Content Warning: This article contains spoilers for Stranger Things, season 4
Season 4 of Stranger Things was filled with danger as fans hoped their favorite characters would get out alive. Sure enough, there were some shocking deaths and some uncertain futures for some of the show's heroes. Needless to say, this has inspired a lot of speculation about the fate of the others that remain.
With season 4 setting up an even more dangerous fifth season, it seems like a guarantee that there will be casualties and fans will have to say goodbye to some of them. However, while Stranger Things can be unpredictable at times, there are certain characters who feel like they are most likely to survive and make it out of season 5 alive.
Steve Harrington
There were a lot of near-deaths in Stranger Things season 4 including a close call for Steve Harrington when he was dragged to the Upside Down and attacked by Vecna's bat creatures. Certainly, there is a possibility for Steve's death as it is easy to see him sacrificing himself to protect the younger heroes which he does so often.
However, a tragic end does not seem to be the way Steve's arc is heading. Fans have seen Steve lose his popularity and his girlfriend over the course of the show. His talk of wanting a family makes it seem like he is heading toward his own happy ending that he deserves.
Argyle
Argyle is certainly not the smartest new character in Stranger Things season 4 but he is a goofy new addition to the story. Given that he wasn't an integral part of the story, it is possible that Argyle doesn't even return for season 5 which would mean he managed to avoid the impending threat.
However, even if he does return, he doesn't seem like the kind of character who would be killed off. Argyle is purely a comic relief addition to the story and likely the broadest character the show has ever created. Killing off a character that is just there to make jokes and be a goofball would feel very strange for the tone of the show.
Robin Buckley
After being introduced in season 3, Robin quickly won the hearts of fans, giving Steve a hard time and fitting right into the heroics of the cast. Season 4 continued to show her to be one of the funniest and most charming characters in the series while also exploring her romance in an unexpected way.
Like Steve, Robin feels like a character who is not meant to have a tragic ending. Season 5 will hopefully give her more screen time and allow her to explore her life as a young gay woman, perhaps finding love for the first time. It would be an ugly misstep for the show to rob her of that with her demise and it is likely they know that is not the right direction to take.
Erica Sinclair
From the beginning, Stranger Things has always put the young characters in danger starting with the abduction of Will Byers. However, it is hard to imagine the show killing off its youngest character, Erica Sinclair.
Erica is a likable badass who is not afraid to speak her mind and take action. Season 4 put her in the midst of danger but not as much as the older characters. While she is getting older like the other kids in the series, killing off the younger sibling of one of the main characters would perhaps be too dark.
Dustin Henderson
There are certain characters on Stranger Things who, despite constantly being in the middle of all the mayhem and danger, just don't feel like the type of character the show would kill off. Dustin certainly takes that role as he has been a lovable fan favorite from the very beginning.
Though he can have big emotional moments, like his final scene with Eddie in season 4, Dustin has always been the one in the group who can crack a joke even in the direst of situations. Season 5 will surely find Dustin back in danger, but he provides such a joyful spark to the show that it would be hard for the show to have anything but a heartbreaking ending if he died.
Mike Wheeler
Much like Dustin, Mike Wheeler's death would present a hole of grief that the show would likely never recover from. As Will points out in season 4, Mike is the heart of the group, connected to so many characters.
While it could be argued that his death would be a compelling direction to take for the narrative, Stranger Things is ultimately a show that wants to entertain. If Mike were to die, it would feel as if the heroes have lost, regardless of whether or not they defeat Vecna.
Jim Hopper
Before the end of season 3, Hopper would have seemed like an obvious choice as the hero to make the sacrifice to save the day. He wouldn't hesitate to put others before himself and it would make sense for one of the adult characters to die rather than one of the kids.
However, season 3 ended with Hopper's apparent hero's death only for him to return in season 4. Now it feels like those cards have been played and to repeat it would be a bad idea. It would likely not have the same emotional impact and would feel rather pointless since so much of season 4 was dedicated to bringing him back.
Eleven
Stranger Things is very much an ensemble show, but if there is one main character, it is certainly Eleven. Her journey has been so central to the entire series and season 4 set it up for her fight against Vecna to be truly personal for her.
But while season 4 continued to make Eleven a superhero, it is clear that the ending she deserves is one of peace. She is still a child who has been robbed of so much of her childhood. To see her die in the end would be a disservice to the character. Instead, she deserves to see a future in which she no longer needs to fight and can simply be a kid.