Stranger Things Season 5 Tease Might Reveal Vecna's Next Victim (& 1 Character Return)

While plot details about Stranger Things season 5 continue to be a mystery, one tease about a main character might reveal who will be Vecna’s (Jamie Campbell Bower) next victim, as well as an awaited character return. Stranger Things quickly became one of Netflix’s biggest TV shows, and after four seasons full of ups and downs and shocking reveals, it’s ending with its upcoming fifth season. Given the massive cliffhanger ending of Stranger Things season 4, there’s a lot of anticipation and speculation around the plot of season 5 and the fate of Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and the Hawkins crew.

At the end of Stranger Things season 4, the Upside Down began to bleed into the human world following Max’s (Sadie Sink) confrontation with Vecna. The villain escaped and his whereabouts are unknown, while Max is in a coma and the rest of the Hawkins crew are unsure how to stop the Upside Down’s takeover. On top of that, Vecna will surely want revenge against Eleven and the rest, and though many believe Mike or Nancy will be the next target, one key tease from one character might reveal the next target and the return of a beloved one.

Dustin's Grief In Stranger Things Season 5 Makes Him A Perfect Target For Vecna

Vecna Uses His Victim’s Trauma, Grief, & Pain Against Them

Dustin gets emotional at his high school in Stranger Things Season 4 episode 9

As is tradition for the show, Stranger Things season 4 saw the death of a beloved and just-introduced character: Eddie Munson (Joseph Quinn). Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) and Eddie became very close throughout season 4, and Eddie died in Dustin’s arms in the Upside Down after Eddie was attacked by one too many demobats. Unfortunately, Dustin and the rest couldn’t bring Eddie’s body back to the human world, and they had to leave him in the other dimension.

Matarazzo shared that, while Dustin is still “the guy we know and love” in season 5, there’s still trauma, loss, and “intense grief.”

Dustin was understandably and visibly upset about Eddie’s death at the end of Stranger Things season 4, more so as they didn’t get to clear his name and he’s still considered a killer. Dustin, then, will have a lot of feelings to deal with in season 5, and Matarazzo already confirmed this. Speaking to The Direct in December 2024, Matarazzo shared that, while Dustin is still “the guy we know and love” in season 5, there’s still trauma, loss, and “intense grief.”

Dustin dealing with intense grief automatically makes him a perfect target for Vecna, more so as Dustin was part of the team that went into the Upside Down to try to kill him. Vecna going after Mike would be too obvious due to his relationship with Eleven, Will would also be too obvious thanks to his lingering connection to the other dimension, so Dustin being the next target would be a more fitting and smarter move by Vecna.

Vecna Targeting Dustin Can Bring Eddie Back (Without Undoing Season 4)

Vecna Can Further Torture Dustin With Eddie

Vecna choosing Dustin as his next victim also makes it possible for Eddie to return without undoing season 4. A lot has been said and theorized about Eddie’s possible survival and return in Stranger Things season 5, but the best way to bring him back is through Vecna’s visions. As seen in season 4, Vecna uses horrifying vivid visions to torture his victims, such as when he shows the Wheeler family dead to Nancy.

With Dustin under his control, Vecna could use his trauma and guilt over Eddie’s death to further torture him, giving him vivid visions of his deceased friend. Stranger Things season 5 has everything to be the show’s darkest, most dramatic, and potentially tragic season, and if Dustin is Vecna’s next target, it’s to be seen if he will survive.

Source: The Direct.

Stranger Things

TV-14

Drama

Mystery

Horror

Science Fiction

8/10

474

9.2/10

Release Date: 2016 - 2025

Stranger Things is a Netflix series set in the 1980s, where the mysterious disappearance of a young boy leads a small town to uncover secret experiments and supernatural forces. A significant focus is on a peculiar girl who may hold the key to the unfolding mystery.