Stranger Things‘ ending remains a mystery to viewers and the cast of the show, but one actor has ideas about how it should conclude — though it ignores a major complaint about the beloved Netflix series. After the ending of Stranger Things season 4, fans of the show are eager to find out what becomes of Hawkins, Indiana and the characters who reside there. With the Upside Down seeping into the real world, things are looking dire for the Hawkins gang. And that’s not to mention the threat Vecna still poses to the group and the world at large.

Stranger Things season 5 will wrap up these storylines, ending the series once and for all. Of course, the show has a lot to do before it reaches that point. There’s a lot of pressure on Stranger Things to deliver a satisfying conclusion, and that means giving its major characters and storylines proper send-offs before it’s through. It also means addressing an issue that’s existed for a few seasons now — but doing so would dash one Stranger Things cast member’s hopes for the finale.

Finn Wolfhard’s Stranger Things Ending Idea Ignores The Show’s Stakes Problem

Not Everyone In The Hawkins Gang Should Get A Happy Ending

Finn Wolfhard confirmed that Stranger Things‘ cast doesn’t know how the series will end, but the actor revealed how he hopes season 5 will play out. During an interview with Access Online, Wolfhard admitted that he’d like to see a “Lord of the Rings style happy ending” for the Netflix show. Comparing Stranger Things to Return of the King sets the bar high for the former’s final episodes, but it would be nice to see the Hawkins gang get the heroic farewell that Frodo and the Fellowship do in J.R.R. Tolkien’s books and their movie adaptations.

Despite fans and Stranger Things cast members admitting that bigger characters should probably die, the show has yet to go there. And that’s precisely why it can’t have a clear-cut happy ending in season 5.

Unfortunately, Wolfhard’s happy ending idea ignores one huge problem Stranger Things needs to solve in its final season: its low stakes. For most of its run, Stranger Things has seen its characters coming up against massive supernatural threats and winning. While sacrifices are made, they’re usually kept to a minimum — and they almost always involve a new, supporting character rather than one of the series’ leads. Despite fans and Stranger Things cast members admitting that bigger characters should probably die, the show has yet to go there. And that’s precisely why it can’t have a clear-cut happy ending in season 5.

Why Stranger Things Season 5 Shouldn’t Have A Clear-Cut Happy Ending

The Lack Of Consequences For The Main Characters Just Isn’t Believable

By killing off characters like Barb and Eddie Munson, Stranger Things attempts to set realistic stakes throughout its first four seasons. However, it’s not believable that only the supporting players would perish in the fight against the Upside Down — especially when Eleven and her friends are constantly going head-to-head with these threats. Hopper’s fakeout death and Max’s coma are the closest instances of a main character facing serious consequences in Stranger Things. And if the Netflix show wants to raise the stakes significantly in season 5, it needs to rip off the band-aid and allow for a bigger sacrifice.

If the Netflix show wants to raise the stakes significantly in season 5, it needs to rip off the band-aid and allow for a bigger sacrifice.

There’s been a lot of discussion about which characters are most likely to die in Stranger Things’ final season, so many viewers are expecting a tragedy in the coming episodes. Having the Hawkins gang defeat Vecna and get rid of the Upside Down without any losses would be underwhelming with such high expectations in place. Plus, a main character’s death will give season 5’s ending much more meaning. The series doesn’t need to go overboard with its tragedies, but it needs one or two big ones before taking its final bow.

Season 5 Can Address The Stakes Complaints & Have A (Mostly) Positive Conclusion

A Bittersweet Conclusion Would Be Best For Stranger Things

Although Stranger Things season 5 needs to address the complaints about its stakes, it doesn’t need to completely forgo a happy ending. The Hawkins gang should triumph in the end, but they shouldn’t defeat Vecna without a significant loss to remind them — and viewers — just how serious the show’s final boss is. Viewers shouldn’t feel as though any of the main characters are safe, and it may take killing one of them to get that point across.

With that in mind, a bittersweet ending would probably work better for Stranger Things than a clear-cut happy one. It would honor the Netflix show’s legacy and leave fans satisfied without feeling underwhelming or ignoring a major criticism of the show. There’s no way Stranger Things season 5 can appease everyone, but this approach checks the most important boxes.