Stranger Things Theory Predicts a Byers Family Betrayal — And It’s Not Will

Stranger Things is finally in its home stretch, and the fan anxiety dial is set to absolutely unreasonable. The current favorite doomsday theory: one of the Byers boys gets turned against the group one last time. Everyone immediately points to Will, because of course they do. But there is a strong, sneaky case that the show is lining up Jonathan for the gut punch.

The Byers twist fans are bracing for

Jonathan Byers has always been the quiet constant. Lately, that constant has been wobbling. He has been pulled thin by pretty much everything: What comes after high school, whether his family stays intact, and where things really stand with Nancy. When this show wants a host, it does not roll dice. Vecna and the Mind Flayer look for cracks, and Jonathan has a few more than he used to.

Will is the obvious target because he still carries that Upside Down echo around like a bad radio signal. Maybe that is exactly why Vecna goes another route. If he cannot fully get his hooks into Will again, he could still use him to break someone else.

"William, you will help me. One... last... time."

That promo line is doing a lot of work. The cleanest read is not another Will possession but leverage. If Vecna wants a fresh host, leaning on Will to emotionally fracture Jonathan would be a fast, brutal play. And yes, as mean as it sounds, it tracks.

Who else could be on the chopping block

• Max: She is in a coma with her memory scrambled, which is basically a giant welcome mat for anything from the Upside Down. If she wakes up, there is a real chance something else wakes up with her.
• Nancy: Tough as nails, but she is carrying a lot of unresolved weight — those Vecna visions, lingering guilt over Barb, and a love triangle that never really got cleaned up. She is the team’s steady hand, which is exactly why a possession arc would hurt the most.
• Eddie: Yes, Eddie died. He also died inside the Upside Down, which leaves a back door open for a darker return. If the show wants a tragic shocker, a corrupted Eddie is right there.

Release plan for the endgame

Netflix is splitting Season 5 into two chunks. Volume 1 lands November 26, 2025. Volume 2 follows on December 25. Then the series signs off with a final standalone episode on December 31. Brutal way to spend the holidays, but here we are.

Quick stats

Created by Matt and Ross Duffer, Stranger Things spans 5 seasons, sits at 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, and holds an 8.6/10 on IMDb. It streams on Netflix.