and nuance to the show's initial villain When I say "unexpected return", I don't actually mean that. Since his "death" in season one, it had become pretty clear that Brenner was still alive and would show up again at some point. And I think they nailed his return to the show. Season one portrays him as a relatively one-note antagonist: a mad scientist who values his work above all else, including human life. Season four shows that he's still insane and still does terrible, terrible things, but there's a lot more nuance to his character. He actually clearly cares about Eleven and views her as a daughter figure in his own psychotic way. He truly believes that what he's doing is right and that he is helping her. He is more compelling because you see his passion and belief in this experiment. He is even trying to take down Vecna, but he wants to do it in his own horrible way. I think this is a really great way to make a villain more complex while not necessarily redeeming him. His final moments as he does let Eleven go really show the completion of his great return journey in this season. 7. Dustin Henderson Still as charming as ever, but with an added heartfelt side Dustin has always been the best of the original party, and a lot of that was due to his nerdy charm. HIs relationship with Steve is one of the best elements of the show, but season four takes that and adds a heavy dose of heart into his character. By allowing him to have another relationship with a Steve-esc figure, Dustin is automatically tied into the emotional side story. Dustin and Eddie are, alongside Lucas and Max, the beating heart of this season. You see how much these two care about each other, so it makes it way more meaningful the lengths that Dustin is willing to go to in order to clear Eddie's name. Of course, Eddie's already devastating death hits ten times harder when you see how much it breaks Dustin. So season four made one of the show's best characters also one of this season's most heartfelt, emotional characters. Thus, Dustin belongs on this list. 6. Eleven The redemptive arc nobody knew she needed Eleven's character at the beginning of the season is incredibly frustrating, but a lot of it is due to her plot line rather than her actual character. They set her up as being lost without her powers. She is now just a regular, awkward teen who is getting bullied. That makes her feel incredibly vulnerable, which is a state we've never really seen her in. Through rediscovering her powers and re-living her traumatic memories, she overcomes the vulnerability that she felt when being bullied and comes back stronger than ever. This is Eleven in full control of her abilities, and it is simply glorious to watch. 5. Jim Hopper The redemptive arc nobody knew he needed Part of me thinks Hopper should've stayed dead, but another part of me loves this character to death, so I'm okay that he's still alive. Especially since the arc they give him in season four is great. Similar to Eleven, this is the weakest and more vulnerable we've ever seen him. The man is stuck in a Russian gulag, for Christ's sake. That sucks. But, because of this, we see Hop have to stick it out. Part of him clearly wants to give up and stop fighting. He views himself as this curse that hurts everyone he gets close to, so he wants to just stop trying and live out his days in Kamchatka. Watching him overcome that and fight the Demogorgon to reunite with Joyce is powerful, powerful stuff. Pair that with some of his smartest and most ingenuitive moments, and you've got a great redemptive arc for this character. And the cherry on top is David Harbour's performance, which I think may honestly be his best in the entire series. 4. Lucas Sinclair One of two supporting characters that gets a big upgrade this season Lucas has always been fun, but, like Dustin, he gets to carry a lot of this season's most emotional moments. His relationship with Max is the other beating emotional heart of Stranger Things 4 , and it just lets you really see this character in a different light than we've seen him before. The beginning of the season focuses on some very real high school problems, where Lucas is splitting off from his nerdy friends to join the basketball team. This conflict runs throughout the season as we see Lucas eventually rejoin the main party and remember who his true friends are. He is always putting himself on the line for his friends, whether it be Max or Dustin or someone else, and that just makes him extra compelling. Caleb McLaughlin also gives his best performance this season, which just makes Lucas even better. He truly shoots up from a relatively mid-tier character to one of the best members of the Stranger Things crew through this season. It's awesome. 3. Vecna The show's big bad is as terrifying as you'd expect After three seasons of shadowy, goopy antagonists who served more as final boss battles than actual characters, season four introduces us to the actual main villain of Stranger Things . And he is amazing. Even before we get to know him as a character, he feels threatening. The way he kills people is so memorable and horrifying. The Freddy Krueger-inspired dream world that he creates feels impossible to defeat. And he feels like he ties the mythology of the show together as we understand him to be the master of the Upside Down. But, beyond that, he is a great foil to Eleven. We see him as this sensitive child who was taken under Brenner's care before being tortured and abused in the same way that Eleven was. But instead of escaping and joining normal society, he was banished to the Upside Down, where he became this monstrous, terrifying creature. His existence automatically raises the stakes of the show: this sentient monster that can threaten and outthink our characters is a scary way to send the show into its final two seasons. 2. Eddie Munson The lovable metalhead is a fan favorite for a reason Perhaps no character in Stranger Things has captured everyone's hearts as quickly as Eddie did. From the first episode, this character is just immediately charming and fun. Joseph Quinn's charismatic performance portrays Eddie as a somewhat wild but deeply caring person at his core. Because he is this outcast, however, he is suspected of murdering Chrissy Cunningham, and this sends him into this spiral of fear and hiding for the rest of the season. They do a great job of setting up this arc where he runs from trouble and does not try to be a hero, so his final moments where he distracts the demobats with Master of Puppets and fights them off to give Steve, Robin, and Nancy more time hit extra hard. There have been sad deaths in Stranger Things before, but none hold a candle to how utterly devastating Eddie's is. Joseph Quinn and Gaten Matarazzo nail the emotions of that scene, and it hits even harder as you realize that Eddie is still being blamed for these murders after his heroic sacrifice. Hopefully his name gets cleared in season five. As it stands, he is probably my favorite single-season character in the show. 1. Max Mayfield Stranger Things 's exploration of trauma and grief makes Max one of the show's best characters Max's arc in season four is, in my opinion, the most compelling arc on the show. She's never been a major focus before this, but after Billy's death in the final of season three, we spend a lot of time with her grieving that loss. Because of this, she has locked herself away from her friends. She's clearly spiraled into a deep depression where she does not talk to anyone. She isolates herself...which is exactly what causes Vecna to target her. After the incredible Running Up That Hill sequence in which she narrowly escapes death, she comes in with a new perspective and starts reconnecting with her friends, especially Lucas. This makes it all the more crushing when she does not make it out of the season okay. She doesn't quite die, but she gets blinded and all of her bones broken by Vecna, leaving her comatose. I hope to God she gets a happy ending in season five, because this character is just so compelling and relatable. Everyone experiences depression, guilt, and shame, and Max's character in this season is a beautiful, poignant, and truly emotional exploration of that. On top of all of this, Sadie Sink gives a stunning, heartbreaking performance that was horribly snubbed by the Emmys. I love this character to death, and almost all of that is due to her incredible, heavily emotional arc in this season.

