As anticipation builds for the final season of Stranger Things, fans are on the edge of their seats speculating about the fate of beloved characters. Will the end bring tragedy for Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) at the hands of Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower)? Could Steve (Joe Keery) meet a heroic end similar to Eddie Munson’s (Joseph Quinn) memorable exit in Season 4? And, might Hopper (David Harbour) face a final curtain call?

**Warning: Spoilers ahead for Stranger Things Season 5 Episodes 1-7, now available on Netflix**

As of now, fans can breathe a sigh of relief—no major characters have met their end in the current season of Stranger Things. While the looming finale still holds the potential for heartbreak, the Duffer Brothers have shown unexpected leniency towards their extensive ensemble. In a thrilling twist, Will taps into his newfound “Sorcerer” abilities just in time to save Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin), and Robin (Maya Hawke) from the clutches of the Demogorgons. Meanwhile, Mrs. Wheeler (Cara Buono) emerges from her hospital bed to fend off Demodogs that Vecna unleashed on a comatose Max (Sadie Sink). Even Mr. Wheeler (Joe Chrest) narrowly escapes death in a face-off with a monster, though he remains offscreen in a coma.

Among the luckiest survivors this season are Nancy (Natalia Dyer) and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton). In Episode 5, “Shock Jock,” Nancy makes a bold and reckless move, firing at a cosmic phenomenon in hopes of dismantling the Upside Down’s barrier over Hawkins. Contrary to Dustin’s (Gaten Matarazzo) warnings of impending doom, this act backfires, trapping Nancy and Jonathan in a room dissolving into chaos. As they scramble onto a desk to escape, a heartfelt conversation unfolds, revealing their struggles in the relationship.

This poignant moment crescendos with Jonathan confessing his desperate plan to propose as a means to salvage their bond. Facing what seems like inevitable doom, he asks Nancy if she will not marry him. She accepts, and together, they brace for whatever comes next, embracing their uncertain future.

Then Nancy drops the ring and it pings across the now solid floor. They are saved.

Folks, I’m sorry, but Nancy and Jonathan were goners. They did something stupid and were about to suffer the consequences. They dredged up every bitter thought they each were suppressing and achieved a type of romantic grace that only literature’s most tragic lovers ever enjoy. But then — for some reason — they were saved? Nancy and Jonathan should have died in Stranger Things Season 5 Episode 6!

The fact that the Duffer Brothers concocted such a beautifully-affecting death scene for these two characters only to chicken out at the end really sums up my biggest pet peeve with Stranger Things in general. Stranger Things is a show that riffs on Stephen King and Steven Spielberg, remixing those storytellers’ greatest hits for the Netflix generation. But what King and Spielberg’s work had, that the Duffers’ show doesn’t, is real bite. The danger was real, the deaths stuck.

Heading into Stranger Things‘s grand finale next week, I have no doubt that someone will die. The show is heavily hinting that Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) will sacrifice herself alongside Kali (Linnea Berthelsen), but I’m guessing that Hopper will take her place. (I mean, the man keeps trying to kill himself this season so maybe it will finally happen for him at the end.)

Stranger Things doesn’t have the guts to hit us where it really hurts. The only major players who ever die are supporting characters introduced for a season-long arc or random background soldiers. None of the major players are ever in any real danger, which means there’s never any real reason to fear the monsters of Stranger Things.