The eagerly anticipated first half of Season 5 of “Stranger Things” has finally made its debut, but fans will have to exercise patience to witness the conclusion of this thrilling saga. In a departure from Netflix’s usual all-at-once release strategy, the concluding episodes are set to premiere on December 25 and 31. Within this first half, however, lies a potentially revealing line that could foreshadow the future of the beloved Hawkins crew.

In the opening episode of Season 5, titled “Chapter One: The Crawl,” a pivotal moment unfolds between Mike (Finn Wolfhard) and Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) just before she embarks on another perilous journey into the Upside Down. As they ponder the outcome of defeating Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower), Mike reflects on his Dungeons & Dragons campaigns, noting that heroes often find themselves unable to return home, scarred by the weight of their adventures. Instead, they are compelled to seek new beginnings.

This reflection has fueled one of the most intriguing theories among “Stranger Things” devotees: the entire series might be a grand D&D campaign orchestrated by the boys. While such an ending could feel anticlimactic to some, it doesn’t preclude the show from drawing inspiration from the game’s narrative arcs. Mike’s words suggest that although the team might vanquish Vecna, they could face a poignant parting, each seeking their own path to prevent new threats from emerging.

Matt Duffer, who co-created the series, has previously hinted that the Season 5 finale won’t be universally satisfying. The conclusion aims to leave room for possible spin-offs, providing closure for most characters while keeping the franchise’s potential alive. Interestingly, not all characters are set to continue their journeys in spin-offs. In a conversation with Josh Horowitz on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Matt and Ross Duffer disclosed that Eleven, one of the show’s central figures, will not be the focus of any upcoming spin-off ventures.

Series co-creator Matt Duffer has already spoken about how the end of “Stranger Things” Season 5 won’t make everyone happy. That’s due to the fact the show will leave the door open for spinoffs with its finale, so while there might be a sense of closure for most, there still needs to be room to milk this franchise for all it is worth. What’s more interesting is who seemingly won’t get a spinoff. According to Matt and Ross Duffer, speaking to Josh Horowitz for his podcast Happy Sad Confused, an Eleven spin-off is definitely not in the works.

Notably, the Duffers don’t mention Mike in that statement, and Mike is the one who foreshadows how heroes in D&D campaigns can never return home. Assuming he doesn’t die (and he better not), Mike may feel like Hawkins is too small for him now. He could be the one searching for adventure elsewhere, or maybe he wants to find a place that doesn’t have a bunch of bad memories of the time he and his friends were almost killed by vicious Demogorgons. 

Then again, there’s also a lot of speculation that Eleven may die by the end of “Stranger Things” Season 5. Perhaps the only way to get rid of Vecna for good is for her to sacrifice her life. That would undoubtedly make Mike depressed, goading him into getting as far away from Hawkins as possible. It would be a downer conclusion, but it could also set the stage for a spinoff centered on Mike down the road.

“Stranger Things” Season 5, Volume 1 is now available on Netflix.