Run up that hill. Oh. my. God. We are less than a week away from the release of season five. If you are reading this and haven't read my other Stranger Things posts, I don't think you can understand how truly excited I am for this final season. This is my favorite show of all time, and the fact that it is coming to an end is absolutely insane to me. I am so, so, so excited. It honestly still feels surreal that I will be watching season five exactly a week from today. Anyways, here's my final episode ranking before it comes out. Season four's epic runtime means some epic episodes, so check out where they rank down below. 9. Chapter Two: Vecna's Curse An exposition-heavy setup episode that falters from the season's expansive scale This is really the only time that I think you feel the weight of season four. This is a very dense season. Every single episode is over an hour long. We're in multiple states and countries. For the most part, the huge size and expansive storytelling works, but in this episode, it feels like all of the plot lines are a bit shortchanged due to that expansive scale. We need to check back in on Hopper and understand his storyline, but the Russia stuff takes away from the investigation into Chrissy's death. We spend a lot of time with Eleven getting bullied (which is really not fun to watch) because they need to set up her journey throughout the season. It feels like they stuffed a bunch of the setup and exposition into this episode just to get it out of the way, which makes it feel bogged down and easily secures it as the weakest entry. 8. Chapter Five: The Nina Project A slower, slightly meandering entry after the explosive fourth episode We will get to Dear Billy later, but one of the major things people forget about that episode is that Eleven is not in it. So, after the explosive, gorgeous mid-season finale that Dear Billy is, we have to check back in to Eleven and the rest of our plot lines. I think the NINA storyline is cool, but I'm not crazy about how long it goes on. It pays off beautifully with a masterful reveal and also gives a lot more nuance to Brenner, but I just don't think it needed to take place across four episodes. And nowhere do you feel that more than in this episode specifically. Beyond that, it just feels a little bit anti-climactic after the insanity that was Dear Billy . It's still a good episode, but it is far from one of season four's best. 7. Chapter Three: The Monster and the Superhero The first third of the season ends with a sign of the awesomeness to come As with many Stranger Things seasons, season four gets off to a bit of a slow start. However, I think the slow start is a lot more compelling because it allows us to understand where the characters are at and what has happened since season three. The Monster and the Superhero is the final episode of this slow start. It begins to move the pieces in place for the rest of the season. The Russia plot line picks up. We see Hopper's relationship with Enzo begin to pick up. Lucas's loyalty is questioned as he goes along with the basketball players who are trying to hunt Eddie. Of course, Eleven is arrested and then rescued by Dr. Owens. And it all caps off with a foreboding final image as we realize that Max has been cursed by Vecna. This might not be the most exciting episode in terms of action and payoff, but it does an excellent job of building tension and raising stakes for the episodes that follow it. 6. Chapter Seven: The Massacre at Hawkins Lab Vecna's big reveal highlights one of the most eventful episodes of Stranger Things The final episode of volume one of season four is epic . I don't love it as much as everyone else, but this is an undeniably great episode. Of course, the major thing to talk about here is the reveal of Vecna's true identity. There were so many thought-out layers to this twist: The mysterious orderly is 001. 001 is Vecna. 001 is also Henry Creel. And he was the one who killed everyone in Hawkins Lab. It swiftly explains everything that the mystery of Vecna has been building up throughout the previous six episodes, and it is both perfectly shocking and satisfying. 5. Chapter Six: The Dive An adrenaline-fueled, action-packed penultimate episode in volume one The Dive segues us from the building intensity of the middle of the season to the action-packed, thrilling conclusion. Although this is the sixth episode, it really feels like it sets the stage for the finale in a huge way. This is the first time that our characters are actually in the Upside Down since season one (which is kind of crazy to say). Hopper learns that he has to fight the Demogorgon in Russia and must figure out how he is going to survive. Eleven keeps flashing back to her time at Hawkins Lab with the mysterious orderly. And, after Patrick's death at the hands of Vecna, the search for Eddie has been intensified. Everything is ramping up in this episode, and it is just so much fun. It's one of the fastest-paced, most entertaining episodes of the entire show while maybe not having a ton of specific standout moments. 4. Chapter Eight: Papa A great showcase of how Eleven has grown while also setting the stage for the epic finale This aptly titled episode focuses heavily on the relationship between Eleven and Brenner. As soon as he was reintroduced, it felt like only a matter of time before Brenner did something bad, and he does in this episode. But, unlike in season one, his attempting to help Eleven in his own twisted way actually feels genuine. It seems like he views her as a daughter figure in a strange, manipulative sense. I love how they make him more complex and nuanced rather than just being an evil, mad scientist. This episode also does a great job of slowing down when it needs to to remind you how much you love these characters. Small interactions between Dustin and Eddie or Lucas and Erica just allow you to be more invested in these people as they prepare for a fight that they might not win. 3. Chapter One: The Hellfire Club A dark, emotional, and exciting re-entry into the world of Stranger Things A lot of people were critical of seasons two and three for their departure from the feeling of season one. Well, in response, season four immediately gets back to that season one tone and vibe. The 80s nostalgia is toned down just a little bit, which allows you to be more invested in the characters and story without it feeling like they are forcing in homages. The episode gets you really invested in the new characters, especially Eddie and Chrissy. Eddie immediately captures our hearts with Joseph Quinn's magnetic charm, and his relationship with Chrissy really drives home the emotional core of this episode. Their two characters pay off with Chrissy's horrific death, which introduces us to Vecna in unforgettable fashion. This is one hell of a way to kickstart a season. 2. Chapter Nine: The Piggyback A feature-length episode that earns every minute of its gargantuan runtime The fact that we have a two and a half hour long episode of TV in a show this popular is still insane to me. The Piggyback is an incredible spectacle that pulls off its ridiculous runtime. Every single plot line gets its own time in the spotlight. Every single character gets something cool or exciting to do. For being two and a half hours long, this episode doesn't actually feel that long when you're watching it. It's essentially nonstop action from start to end, and that just makes it one of the most thrilling episodes of TV I have ever watched. Once all the action ends, you get five or six heartbreaking moments that will just rip your soul out. Eddie's death. Max's death. Dustin talking to Eddie's uncle. Eleven reuniting with Hopper. And so many more. This episode nails the action, the spectacle, the characters, and the emotions. It is genuinely one of the most impressive episodes of TV I have ever seen. And, somehow, it is not the best episode in the season. 1. Chapter Four: Dear Billy One of the best episodes in TV history with arguably my favorite sequence in movies or TV Since I rewatched Stranger Things back in February, I have probably rewatched Dear Billy seven or eight more times. And it truly never gets old. This is a great episode even if you eliminate the final twenty minutes. It is filled with thrilling sequences and exciting character moments. The shootout at the Byers house is the first real long take we've seen in Stranger Things , and it's awesome. Hopper's first escape attempt from Kamchatka is as exciting as you'd expect. Nancy and Robin visiting Victor Creel has an eerie, Silence of the Lambs -esc feel to it. Robert Englund's performance commands the screen for however short he's in it for. But, of course, the real highlight of this episode is Max Mayfield and the entire Running Up That Hill sequence. It's become so iconic that it's almost hard to talk about because I can't say anything that hasn't already been said. But I remember watching this for the first time. I was sitting on my couch and was just in complete awe. I had to pause it before the next episode started playing to just process what I had witnessed. The Running Up That Hill sequence is a beautiful metaphor for the grief and trauma that Max has experienced, and she uses music and friendship and love to escape from it. Sadie Sink's Emmy-snubbed performance is the cherry on top of this incredible sequence and incredible episode. This is, in my opinion, the best episode of the show. If season five can top this, we are in for something truly special.

Let the right side up be restored. We are ALMOST there! Stranger Things 5 releases next Wednesday, and due to this, my final episode prediction is here. The series finale is called The Rightside Up , which seems to imply that the Upside Down will be destroyed for good. That also seems like the best way to end the show. So, that said, here are eight predictions as to how the Upside Down may be destroyed in the final episode of Stranger Things . 8. Every Gate Is Closed By a Major Character There are multiple gates open across Hawkins Throughout the show, the Upside Down has always been accessed through a gate. Seasons one and two had the Hawkins Lab gate. Season three had the Russian gate. Season four had gates open every time Vecna killed someone, and it seems like season five will just have gates popping up left and right. I doubt that this will actually be the final way that the Upside Down is destroyed, but I do think closing the gates will be a major key on the way to destroying the Upside Down. 7. Will Stops It from Bleeding Into Hawkins Will's connection to Vecna could be the key to it all We've repeatedly seen in marketing and heard in interviews how important Will Byers will be in this season. I think the key to destroying the Upside Down may relate to him. He is one of two characters that has a true connection Vecna, and I think that makes it very likely that he will be the one to end the Upside Down for good. This show did start with his abduction, after all, so it would be poetic for it to end with him destroying the dimension that he was taken to in the first place. 6. It Isn't Maybe Vecna is defeated but the Upside Down remains There is almost no way season five ends without Vecna being killed or defeated in some way, but I guess I could see a way in which the Upside Down lives on. Now, I don't know how they'd explain this because of the hive mind and Vecna seemingly being in control of the Upside Down, but if they do want to continue with more Stranger Things stuff in the future after the show is over, I could see them leaving the Upside Down alive. I doubt that this is the outcome. But it's definitely not impossible. 5. Vecna Destroys the Mind Flayer A redemptive arc for Henry Creel is not out of the question I haven't seen The First Shadow , but I do know the story, and it portrays Vecna as more of a sympathetic character who fell victim to the Mind Flayer. There is a chance that that is actually canon and Vecna isn't the final antagonist: the Mind Flayer might be. If they do incorporate The First Shadow into season five's story, I could see a way in which Vecna is redeemed and helps destroy the Mind Flayer. Do I want that? Probably not, to be honest. Vecna is a great, great villain and they have not hinted at any sort of redemption arc in the show, at least, so having him make some heroic sacrifice to destroy the Mind Flayer and the Upside Down would feel subversive in all the wrong ways. 4. Vecna's Death Destroys the Upside Down Is the main villain the true king of the Upside Down? I know this isn't the exact way that the Upside Down will get destroyed, but the easiest way to explain how it does end is with Vecna's death. We obviously know that Dimension X existed way before Vecna, but the Upside Down itself may be his creation. So, naturally, it is very possible that his death will result in the death of the Upside Down. I think there'd be more to it: it feels a little bit lazy to just say that Vecna dying will kill the Upside Down, but I think there's a way in which that could work. 3. Eleven and Will Combine Powers to Destroy It If Will does have secret powers, maybe he and El can take it down together Fans have been theorizing that Will may have powers since, like, the end of season one. If we are exploring his time in the Upside Down this season, it seems like the time to reveal that he does possess some sort of abilities. Who knows if they will be similar to Eleven's or not, but regardless, it seems as though they could truly team up and take the Upside Down down . This would just be awesome. Will having powers would be a great payoff to the whole series, and seeing him destroy the Upside Down with Eleven would be fantastic. 2. Will Severs His Connection to It and Dies With It A heroic sacrifice seems very likely for Will One of two major sacrifices that could destroy the Upside Down is obviously Will Byers. As we've talked about throughout basically this entire ranking, this season will focus heavily on Will, so his sacrifice seems like it could sever the connection. We know the the Upside Down is frozen on the day that Will was kidnapped, which seems to imply how important he might be to the endgame of this story. If he does become a spy, his final sacrifice could take down Vecna and the Upside Down. 1. Eleven Sacrifices Herself to Destroy It A heroic sacrifice seems more likely for Eleven To me, the other most likely sacrifice is slightly more likely. Eleven has been tied to the Upside Down and Vecna since before Will was kidnapped, and, despite her arc being her fitting into the real world, she still doesn't entirely belong. Her final epic moment could be her taking down Vecna and the Upside Down but overworking herself and dying in the process. That would be a very Iron Man-way to go out, and it would be a very cathartic and beautiful ending to the show. We will see in just over a month. Unbelievable.

