Regarding the mysterious, enigmatic and exciting world of stranger things, it can be argued that much of the overall narrative is still secret. Many plot-relevant details have yet to be uncovered and explored. Prior to the release of the long-awaited fourth installment, many had speculated that anticipated answers to the existence of the fictional alternate dimension, Upside Down, would resurface. Resonating with fans, the penultimate season 4 delved deeper into the show’s newest villain, Vecna, and his connection to the otherworldly realm.
Read also: Stranger Things season 5: Duffer Brothers reluctant to add new characters in season 5 after Eddie because they “take time” from established characters
On Twitter, the official editors of stranger things posted a photo that offered fans a glimpse of one of the first stages of Season 5 pre-production, namely the “Grid Stage.”
The last season of Stranger Things has 8 episodes
The new information, revealed by the writers’ official Twitter account, confirms that the latest installment will feature eight episodes in total; a stark comparison to their Season 4 effort – which had 9 episodes, split into two volumes, with the finale taking 2 hours and 30 minutes to run.
Grid step pic.twitter.com/b8EmBsafUF
— stranger writers (@strangerwriters) August 25, 2022
With such confirmation comes the mountain of fan speculation and theories, and strange things, created by Matt and Ross Duffer, is no exception to such creative fandom treatment.
For many fans, the second volume of the final season was a little disappointing, due to things like Eddie Munson, a beloved and fan-favorite character meeting his demise, the monologue given by Mike Wheeler, although marketed as “emotional”seeming rather ‘cringe’ and unforgettable to some fans, the Max Mayfield aftermath, some character arcs feeling inconsistent, and the infamous ‘two-day’ time jump that caused many of the narrative elements to appear randomly – the list is just never -ending.
However, without discrediting the efforts of the Duffer Brothers, the penultimate stranger things the season had other moments that fans most certainly enjoyed, including the Byers brothers’ shared bond, the candid and veiled admission of complex feelings in the much-discussed van scene featuring Will Byers, the reunion from Hopper and Joyce, Eleven’s monologue to Doctor Brenner, Gaten’s standout performances from Matarazzo, Sadie Sink and Caleb McLaughlin, and of course, the season finale scene.
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Fans are certainly waiting to see what conclusion the ultimate season will reach with the seeds of mystery it sowed in the penultimate episode. Amid such anticipation, a collective part of the fandom has come up with a theory that suggests the return of an ever-famous character.
Eddie Munson’s return as Kas?
In the fictional realm of supernatural horror fiction like stranger things, everything is possible. A character coming back from the dead? Why not? The world of the series, which heavily incorporated elements directly inspired by the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, has become an endless maze to explore. Vecna, the Season 4 villain, is also considered one of the tabletop game’s greatest antagonists.
Therefore, there is a recurring theme of introducing canon elements from the official game into the series. That being said, many fans are speculating that Eddie Munson, played by Joseph Quinn, might return last season as the D&D vampire, Kas, the Bloody-Handed. This theory comes from Reddit. He believes Munson will take on the role of Kas, the trusted lieutenant of the omnipotent lich Vecna. The villain, to affirm his trust in the vampire and give him a memorable gift, created a sword for him – the Kas Swordwho was powerful enough to reach the immeasurable powers of Vecna.
The aftermath of such an incident resulted in the betrayal of Kas, who was increasingly power-hungry. Having been influenced by the wicked and evil sword, the trusted right-hand man struck Vecna with his blade, which ultimately led to the villain’s death.
Interestingly enough, Kas was actually mentioned in Season 4 Episode 1 during the Hellfire Club D&D game. It is impossible to determine whether this is an intentional foreshadowing. Many fans believe that the show bat attack that Eddie faces in Season 4 might be what turns him into a vampire. While this theory has specific plot holes, anything is possible in a fictional setting. Considering the show is about monsters from an alternate realm wreaking havoc, a character coming back from the dead wouldn’t be too far-fetched.
Also read: ‘I had to beg and beg them’: Stranger Things star Sadie Sink reveals she was deemed too old for the role, had to beg for more material
For now, such theories are just speculation, and from what we’ve seen in previous seasons of the show, the Duffer Brothers are fans of subverting tropes. Likewise, they have never been shy about going against fan expectations. Consequently, the situation for Eddie Munson fans remains rather mixed. One can only hope that the next and final season will give a satisfying conclusion to all the loose ends he has yet to iron out.
As pre-production of the final episode followed, season 1-4 of stranger things is exclusively available to stream on Netflix.
Source: Twitter
