What Happened To Max In The Stranger Things 4 Finale?

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Stranger Things season 4, episode 9, "The Piggyback."

Does Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink) die in the Stranger Things season 5. Although not one of the original Stranger Things characters, Max has continued to grow in importance since her introduction in season 2, becoming a core part of the group - in particular thanks to her relationships with Lucas Sinclair (Caleb McLaughlin) and Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) - and part of the show's emotional center as well.

That's the case more than ever in Stranger Things 4, which takes Max's role (and Sink's performance) to new heights. The character was key to Stranger Things season 4, volume 1, especially thanks to her being targeted by Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) and surviving courtesy of Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)." That continues in Stranger Things season 4, volume 2, which once again puts Max in Vecna's sights, this time as she attempts to lure him into the open where he can be killed. Unfortunately, things go in the opposite direction.

While Vecna manages to survive, Max does die in the Stranger Things season 4 finale... for just over a minute. Having been consumed by Vecna, lifted into the air and her limbs snapped, her heart stopped beating, but she was brought back thanks to Eleven, who manages to use her powers to revive her from within Max's mind. It seems like the worst is over, but it's not so easy - Max is left blinded, with broken limbs, and ultimately in a coma after the attack from Vecna, which she may never wake up from, and that is where her story concludes in Stranger Things season 4, volume 2's ending. Still, despite the bleak outlook, there is reason to be hopeful that Max won't actually die a second time in Stranger Things.

Why Couldn't Eleven Find Max In The Void At The End Of Stranger Things 4?

Although Eleven is able to use her powers to resurrect Max, it doesn't all work out smoothly. Not only is Max in a coma but, towards the very end of the Stranger Things finale, Eleven is unable to find her in the Void, with only herself there. Eleven attempts to find Max in the hopes of fully bringing her back, so that she can't find or reach her is a worrying sign, but one that makes sense with Max's current condition, with the implication being that Max is brain-dead. Because of that, it would be impossible for Eleven to use her powers to enter her mind, since it would require something active to connect to, though it does raise the question of just why that happened when she was nonetheless able to resurrect her. That's ultimately a question for Stranger Things season 5, but it's quite possible that Max's death, which was used to open a gate, meant she became part of Vecna. Eleven was able to resurrect Max's body, but her consciousness remains trapped in Vecna's red smoke area.

Will Max Die In Stranger Things Season 5?

Max being in a brain-dead coma isn't exactly encouraging, but the circumstances of her ending in Stranger Things season 4 do give reason for optimism. After all, Stranger Things had the perfect opportunity to kill her off, so if Max were going to die, why not then? There's little impact to be gained from having her die between Stranger Things seasons or later on from her injuries, which suggests there's a greater plan in place. It obviously won't be easy for Max to recover and there will surely be some significant long term effects from what happened to her, but it does feel as though Stranger Things has decided not to take the chance to kill her off.

Similarly, having her alive but remain in a coma doesn't appear to be a viable option either, as it would be a waste of the character (and actor), and if doing that then, again, having Max die would have made more sense. Perhaps this is the Duffer bros. buying themselves some time, keeping Max alive in a more non-committal way, but her link to Vecna would suggest she will return and play a key role in his ultimate defeat. If her coma is indeed because of Max's mind still being with Vecna, then it at least gives a path to properly bringing her back, as Vecna and the Upside Down will presumably be defeated once and for all in Stranger Things season 5, since it's the last, and with that Max can truly return.

Next: Of Course Eddie's Upside Down Song Was Perfect!

Stranger Things season 4, volume 2 is now streaming on Netflix.

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