You will be changed. Wicked: For Good is a 2025 epic musical fantasy film directed by Jon M. Chu, written by Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox, produced by Universal Pictures and Marc Platt Productions, and distributed by Universal Pictures. It is based off of the Broadway musical, Wicked , which, in turn, is based on Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West . It stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. This is the second film in the Wicked franchise. It acts as a sequel to Wicked and a prequel/alternate version of The Wizard of Oz . "Haven't you heard? I'm the Wicked Witch of the West." - Elphaba Thropp Plot After the Wizard of Oz frames her as the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba Thropp continues her rebellion against the Emerald City to save the animals and clear her name. While she is hunted by Fiyero, the Wizard appoints Glinda as the "good witch" in opposition to Elphaba, leading for the two witches to cross paths once again. The Sweet Wicked: For Good was an overwhelming experience. I have been waiting my entire life for a film adaptation of Wicked , because I absolutely adore the musical. Last year, Wicked was my most anticipated movie of the year, and it just completely blew me away. So, with Wicked being one of my favorite movies of the 2020s, I was very, very excited to see how they adapted the conclusion of this story. One of the things that makes Wicked: For Good stand out is how different it is from the first part of this story. For Good is a darker, less "fun", more emotional experience, and Jon M. Chu understands that. He focuses in on these characters and these relationships, creating a more serious-feeling tone throughout. It tones down the humor and really makes sure to emphasize those moments that just make your stomach drop. You know how this story ends for the Wicked Witch of the West, so For Good appropriately builds to that conclusion. Everything that was great about Wicked is also still great in For Good . To be honest, some aspects are better. To be honest, I found Ariana Grande's performance in For Good to be even better than hers in Wicked . In the first one, she was really good at nailing Glinda's humor and naivety. Here, she has to lean much more into the emotional side of the character, and she absolutely kills it. And, of course, Cynthia Erivo is still fantastic. Elphaba is much angrier and more firm in her identity in this movie, so that gives Erivo a chance to really let a different, more wicked side of this character come out. It goes without saying that the music is still fantastic, but almost all of the numbers feels more restrained, and I think that's a good thing. As I've said, For Good is a darker, more emotional film than Wicked . The music reflects that. Songs like As Long As You're Mine, No Good Deed, and For Good are all more emotional and personal. These numbers aren't choreographed with big dance numbers. Instead, they are shot constantly in closeup and slow camera movements. This lets the actors really harness their characters and dig deep into the emotions of the story. And that is something that you cannot achieve on stage. Shooting these songs with softer, more reserved camera movements and closeups seems like it eliminates the power of a cinematic musical, but for this film, it really works because it lets you sit in the emotion of the characters and the story. Since Jon M. Chu did not got nominated for Wicked , the Academy has a chance to redeem themselves with For Good . This guy just has an iron grip on how to bring a modern Oz to life. He knows the direction that this story requires to make it hit as hard as it should. Portraying this part of the story ia darker and more mature requires a strong director, and Chu is more than prepared for that challenge. Do I think his direction is as good as Wicked? No, but it's still great. And, of course, Wicked: For Good comes to an incredibly emotional conclusion. When I opened this review by saying it was an overwhelming experience, this is mainly what I was referring to. The final twenty minutes of this film hits you like a speeding bullet train. As soon as For Good started playing, the tears started coming and did not stop until the film ended. The movie actually expands on the ending of the musical and adds more moments of emotion and payoff that just make everything hit a little bit harder. So why does this film hit so hard? Well, it all comes down to Wicked having great characters. Elphaba, Glinda, and Fiyero are just such compelling people, and the way this story wraps up is incredibly emotional for all of them. And, as much as I do think Fiyero is a great character, the most emotional parts are when it focuses on Elphaba and Glinda. There are a few shots in the final twenty minutes that will just crush your soul with how beautifully they capture the tragedy of this story. Elphaba and Glinda are the core of this story, and the end of this movie understands that, so it just locks in on that and rips your heart out with the way it wraps up their relationship. Finally, I think a lot of the stuff that was added from the musical works. There are two new songs, and I thought both were solid. They aren't anywhere close to some of the best songs in Wicked , but they were good additions. The most important thing that this movie adds, however, is the expansion of Glinda's character. Glinda is great in the musical, but she can be very frustrating with some of her actions in the second act especially. This movie adds more layers to her character and makes her more sympathetic, so every action she takes feels like it has more meaning. It also gives Ariana Grande more time to shine, so I will never complain about that. The Sour To be honest, I never thought For Good was going to be as good as Wicked . And i was correct. The primary reason that I didn't think For Good would be as good or better than the first film was simple: act two of Wicked is just not as good as act one. Act one works beautifully as a prequel to The Wizard of Oz , with a truly emotional story that gives layers to the Wicked Witch of the West and the entire country of Oz in general. Act two is still great, but it's a messier and feels less like it's own thing. For Good inevitably has all of the problems of the second act of Wicked . The main thing that frustrates me about this film is the awkward inclusion of The Wizard of Oz . The first half of this film continues the story of Wicked , but about halfway through, Dorothy arrives. So the second half of this movie takes place during The Wizard of Oz . And the way that it incorporates Dorothy and Wizard of Oz is just awkward. Dorothy's face is never shown. We don't actually see any events that take place during Wizard of Oz . Instead, we often pick up right after something in that movie happens. So instead of seeing Glinda meets Dorothy and watching her head off on the yellow brick road, we see Glinda waving goodbye to Dorothy and then continuing on with her story. If they did show the scenes from The Wizard of Oz , it would also be awkward. Wicked does not align perfectly with The Wizard of Oz , so you just have to interpret it as an alternate version of the story. The Elphaba we know would never treat Dorothy the way that the Wicked Witch treats her. In Wizard of Oz , the Wicked Witch interacts with Glinda in a way that would never happen if Wicked was the true prequel. You just have to suspend disbelief for Wicked to fully work and ignore The Wizard of Oz as exact canon. Because of the awkward inclusion of The Wizard of Oz , the pace of For Good just feels a bit strange. It's a slower movie than Wicked , which can just make it feel weird. Because it's a darker, more character-based story, it does not have the fast-paced, exciting musical numbers or sequences. The first film had What Is This Feeling?, Dancing Through Life, One Short Day , and, of course, Defying Gravity . Those are some epic musical numbers that have huge, exciting dance sequences or powerful moments. The songs in this film, as I previously stated, are quieter and more restrained. But, because of that, it just does not hit as hard as Wicked did. Sure, it's more emotional, but the entire movie just does not feel as impactful. Whereas Wicked did not feel like it was dragging out the musical's content, For Good kind of does. The second act of Wicked is, depending on the performance, about an hour long. That's short. For Good feels like it adds a lot more than Wicked did, and you can kind of feel that. The first half hour is mostly made up of new scenes and extensions of songs, and it just makes the pace feel even more awkward. The new content, regardless of whether it's good or not, feels a little bit more forced than it did in Wicked . I also was not a fan of Michelle Yeoh's Madame Morrible in this film. Look, she's not a major enough character for it to really distract from my enjoyment of the film, but she just feels so one-note and evil for no real reason. Yeoh is good at being intimidating, but I just got annoyed whenever she was doing so, because her being so evil just felt unearned and forced. Finally, this movie inherently does not feel as epic and awe-inspiring as Wicked. The first movie had the novelty of being the introduction to this world. It was our first glimpse at what Wicked could look like in cinematic form. For Good was never going to have that element, so it already started a bit behind it's predecessor. And, because it's a slower, more character-focused film, there isn't as much epic, grandiose spectacle as there was in the first movie. The film just feels a bit soft because it does not focus on the world of Oz as much as I would've liked. I love these characters and their relationships, but it would've been nice to see a bit more of the world turning on and hunting down Elphaba. Final Thoughts and Score I am still somewhat processing how I feel about For Good . On the one hand, it's definitely not as good as Wicked. On the other, it was a cathartic experience to watch this story that I've loved for my entire life come to an end perfectly on the big screen. For now, I am going Savory. Age range is 12+. SWEET N' SOUR SCALE Sweet (Great) Savory (Good) Sour (Bad) Moldy (Terrible) "Wicked: For Good" Fun Factor: 8.5/10 Acting: 9.5/10 Story: 7.5/10 Characters: 9/10 Quality: 8.5/10 Directed by Jon M. Chu Rated PG for moderate violence and action, frightening themes and images, suggestive material, thematic elements Released on November 21, 2025 2 hours and 17 minutes Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Thropp / The Wicked Witch of the West Ariana Grande as Glinda Upland / Glinda the Good Witch Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero Tigelaar Jeff Goldblum as Oscar Diggs / The Wizard of Oz Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible Marissa Bode as Nessarose Thropp / The Wicked Witch of the East Ethan Slater as Boq Woodsman Sharon D. Clarke as Dulcibear Bowen Yang as Pfannee Bronwyn James as ShenShen Colman Domingo as Brrr the Cowardly Lion Bethany Weaver as Dorothy Gale

