<p>It all comes down to this. The sure to epic series finale of sci-fi smash Stranger Things is almost here and fans are breathless with anticipation.</p> <p>Volume 1 and 2 of the final season, which contains chapters 1-7, have left us with more questions than answers thus far.</p> <p>That means fans up and down the land are still desperate to know how everything will ultimately pan out for Eleven, Mike and the rest of their gang.</p> <p>To build even more suspense, Season 5 is being released in three parts, instead of all at once, which is the norm for Netflix originals.</p> <p>That’s the bad news. The good news is the third and final volume drops on New Year’s Day! What a way to start 2026.</p> <p>The good news doesn’t stop there either. To celebrate the last hurrah of everyone’s favourite DnD-playing, supernatural creature-fighting kids from Hawkins, Sportsbet’s have launched one final run of exclusive Stranger Things markets.</p> <p>This gives punters the chance to pop on their directional caps one last time and try and predict what will happen during the series finale.</p> <p>Long time fans should know by now that anything can happen and no one is safe when it comes to the Stranger Things universe. So how will the final episode play out? Will everyone live happily ever after? Or will everything you thought was going to happen be turned upside down?</p> <p>It’s time to venture into the Upside Down one last time. Here are our Stranger Things Season 5 predictions.</p> <p><em>*Warning! There are spoilers for Stranger Things Chapters 1-7 below.</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Will Any Member of ‘The Party’ Not Survive</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>So far, all members of ‘The Party’ have made it through the series unscathed. Yes, there’s been comas, kidnappings, and some serious injuries, but these have proven to be some seriously bulletproof kids to date.</p> <p>For this market to hit, one of Eleven, Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas or Max must meet their end and while we can see one of either Will or Dustin playing hero and sacrificing themselves, we think it’s more likely one or two of the supporting cast members will meet their maker instead. Speaking of which..</p> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/novelties-and-entertainment/stranger-things/stranger-things-season-5-chapter-eight-the-rightside-up-9793909">No.</a>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Will Any Member of ‘The Scoops Troop’ Not Survive</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>It seems inevitable that a few of the good guys are going to have to perish in order to defeat the villainous Vecna once and for all.</p> <p>If everyone makes it out alive, the finale won’t carry the emotional weight required to ensure everyone keeps talking about the show long after the credits roll.</p> <p>So, if you’re looking for sacrificial lambs, ‘The Scoops Troop’ is full of them. Steve, Robin, Dustin and Erica are all potentially expendable.</p> <p>Steve’s demise in particular has long been prophesised, so could it finally be coming in the series climax?</p> <p>His “you die, I die” pact with Dustin made in the most recent release of episodes could mean they’re both going down in the finale, but that would mean that a member of “The Party” would also perish.</p> <p>Surely not, right? Well, stranger things have happened.</p> <p><strong>Prediction:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/novelties-and-entertainment/stranger-things/stranger-things-season-5-chapter-eight-the-rightside-up-9793909">Yes.</a> &nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Returning Characters – Chapter 8/The Finale</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Arguably the most popular Stranger Things market currently available on Sportsbet. When punters aren’t speculating which characters will meet their demise, they’re theorising who will do the opposite and make a triumphant return.</p> <p>While fan favourite Eddie Munson was seen as the most likely character to return at some point during Season Five, so far it has only been 008 or Kali Prasad who has graced our screens for a second time.</p> <p>Still, more than one old character can be resurrected, meaning this market is still alive and well.</p> <p>There are currently six options for punters to pick from in this market. They are Eddie Munson, Dr. Brenner (Papa), Barbra Holland, Alexei, Billy Hargrove and Bob Newby.</p> <p>An onscreen resurrection will be required for all of these characters to appear in Season 5, as, unlike 008, they all met their demise at one point or another throughout the series.</p> <p>There is a growing belief among fans that anyone who met their fate at the hands of either Vecna or his Demogorgans, isn’t actually dead, but is instead trapped in the Upside Down.</p> <p>The most recent release of episodes contained a lot of talk between Dustin and Steve about Eddie, his sacrifice and what he meant to Dustin in particular.</p> <p>This feels like a prime setup for a heroic return of epic proportions, and we fancy the gang to find Eddie somewhere in either the Upside Down or the Abyss and team up with him once more to take down Vecna once and for all.</p> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/novelties-and-entertainment/stranger-things/stranger-things-season-5-chapter-eight-the-rightside-up-9793909">Eddie Munson</a>.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Who Will Nancy End up With?</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>This one is for all the Shippers and the Stanners out there. For the entirety of Stranger Things, fans have been fixated on Nancy Wheeler’s relationship status.</p> <p>Her affection has oscillated between Steve Harrington and Jonathan Byers. First, she was with Steve, now she’s with Jonathan, however the tension between her and Harrington is still there for all to see.</p> <p>While most of the fandom want to see Nancy end up with Steve, there is a large consensus that he will die a hero’s death at some point in Season 5, leaving Nancy and Jonathan to live happily ever after.</p> <p>In the first four chapters of Season Five, it was revealed that Jonathan had acquired an engagement ring so he could propose to Nancy.</p> <p>However, Volume 2 saw Jonathan “un-propose” to Nancy and throw the ring away. It’s not 100% clear if this means they have officially broken up, but the odds have now dramatically shifted as a result.</p> <p>Neither Jonathan nor Steve are the favourite to end up with Nancy anymore. Instead, it appears like it’s the single life for Miss Wheeler on the cards for the time being.</p> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/novelties-and-entertainment/stranger-things/stranger-things-season-5-chapter-eight-the-rightside-up-9793909">Not in a relationship.</a> &nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Will the Entire Series be Revealed as Just a Dungeons &amp; Dragons Campaign</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>This theory has seriously divided fans online. Probably a little too close to the “it was all just a dream” plot device, which has long been seen as a serious faux pas in storytelling, it seems unlikely the Duffer Brothers would want to wrap up proceedings like this.</p> <p>However, for a show built on childhood wonder, imagination and nostalgia, there would be something poetic about it all snapping back to Mike’s basement, with his mum calling him and his friends up for dinner. Still, there would be riots in the reddit forums, so we highly doubt this series will conclude like this.</p> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/novelties-and-entertainment/stranger-things/stranger-things-season-5-chapter-eight-the-rightside-up-9793909">No.</a></p>