Could this be the true origin of the Upside Down? Say it with me now: NINE. MORE. DAYS. We are WITHIN SINGLE DIGITS. I am still going to be in denial that this is actually happening when I sit down and watch The Crawl NEXT FRICKIN' WEEK. I don't think anyone on this planet can comprehend how excited I am. Alright, alright, anyways, we are wrapping up my episode-by-episode predictions with The Bridge , the penultimate episode of the entire series. This is honestly just as important an episode as the finale. This is the big setup, the gate to the final battle. I expect some huge revelations or twist that give us an agonizing week long wait between the release of volume two and the finale. So here are my predictions as to what the mysterious "bridge" could be. 5. A Giant Bridge in the Upside Down Maybe the titular bridge is as obvious as it would seem I really expect this episode to be the big revelatory entry where we reveal what the Upside Down truly is, and I think "the bridge" is the key to that. So maybe the bridge is a real bridge inside of the Upside Down that leads to its origin point. Maybe it's the key piece that could allow the party to destroy the dimension once and for all. I expect for the majority of volume two and the finale to take place in the Upside Down, and, due to that, I expect the bridge to be something within the Upside Down itself. 4. The Military's Access Point to the Upside Down We know the military has quarantined Hawkins I don't know how big of a role the military will have in the back half of the season, but if they are still a presence, I feel like this episode will wrap up whatever plot lines they are involved in. I doubt the finale will really deal with the military conflict, because that would take away from the ultimate battle with Vecna (or so I think). So, if the bridge is a way to wrap up this military plot line, it would likely be a bridge between the military's entrance and the Upside Down. And maybe Vecna accesses that and massacres the soldiers (although I think that will happen way earlier in the season). 3. The Link Between Dimension X and the Upside Down We will find out the truth about the connection between these two realms These next three entries are a little bit difficult, because I am theorizing kind of the same thing with all three of them but with minor tweaks at each one. We know that Dimension X (the place that Vecna arrived in) is related to the Upside Down in some way shape or form but is not quite the Upside Down itself. We are going to find out how they are connected, and maybe that will be through some sort of bridge. And maybe, just maybe, this bridge between the Upside Down and Dimension X will be the way to defeat Vecna once and for all. 2. The Main Origin Piece of the Upside Down We will also find out the truth about what the Upside Down is This is what I say when I mean these top three are kind of all the same with minor tweaks. If there is a connective bridge between Dimension X and the Upside Down, that would serve as an explanation for the Upside Down's true origins. However, with this entry, I'm more saying that the bridge will be some sort of unspecified explanation for how the dark realm came to be. I don't know if it will be a literal bridge. I don't know if it will connect to Dimension X. But I do believe that the bridge could be some sort of either metaphorical or physical origin point of the Upside Down. 1. The Main Connective Piece to the Upside Down Will or Eleven's connection might be the bridge into the finale The two questions we know we are getting answers to are what the Upside Down really is and why the Demogorgon kidnapped Will in the first place. The first five minutes of season five showed us that Vecna clearly orchestrated Will's kidnapping, so it is possible that the true reasoning behind that will get explained here. Either that or Eleven's mysterious connection to the Upside Down may be due to whatever this bridge is. I honestly have no real guesses that I feel confident about as to what the bridge actually is, but I do strongly, strongly believe that it will answer some of the show's most important questions.

Turn around...look at what you see... Home stretch guys! We are fast approaching the release of Stranger Things 5 . One more week of coverage before I get to watch this final season. I cannot believe it. Anyways, season three of Stranger Things probably has some of the weakest character work in the show, but they've still got some fun new additions and some great arcs. The summer vibes and the fast aging of our characters makes for a strange combination, but it really does benefit some of these heroes. Here are my ten favorite characters from Stranger Things 3 . 10. Erica Sinclair Lucas's sassy sister is one of the best comedic parts of the show Erica first appeared in season two as a funny, occasional cameo. She gets upgraded to a fully supporting role, and she is so much fun. When she's initially brought into the main story, I found her to be kind of annoying, but her rapport with Dustin and her sassiness make her this hilarious, fun character that brings a different energy to the show. Is she my favorite Stranger Things character? No. But does she get a really entertaining role in season three? Yes. 9. Murray Bauman The strange conspiracy theorist returns in an expanded role Speaking of comedic characters, Murray returns in this season. He's just as creepy yet much more endearing, which adds a nice heart to his character. His relationship with Alexei is what gives him a little bit of a splash in season three. In the midst of Joyce and Hopper trying to investigate the grand Russian conspiracy with Alexei at the center, Murray forms a fun bond with Alexei that only he can make because of his ability to speak the language. Although initially antagonistic, the two of them have a really entertaining dynamic that makes Alexei's death all the more crushing. 8. Joyce Byers Joyce in a non-frantic state is a welcome change Stranger Things is unforgiving in the characters that it puts through the ringer. Joyce Byers has been through the frickin' ringer. In the first season, her son was kidnapped. In the second season, her son was possessed by a shadow monster from the alternate dimension that he was kidnapped in. That's a lot for anyone to go through, so Joyce is understandably frantic throughout the majority of the first two seasons. Season three sees her in a much happier, more fun place. She isn't terrified and anxious about Will's safety. She still has her motherly instinct and the fiery strength that appears when she needs it, but there's a more relaxed energy that allows Winona Ryder to have some fun with the role. We also get to actually see her friendship with Hopper, which we haven't fully explored despite getting hints at it in the first two seasons. Maybe she gets put on the back-burner a little bit this go around, but anytime she's on screen, she's tons of fun. 7. Jim Hopper He's still Hopper, but this is his worst season yet It's hard not to put Hop on any of these lists, because he's my favorite character in the show and one of my favorite fictional characters of all time. He still has some of his best moments in season three. His speech that he writes to Eleven and is read after his "death" is probably the most emotional moment on the show up to this point. The way that he forces Larry Kline into submission and aims to protect Hawkins from the Russians is great. However...he's a bit too shouty and a bit too angry this season. At times, it feels like he becomes a little bit of a parody of himself. They really go for this Magnum P.I. vibe that doesn't fully fit the character we've grown to know and love over the past two seasons. That said, he's still the best character on the show and still gets plenty of fantastic moments that remind us why we all love him. 6. Alexei The lovable Russian scientist is one of the season's most tragic characters Alexei is introduced in the first scene of season three, and you immediately assume him to be the evil Russian scientist. When he gets kidnapped by Hopper and Joyce, you realize that that is not the case. He's got this very sweet, fun personality that heavily juxtaposes the role you expect him to play in this season. He has a love for the simple things in life, like slurpees and Woody Woodpecker, so you get really invested in him as this lovable Russian. Of course, as soon as you start to love him, he gets shot in the chest by Grigori. Stranger Things loves to introduce great new characters and then proceed to tear your heart out by killing them. Alexei is this season's victim! 5. Billy Hargrove Max's psychopathic brother is given a tragic story that makes him much more complex I know some people aren't crazy about Billy's arc in this season, and I don't really understand that. Stranger Things is a show about processing trauma, and everything in the series comments on that as its primary theme. Billy has unprocessed trauma; he has been abused by his jerk dad his whole life and has become an angry, abusive man himself. The Mind Flayer (and by extension, Vecna) uses this and exploits his trauma to make him a vessel for all the Upside Down havoc wreaked in season three. I find the exploration of his backstory and his trauma to be very powerful. You can see that he does not want to comply with the Mind Flayer throughout the season, but he also seems just as helpless as he is during the rest of his life. Dacre Montgomery gives an absolute powerhouse of a performance here. His ability to act incredibly scary while also looking incredibly scared is just so impressive. Despite him being a jerk for the entire time we knew him, his final sacrifice hits harder because of what we've seen him go through and how broken we truly understand him to be. 4. Dustin Henderson The only non-angsty member of the party elevates himself above his friends Dustin is pretty universally recognized as the best member of the original four, and season three just proves that. While Lucas, Will, and especially frickin' Mike are incredibly angsty and annoying this season, Dustin maintains the child-like innocence with his hilarious nerdiness perfectly. They continue the bromance with Steve, and it is just so fun to watch. Gaten Matarazzo's chemistry with Joe Keery is just unmatched. Dustin doesn't have some huge arc or incredible transformation in this season, but he's just so much fun to watch on screen. I feel like they really perfected the balance between the cute, nerdy kid that he was in the first two seasons and the awkward teen that he is turning into. He doesn't lose any of his lovability or charm. But instead of it always feeling like a cute nerd, he feels like an awkward teenage nerd, albeit with a strange charisma that is absolutely magnetic. 3. Steve Harrington Steve will always have a spot on these lists It's really hard to top season two Steve, but season three comes pretty darn close. We get to see more of this incredible transformation by watching him learn that his life is not all about being a jock who needs to have a girlfriend. We see him struggling with his love life in the beginning of the season, and the writers decide to explore that aspect of his personality through introducing Robin. It seems like Steve is attracting the right kind of girl by being a better, more caring, more selfless person, and all of that is subverted when Robin comes out as gay. Instead of reacting like the Steve Harrington of old, he completely accepts both her rejection of him and her identity. It just shows the incredible growth that we've seen throughout every season of Stranger Things , and I absolutely love it. 2. Robin Buckley The dry, sarcastic ice cream scooper is one of the most iconic additions from the later seasons Of the characters introduced after season one, Robin is my second favorite. She is just so much fun. As I've said countless times, the Duffers are so good at setting up classic tropes of 80s movies and then subverting them and giving us something better and more memorable. Robin is set up as the unlikely yet perfect girlfriend for Steve. She's a nerdier type, but you can see that Steve really likes her. They take that in a different direction, however, by making you realize that she is her own character and not just a plot device for Steve's arc. By having her reveal that she is gay, it subverts everything you expect and lets you interpret her relationship with Steve as one of a totally platonic love. That in and of itself is so beautiful. But beyond that, Robin is just so funny. Her witty, sarcastic humor paired with Dustin, Steve, and Erica just makes for some of the most fun banter in the show. It is difficult to throw a new, bold ingredient into a working formula, but in this case, Robin improves that already great formula. 1. Eleven Seeing Eleven transform from "normal" teen back to the El we know was a fun arc This may be a spoiler for my season four ranking, but it's weird that this is the only ranking where El takes the top spot. She starts off this season with the same angst as so many of the other characters, but she quickly resumes being a badass after she finds out that Billy is possessed by the Mind Flayer. Season one does a great job of introducing her. Season two does a great job of showing her discovering what having a true family is like. And season three allows her to create her own identity. We see her learn from Mike and Hopper and Max before discovering her own agency and understanding how to save the people she loves. This weirdly feels like the first season where she's her own person, and for that, she is my favorite character in the season. I love that she tries to be a normal teenager with Max and Mike before remembering that she is anything but normal and embracing that. She's one of TV's most iconic characters for a reason. And this is one of her best seasons.

It's time for your suffering to end (or start? I don't know, I'm not as cool as Vecna) With this show ending so soon, I feel like it's inevitable that we will see more stories set in this world. But what could those be? Stranger Things is probably the second-most popular TV show IP (the most popular being Game of Thrones), and it's got such a rich world and mythology that could make for some really interesting spin-offs and sequels. I'm not specifying whether I'd want these to be movies or shows, but they are just stories I'd want to see. So here are ten future Stranger Things projects that I want. 10. Hellfire An exploration of Eddie Munson's childhood Eddie Munson is one of the most beloved characters in Stranger Things , but we honestly don't really know that much about him. There are things hinted at with the fact that he was a senior in high school for three years and lives in a trailer park with his uncle, but it'd be really interesting to see an expanded prequel about his character. This would probably be best as a miniseries, because it'd be a big departure from the main tone and vibe of Stranger Things , but I think this could be really interesting. Since it'd explore Eddie's earlier life, maybe have it based on the cynicism and darkness of 70s movies and lead into the hopeful, brighter 80s that we know and love. Obviously it'd look a lot different because there'd be no Upside Down or Hawkins Lab or anything, but I would be all game to see an Eddie-centric prequel. Dream Cast Mason Thames as Eddie Munson (Joseph Quinn might be too old at this point) Walker Scobell as Jason Carver Ryan Kiera Armstrong as Chrissy Cunningham Matthew McConaughey as Wayne Munson 9. Return of the Upside Down A sequel set in modern day If this was announced, would I be skeptical? Of course. I don't know how a sequel would look and I'd be really, really nervous, but also...I would be super, super excited. If they got the right adult cast, this would be really interesting. There would need to be an actual story to tell before I got truly excited about a sequel, but I would have hope if the Duffers were attached and they gave a good reason to bring the Upside Down back. I don't know how I'd feel. But there would be some level of automatic excitement and curiosity that would come with it. I'm only going to dream cast the younger cast, because I don't know if we'd see Joyce and Hopper in a sequel. Dream Cast Emily Blunt as Eleven Tom Hiddleston as Mike Wheeler Chiwetel Ejiofor as Lucas Sinclair Josh Gad as Dustin Henderson Jonathan Groff as Will Byers Molly Ringwald as Nancy Wheeler Chris Pine as Steve Harrington Uma Thurman as Robin Buckley Adam Driver as Jonathan Byers 8. 008 The adventures of Kali I don't actually know if this is something I'd want to see explored, but it could be interesting. Kali Prasad is one of the strangest parts of this entire show. She was the first glimpse at a bigger world of Stranger Things and showed us that there are more super-powered kids besides Eleven. Her character wasn't particularly compelling and The Lost Sister arc is universally disliked, but they have a chance to remedy that by giving Kali a truly good arc and making her character a bit more nuanced and likable. Dream Cast Linnea Berthelsen as Kali Prasad / 008 Matthew Modine as Martin Brenner Jamie Campbell Bower as Vecna 7. Dimension X The true origins of the Upside Down Look, this is probably a story we're going to get within season five, but I think a show focused almost entirely on the Upside Down could be really interesting. Maybe it's a show set in the 50s and is meant to feel like one of the old sci-fi horror films from that era. Follow a scientist or a politician who discovers the terrors of the Upside Down and explores its origins. This could make for some really interesting backstory that elevates Stranger Things and gives us a clearer picture of the terrifying dimension. Dream Cast Willem Dafoe as Dr. Harvey (Mad Scientist) Patrick Schwarzenegger as Jim Hopper Dan Stevens as Martin Brenner 6. Darkness on the Edge of Town A loosely-based adaptation of Hopper's solo novel If you don't know, there's a ton of Stranger Things spin-off novels, and one of them is a Hopper-centric story about his time as a big city cop before the events of the show. We see him while Sarah is still alive and while he's still married. There'd be a sense of hope but also tragedy, because you know where Hop starts Stranger Things at, meaning his prequel wouldn't have a very happy ending. I think it'd be fun to see him in a very different environment. A big-time New York cop with a family busting drug gangs would be awesome if it was starring this guy. Dream Cast Patrick Schwarzenegger as Jim Hopper Lily James as Diane Hopper Mahershala Ali as Saint John 5. The First Shadow A true adaptation of the popular stage play The First Shadow is the smash-hit Broadway play that is basically the quintessential Stranger Things prequel. Vecna stars as the main protagonist, but Hopper, Joyce, Bob, and lots of other beloved characters make an appearance. It shows a more expanded version of Vecna's backstory and the true nature of his connection to the Mind Flayer. We see his descent into madness and end with him meeting Eleven for the first time. People love The First Shadow , and I would love to see a true adaptation of it (maybe even in movie form). Dream Cast Drew Starkey as Jim Hopper Kaitlyn Maher as Joyce Byers Noah Jupe as Bob Newby Fionn Whitehead as Henry Creel / Vecna Dan Stevens as Martin Brenner Mackenzie Foy as Patty Newby Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Victor Creel Sam Rockwell as Alan Munson Reese Witherspoon as Virginia Creel 4. The Red Gate A prequel that explains the Russians' involvement in the show I think the Russians are probably one of the weaker aspects of the show. I still enjoy most of the plot lines in which they are involved, but I don't fully get how they are involved. That can be remedied by showing us the secrets behind the Russian scientists and how they got into the Upside Down. We could check in on all of our characters: Alexei, Enzo, Yuri...all of them would be in here. Give us a political conspiracy thriller in the world of Stranger Things . This could really be awesome and do something different with the Upside Down that would feel nothing like the main show. Dream Cast Tom Wlaschiha as Dmitri "Enzo" Antonov Alec Utgoff as Alexei Andrey Ivchenko as Grigori Nikola Djuricko as Yuri Ismaylov Vaidotas Martinaitis as Warden Melnikov 3. The Hair A sequel focused entirely on Steve Harrington If there is any real sequel that I want (and what I think everyone kind of wants) is one focused entirely on Steve Harrington. Sure, Hopper and Eleven are maybe (slightly) more compelling and nuanced, but Steve is the most universally beloved character in the show. Joe Keery is just so incredible and fun in this role, and I'd love to see him carry his own show. I don't know what the story would be. I don't know if we'd do more of the Upside Down. But if there is any character that I want to see more of after Stranger Things is over, it is absolutely Steve "The Hair" Harrington. Dream Cast Joe Keery as Steve Harrington Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson Maya Hawke as Robin Buckley Christopher McDonald as Mr. Harrington Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler 2. Suspicious Minds A prequel focused on Brenner and Hawkins Lab I know this has maybe been mentioned in some of these ideas (especially The First Shadow and Dimension X ), but Hawkins Lab has such a rich and interesting history that could be explored as this mysterious conspiracy thriller. Give us Brenner as the villainous protagonist and show the origins of his relationship with Vecna or Owens or even Terry Ives. Show us what drove him to become this mad scientist that we see him as in Stranger Things . Give us a glimpse at MK-Ultra and the suspicious things he's covered up. Suspicious Minds is another one of the official Stranger Things companion novels, and, although this wouldn't be a direct adaptation of that story, use it to give us a look at the madness of Brenner and how manipulative and evil he was. Maybe you end with the birth of Eleven to lead us beautifully into where Stranger Things would hypothetically start. Dream Cast Dan Stevens as Martin Brenner Rose Byrne as Terry Ives Maggie Gyllenhaal as Becky Ives Fionn Whitehead as Henry Creel / Vecna 1. Terrors of the Upside Down The anthology that Stranger Things was originally supposed to be When Stranger Things was first created, the Duffers envisioned it as an anthology series that followed different stories involving the Upside Down each season. Season one was the disappearance of Will. I have zero clue what season two would've been, but I think this would've made for a really interesting idea. Of course, I'm super happy that that wasn't what the show turned out to be, but I wouldn't mind if we still got that in the future. If the ending of the show leaves the door open for more stories with the Upside Down, I'd love to see these one-season arcs like a True Detective or American Horror Story that show us a different group of people fighting these monsters. It may be tough to pull off if the Upside Down is destroyed at the end of the show, but if it's not, maybe we see this in the future. Also, I'm not dream casting for this because if it were an anthology, we wouldn't see any characters that we know.

One summer can change everything...and this fall will change everything. Guys. We are officially within two weeks of the release of Stranger Things 5 . I don't think anyone on this planet can comprehend how excited I am for the final season of this show. But we aren't focused on that quite yet. Instead, we are talking about Stranger Things 3 . My review was posted yesterday, so you know what comes next. Stranger Things 3 has a relatively slow build, but the back half of the season is absolutely amazing, so that is reflected in my episode ranking. Check it out down below. 8. Chapter One: Suzie, Do You Copy? The first episode feels unnecessarily slow The beginning of season three is similar to the beginning of season two. It takes some time to get going. Dustin comes back from summer camp, so that allows some time to explore where everyone is in relation to him. We establish the bright summer vibe and show Starcourt Mall as a centerpiece for the season. There are very few hints or moments of foreshadowing about the threat of the Mind Flayer or the Russians, and I think that just makes this episode feel somewhat soft. Normally, hanging out with the characters is just really fun, but this is the height of their teenage angst. They're all rude to each other. Mike and Eleven are no longer cute and charming, because they want to set Eleven on this path of learning that her life isn't just about Mike. Lucas and Max feel like they exaggerate the worst elements of Mike and El's personalities. Hopper feels like he's devolved into a parody of himself. I love the introduction of Robin and Dustin and Steve are still golden, but this is a frustrating introduction to season three. 7. Chapter Five: The Flayed After the explosive episode four, episode five gives a lot of time for subplots As with many Stranger Things seasons, episode four is a fantastic transition into the back half of the season that appropriately raises the stakes. With the party aware of the returning threat of the Mind Flayer, it feels like this episode should continue that momentum and raise the stakes more. But it doesn't. Instead, it focuses a lot on the subplots that did not get as much focus in episode four. That means there's a lot of focus on the Russians here, and that's just not as compelling as the other elements of this season. Hopper chases Grigori. The Scoops Troop discovers the entire Russian lab. All of this is just the cheesiest side of the season, and that makes it another relatively frustrating episode. 6. Chapter Two: The Mall Rats An improvement over the first episode that still has some slow moments I feel like this is more what the first episode wanted to be. Sure, it still has a lot of the teenage angst and slow, uninteresting moments, but it balances it out with a lot of fun as well as a building sense of dread. The highlight of this episode is Max and Eleven's bonding montage at Starcourt and her eventual dumping of Mike. I think the way they juxtapose the colorful teenage summer with Billy's dark, unsettling turn as he is possessed by the Mind Flayer is really, really cool. It casts a shadow over everything else going on, which sets the stage for an exciting season. I still find Mike to be incredibly unlikable and I'm never going to be crazy about the Russia plot line, but this is a very entertaining episode. 5. Chapter Three: The Case of the Missing Lifeguard A mix of the frustrating slow build of the season and some great, emotional character work I know I'm just repeating myself, but the most frustrating part of this season is the angsty, unlikable turn that Mike and Lucas have taken. However, here, it ties into the main plot a bit more, because you see it affecting Will. I think Will destroying Castle Byers is one of the saddest moments in the show, because he's a kid who had his childhood taken away while all of his friends grew up. That's some powerful, impactful stuff, and I think it really demonstrates that this still is the coming-of-age story Stranger Things has always been. Dacre Montgomery also gets his true time to shine as Billy acts really, really creepy towards Max and El in this episode. The danger of the Mind Flayer grows closer, and it all starts to come together in the next episode. 4. Chapter Seven: The Bite A satisfyingly subversive episode that reaffirms how much you love these characters I would say there's a pretty big jump in quality from episode three to episode seven. The first half of this season is good . The second half of this season is some of the best stuff in the entire show. The Bite has everything you'd want from a Stranger Things episode: exciting action, graphic, unsettling imagery, and truly powerful character moments. Robin's coming out scene is a stroke of genius from the writers. They set up the subversion perfectly, because you really do believe that Robin is going to be the new Nancy. But this is a satisfying subversion that feels earned because Steve has just misinterpreted all of Robin's hints towards him, and he understands that and continues his friendship with her. Beyond that, Eleven getting bitten by the Mind Flayer and having that absolutely disgusting slug wiggling in her leg is such a memorable, terrifying image that continues the strong build towards the ultimate showdown. And, of course, Alexei's death is shocking and heart-breaking, fully raising the stakes and showing the true danger of the Russians. Stranger Things is always great at setting up it's finale, and this season is no different. 3. Chapter Six: E Pluribus Unum A continuation of the building intensity that has some all-star performances Episode six feels like what episode five should have been. Every single plot line is now firing on all cylinders. Hopper and Joyce have captured Alexei and are interrogating him with Murray. The Scoops Troop have been split up, with Steve and Robin being tortured by the Russians and Dustin and Erica trying to find a way to get them back. And, of course, the main crew are searching for Billy. This episode is the continuation of the building momentum from episode four that I referenced earlier. Eleven's exploration of Billy's mind is heart-breaking as we see that Billy was happy when his mother was around, but his abusive dad pushed her away and made him into the broken, angry man that he is. The final scene is just incredible. Billy threatening Eleven is truly scary but also carries so much emotion and sadness because of Dacre Montgomery's facial expressions. He is so good in this season, and he really gets a chance to shine in the way that he manages to be both menacing and sad at the same time. 2. Chapter Four: The Sauna Test An episode that builds its intensity before reaching an explosive climax Speaking of Dacre getting his time to shine, The Sauna Test is just an iconic episode of Stranger Things . After Will discovers that the Mind Flayer has returned, the party immediately turns suspicions to Billy. The episode builds and builds to the titular sauna test, where the group traps Billy in a burning hot sauna to reveal whether or not the Mind Flayer is inside of him. This episode would be great no matter what, but Dacre Montgomery's ability to be both terrified and then terrifying in a matter of seconds just makes this an all-timer sequence. This is the moment where season three kicks into high gear, and it is just as exciting and thrilling as you would expect. 1. Chapter Eight: The Battle of Starcourt An exciting, emotional finale that is everything you'd want from Stranger Things Every finale of Stranger Things is basically perfect, and that is absolutely the case for the epic showdown that is The Battle of Starcourt . The hour and twenty-minute long episode (which would be one of season four's shorter entries) uses every minute of its gargantuan runtime to have exciting action or emotional character moments. Every character gets their moment to shine. Billy sacrifices himself to save the party after Eleven reminds him of his mother. Steve saves Nancy from Billy by crashing the car into him. Lucas uses the fireworks that he stole from the gas station to distract the Mind Flayer. And how can you not talk about this episode without talking about the absolute perfection that is The NeverEnding Story? After setting up Suzie possibly not existing in episode one, the writers reveal that she is indeed real in the moment where she is most needed. Absolute genius. And, of course, after Joyce closes the gate and the Spider Monster is killed, we move into the epilogue. There are, like, fifteen moments in the epilogue itself that will make you cry. Nancy and Jonathan's goodbye is devastating. Eleven finally telling Mike she loves him is heartwarming. But the big kicker is obviously Hopper's incredible speech that he wrote to Eleven. For my money, that is the most emotional moment in the show. It gets me every single time. David Harbour's warm voiceover paired with a truly beautiful piece of writing just hits after the episode you just watched and the sacrifice he made. Even after season four, this is still one of the best episodes of the show. It is absolutely incredible.

One summer can change everything. Stranger Things is a 2016-2025 television series created by Matt and Ross Duffer, produced by 21 Laps Entertainment and Monkey Massacre Productions, and distributed by Netflix. The third season stars Millie Bobby Brown and David Harbour. It was nominated for eight Primetime Emmys and did not win any. "When life hurts you - because it will - remember the hurt. The hurt is good." - Jim Hopper Plot In the summer of 1985, things seem to be going well in Hawkins - a new mall is taking the town by storm and the terrors of the Upside Down seem long gone. That is, until a secret Russian scheme is discovered that may have opened up a connection back to the Mind Flayer. As the party attempts to enjoy their summer, nothing can prepare them for the threat that lies ahead. The Sweet Seasons two and three are, in most people's opinions, the lowest points of Stranger Things . While that is true, I think people do not give some of these moments enough credit. The third season of the show definitely has some of the weakest elements...but it also has some of the strongest. Right away, this is, in my opinion, the best-acted season so far. The standout is Dacre Montgomery, who just comes out of nowhere with an Emmy-worthy performance. He is so good at playing a Billy who is possessed by the Mind Flayer, because he acts threatening and scared at the same time. In an interview, he said that throughout the season, you can see the real Billy in his eyes, and that is just next-level acting. The sauna test and his threat to Eleven in episode six give me chills with how good his acting is. The fact that he was not nominated for an Emmy shows how much of a joke awards shows are. The other performances are also fantastic: Millie is arguably at her best this season, new cast member Maya Hawke eats up every scene she's in, Gaten Matarazzo is hilarious, and, as always, David Harbour is David Harbour. This season also brings out some of the strongest emotions since season one. Inherently, I don't think seasons two and three really have the same level of pure heart-break that season one had, but season three tugs on the heartstrings a lot. Billy's story is really tragic. When they decide to focus on Will's struggles, it can be incredibly emotional. Hopper's speech to Eleven in the finale is possibly the saddest moment in the entire series. It feels like the Duffer brothers lost a bit of the heavy, tearjerking moments that season one had in the second season, but Stranger Things 3 brings them back with a vengeance. I also do really enjoy the change in tone for this third season. I know some people are critical of how bright and fun it is, but I think it fits the vibe they were going for. The first two seasons are set in the fall and deal with this very mysterious, otherworldly threat. This season is set during the summer, and, although the threat is still from the Upside Down, it very much exists in the real world. This feels like Stranger Things 's summer blockbuster-inspired season, and I think that works as a nice little change of pace. And, as always, a new season of Stranger Things means great new characters. The main standouts here are Robin, Alexei, and Erica. Robin is probably my favorite character in the season. She is so funny and works as a great foil to Steve, and the Duffer brothers execute the cliche-subversion again so perfectly. Every season, they set up a very generic trope - season one was Steve being a typical bully, season two was Dr. Owens being another evil doctor, and season three is Robin being the "perfect girl" that Steve doesn't see standing right in front of him. But they subvert it so well with the reveal of her sexuality, and it makes you fall in love with both her and Steve because of how good of friends they become without having to have a romance. Alexei is everyone's "deserved better" character of the season. They have him form this really fun bromance with Murray that makes it really heart-breaking when he ultimately gets killed. And, although Erica isn't technically a new character, this is the first season where she gets actual focus. Her sarcasm and sassiness is just tons of fun, and Priah Ferguson chews up the scenery every time she's on screen. I know I said this before, but this season has genuinely some of my favorite moments on TV ever. There are so many amazing, standout sequences that are so memorable and entertaining, and I don't think it gets enough credit or recognition for these various sequences. The sauna test is an absolute masterclass in tension, acting, and direction. Will destroying Castle Byers is one of the most emotional and underrated scenes in the show. And, of course, The NeverEnding Story . People who dislike that moment...I don't understand you. Yes, I get it's goofy, but it is the perfect payoff for the reveal of Suzie and it is an absolutely incredible Stranger Things moment. Speaking of payoff, this season does a fantastic job of setup and payoff. Every season of Stranger Things does this wonderfully, but it just stands out a bit more in season three. Suzie is the best example, because her being real and coming in to save the day at the last second is just so frickin' awesome, but the way that Billy's arc is executed works entirely on setup and payoff. The finale is just chock-full of awesome moments that all season has been building up to. I love it when the final episode of a season truly brings everything full circle and ties up basically all of the loose ends, and that's exactly what happens in season three. The Sour I think the thing that makes season three arguably the weakest season is that this is where the characters are at their worst. We can start by talking about the kids: they are transitioning into adulthood, so much of the season deals with their angst and awkwardness. Mike and Lucas revert into the worst versions of themselves while Will just sulks in the background and begs them to play D&D all season. Max is also reverted into the worst version of herself as she motivates Eleven to do all of the petty things that teenagers do. They are just really unlikable (or in Will's case, underutilized), and that can make it frustrating to watch them. Now, on the adult side...Hopper goes in my negatives. Jim Hopper is one of my favorite fictional characters ever, which is probably why he's here: this season, he acts very out of character. There are times where you see normal, one-of-the-best-TV-characters-ever Hopper, but most of the time, he is in this aggressive, unlikable Magnum P.I. mode. He almost feels like a parody of himself. Now, once you get into the second half of the season, he becomes a lot more like old Hopper, but his character can be very inconsistent, and thus, very frustrating. The season also takes a while to get going. It really sulks in the teenage angst and the weird dynamic between the main group. The Mind Flayer doesn't even really feel like a threat until the fourth episode. Sure, we see stuff happen with Billy and there are ominous goings-on, but the story of the season does not feel like it kicks into motion until we get the sauna test at the end of the fourth episode. I am also not crazy about the Russian plot line. This is where it feels like Stranger Things got too cute with itself and it's 80s references. A lot of 80s movies make the Soviets the main antagonists because of the Cold War setting, so Stranger Things takes that route...with middling results. I enjoy the characters who are on this journey, but the entire storyline just feels out of place and ridiculous. The show started off as this very self-contained story about a mysterious girl and a terrifying alternate dimension haunting a small town, so to bring this Russian conspiracy into it just feels like a bit too much. Final Thoughts and Score Stranger Things 3 has some of the highest highs and the lowest lows of the entire show. Ultimately, though, great acting, high emotions, and an explosive finale make this still a must-watch season of TV. I am going Sweet here. Age range is 13+. SWEET N' SOUR SCALE Sweet (Great) Savory (Good) Sour (Bad) Moldy (Terrible) "Stranger Things 3" Fun Factor: 9/10 Acting: 10/10 Story: 8/10 Characters: 8/10 Quality: 8/10 Created by Matt and Ross Duffer Rated TV-14 for moderate violence and action, frightening themes and images, language, thematic elements Premiered on July 4, 2019 Episode runtime: 50 minutes Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven David Harbour as Jim Hopper Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers Dacre Montgomery as Billy Hargrove Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas Sinclair Noah Schnapp as Will Byers Sadie Sink as May Mayfield Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler Charlie Heaton as Jonathan Byers Joe Keery as Steve Harrington Maya Hawke as Robin Buckley Priah Ferguson as Erica Sinclair Cara Buono as Karen Wheeler Brett Gelman as Murray Bauman Alec Utgoff as Alexxei Andrey Ivchenko as Grigori Michael Park as Tom Holloway Francesca Reale as Heather Holloway Peggy Miley as Doris Driscoll Cary Elwes as Larry Kline Jake Busey as Bruce Lowe Joe Chrest as Ted Wheeler Rob Morgan as Officer Calvin Powell John Reynolds as Officer Phil Callahan Randy Havens as Scott Clarke Catherine Curtin as Claudia Henderson Christopher Convery as Young Billy Hargrove Gabriella Pizzolo as Suzie Bingham Paul Reiser as Sam Owens

This could be a huge episode. Episode six of Stranger Things 5 is titled Escape from Camazotz , which is really, really interesting. Camazotz could be a reference to two things: first, a massive, bat-like creature in Dungeons & Dragons OR this metaphysical planet that is controlled by IT, the mysterious evil entity that serves as the main villain in A Wrinkle in Time . For this theory post, I am going with the second one and assuming that Camazotz is some sort of prison. I don't think it's fun to theorize about Camazotz being a D&D related thing, because that likely means it's just another monster from the Upside Down. But here it is. 5. The Party Escaping the Upside Down Lab The military and Vecna will likely be hunting them down The Duffers have said that a lot of this season takes place in the Upside Down, and I expect that this will be especially true in volume two and the finale. Throughout the marketing, it becomes pretty clear that there is some sort of lab in the Upside Down. Whether it's a military base or the Upside Down version of Hawkins Lab we don't really know, but all we know is that it is there. That could definitely be Camazotz - maybe the party has been trapped there by either the military or Vecna and they have to figure out some way to escape. Actually, maybe it will be that the military has them trapped there and Vecna is coming, so they have to get out of there before Vecna arrives, or all hell will break loose. 4. Vecna Escaping the Mind Flayer's Prison If The First Shadow play is truly canon, this could be a major plot point In Stranger Things: The First Shadow , it seems like the Mind Flayer might control Vecna, which would make Vecna more of a victim than a villain. While I doubt that the show will actually take that route, I could see the Mind Flayer still being the one in control and Vecna being trapped in his metaphysical or mental prison. When he escapes the Mind Flayer's prison (aka Camazotz), maybe he will be more dangerous and more evil than the Mind Flayer. That would be a way of incorporating The First Shadow without making it seem like Vecna isn't the true bad guy. 3. The Group Escaping the Upside Down Tunnels The tunnels will return this season - possibly as a prison With Hawkins crawling with Upside Down creatures and danger, it looks like the tunnels from season two will be making their return. The marketing has shown us Lucas and Joyce and Mike all running through the tunnels...so what if they get trapped in a specific part of the tunnels? That part being Camazotz? A true physical Upside Down prison would make sense for being called Camazotz, especially if Dustin or Mike are the ones that are trapped there. This could be similar to when Hopper was trapped in the tunnels in Dig Dug and needed to be saved by Joyce and Bob. 2. Max Escaping Vecna's Mind Would she wake up this late into the season? We still don't really know exactly what Max's role will be in this season. She's still comatose in all the marketing, but you'd expect that she would wake up at some point. I don't know if it'll be in volume one, but if it's not in volume one, I would honestly expect this to be the place where it happens. If there's a way in which Max can wake up that is discovered by Lucas or Dustin or someone else, they could be trying to help her escape from Vecna's mind prison: Camazotz. And, hopefully, she succeeds. 1. Holly Escaping Vecna's Prison The youngest Wheeler is going to be in trouble throughout the season Many of us suspect that Holly is the one who mysteriously vanishes in episode two, so if she is captured by Vecna and in his clutches for the majority of this season, this could be the place where she escapes. I expect that the party will be searching for a way to get her back throughout the season, so once again, this could be the daring rescue. I really think Camazotz being some secret Upside Down prison that we haven't seen yet is the most likely outcome, and I think Holly is the most likely to be stuck there. But we will see in just over a month!

Ranking commencing in three...two... We have officially entered volume two predictions! Shock Jock is the first episode of the second volume, and I am very curious to see what this episode entails. Obviously we expect Sorcerer to be a huge, finale-esc episode, so what is going to happen after that? Stranger Things loves to have huge events in its mid-season finales, so Shock Jock is going to deal with the aftermath of whatever happens at the end of volume one. So here are my predictions for one that aftermath may look like. 5. A Secret Name for a Death That Takes Place Maybe volume two starts off with a "shock" I highly doubt this is what the term "shock jock" actually means within the context of the show, but who knows? Maybe the Duffers made a really clever and secret hint at something terrible, like The Rains of Castamere hints at the Red Wedding. Maybe Will is a goner. Maybe we lose Mike or Steve. Hopefully not, but I do not feel like anyone is safe at this point. Honestly, I expect that we will have a major death in volume one, so we probably will already be dealing with losses. Maybe the shock jock is the second major death. We shall see. 4. The Destruction of the WSQK Radio Station Vecna will probably be back at full strength by this episode We know that the WSQK radio station will play a major role in this season. We don't know exactly how it will shake out, but I expect that it does not make it through the entire season. With all the destruction going on throughout the marketing, it does not seem like the radio station is long for this world. So maybe, in a way, Vecna is the shock jock and he ends up destroying the radio station, giving the party no place to hide. That could really up the stakes as we enter the final few episodes of this show. 3. A Major Event that Takes Place at the Radio Station The team could rally in light of Vecna's return If the WSQK radio station is going to be this big of a location, I expect there will be some major events that happen here. If Vecna has returned at this point, maybe he shows up to the station and wreaks some havoc but does not destroy it. I don't really know, to be honest. This is probably the toughest episode to predict or theorize about, because Shock Jock is just such an obscure title. But we will see in a little over a month! 2. A Plan Laid Out at the WSQK Radio Station We know that there's going to be something like this based on the trailer Like I said, Vecna will most likely be back at this point in the season. There's almost no way we go through all of volume one without witnessing his full return. This could thrust the party into crisis mode and "shock jock" could be the name of some master plan they have to take down Vecna. The first trailer for season five had Mike in a voiceover saying "Burn commencing in..." and then counting down. That could be in this episode. Maybe the "burn" they are referring to is a phase of this shock jock plan. Who knows? I will probably look ridiculous when this episode comes out, but it's fun to theorize. 1. Steve's Codename for the Season Everyone's favorite babysitter is featured heavily in the WSQK van in marketing Okay, okay. If Steve is going to die, this might be the episode. We have seen him in this van or in some vehicle that has the WSQK logo or a satellite attached so much in the marketing that it makes me think he is the titular shock jock. And if he is, that might not be a great sign for his survival. If he is this "shock jock", this episode could be named after him to honor his swan song. Look, obviously I have no idea, but I do think that this is a legitimately possible outcome. So I'm nervous, but if they find a way to kill off Steve that feels cathartic and true, then this will be a really emotional and powerful final few episodes.