Stranger Things Season 5 Theories: My Personal Predictions After Volume 1
Stranger Things Season 5 Theories have exploded ever since Volume 1 released, and just like every year, I also sat down with the new episodes and immediately started noticing patterns. Since I watched Stranger Things from the first season, I’ve always felt that the series hides major clues inside the kids’ Dungeons & Dragons board. Over the years these DnD clues have turned into real-world monsters of the Upside Down. The lore of Vecna, Kas, and the possible arrival of the most terrifying monster of all time: Tiamat, also known as The Thessalhydra.
I’ll break down why I think Tiamat is the real endgame villain and how Will might become connected to Kas in a shocking twist. These Stranger Things Season 5 Theories are completely based on my understanding, my observations, and my personal fan perspective.
Stranger Things Season 5 Theories Based on DnD Clues From Season 1 to Season 5
Whenever I talk about Stranger Things Season 5 Theories, the first thing I notice is how the Dungeons & Dragons board acts like a prophecy. When I watched Season 1, I clearly remember the moment the kids placed a Demogorgon figure on the DnD board. And later, the same monster became the villain of Season 1. This was the very first hint that the creators, the Duffer Brothers, use DnD references as foreshadowing.
In Season 2 and 3, I again saw the same pattern. The Mind Flayer, the Shadow Monster, and other creatures were linked to the board pieces. Everything felt intentional. It was like the DnD references are a language the show uses to communicate future threats.
Season 4 made this pattern even clearer. Eddie placed the Vecna figurine on the board, and Vecna turned out to be the ultimate villain of the season. This moment confirmed that whatever the gang puts on the board often translates into the Upside Down’s next enemy.
Now that Season 5 Volume 1 has released, these patterns matter even more. And this is where my Stranger Things Season 5 Theories start getting deeper.
The Thessalhydra (Tiamat) Theory: The True Final Villain of Stranger Things?
One of my boldest Stranger Things Season 5 Theories is about the Thessalhydra, also commonly associated with Tiamat, the three-headed dragon menace from Dungeons & Dragons. In the very early seasons, Will created a drawing of the Thessalhydra and gave it to Mike. Back then, it felt like a random child-like drawing, but now I think it may have been a massive clue.
Why Tiamat Makes Perfect Narrative Sense as the Final Boss
When I look back at the Upside Down, I realise it always had a monstrous hierarchy. The Demogorgon was dangerous but nowhere close to the Mind Flayer. Vecna came even above the Mind Flayer as the conscious mind behind everything. But if Stranger Things Season 5 is the final war, the final villain must be bigger than Vecna.
This is where Tiamat fits perfectly.
Tiamat in DnD is:
- A multi-headed dragon-like beast
- A symbol of destruction
- A creature ruling over monsters
- A cosmic-level threat
If the show wants the final season to deliver a massive, unbeatable enemy, Tiamat is the strongest symbolic creature they can choose. When I compare this to the Thessalhydra drawing Will made long ago, it suddenly feels like the story was hinting toward this monster right from the beginning.
Visual Parallels Between the Upside Down and Tiamat’s Mythology
When Will draws the Thessalhydra, it looks like a multi-limbed, multi-headed creature. The Upside Down is full of alien-looking limbs, biological roots, vines, and tentacles. I always felt there is a monstrous organism at the centre of this ecosystem. When I apply my Stranger Things Season 5 Theories to this, I imagine Tiamat being the heart of the Upside Down, with Vecna only being the lieutenant or the corrupted human servant.
Just like in DnD:
- Vecna serves a more monstrous cosmic force.
- Tiamat is beyond all known creatures in threat level.
Season 5 Volume 1 scenes also subtly hint that the Upside Down’s transformation is beyond Hawkins now, spreading globally. That kind of world-ending expansion fits Tiamat more than Vecna.
This makes my Stranger Things Season 5 Theories even more believable to me.
Stranger Things Season 5 Theories About Kas: Was Will Always Meant to Become Kas?
Along with Tiamat, I also have another theory that I personally feel very strongly about. Kas the Bloody-Handed Vecna’s most loyal lieutenant in Dungeons & Dragons might appear in some form in Season 5.
The moment Eddie placed Vecna on the board in Season 4, Mike said something important:
“Vecna was killed by Kas.”
This one line fascinated me. It is small, but Stranger Things never gives such lines without purpose.
Who Is Kas in DnD?
Kas is:
- A vampire knight
- Vecna’s right-hand
- A powerful warrior
- The one who eventually turns against Vecna and kills him
The idea that the final blow against Vecna will come from his own servant is incredibly poetic. That’s why this part of my Stranger Things Season 5 Theories revolves around Will.
Why Will Could Become Kas
Here’s what I personally observed:
- Will still has a psychic connection with Vecna.
This connection is stronger than anyone else’s. - Vecna can sense Will, but Will can also sense Vecna.
This dual connection sets up a classic “chosen warrior” arc. - Will’s transformation arc hasn’t been completed yet.
Every main character has had a climactic moment, but Will still feels unfinished. - Kas turns against Vecna.
If Will becomes some version of Kas (not literally a vampire, but symbolically), he could be the one to betray Vecna from the inside.
When I think of Stranger Things Season 5 Theories, this one always feels the most emotionally satisfying. Will started the Upside Down journey in Season 1. Ending Vecna with Will makes the story come full circle.
Combining Both Theories: Tiamat as the Final Boss and Will as Kas
Now let me combine both Stranger Things Season 5 Theories into one grand prediction.
This is how I imagine the final season:
- Vecna is not the main villain. He is only the general.
- Tiamat (Thessalhydra) is the real ruler of the Upside Down.
- Vecna tries to unleash Tiamat fully into the real world.
- Will transforms into the symbolic “Kas,” the only one who can betray Vecna.
- The final battle becomes Will vs Vecna and the group vs Tiamat.
This would make the ending massive, emotional, and satisfying.
I personally think Stranger Things has been hinting toward this since Season 1, especially through DnD references. And after watching Season 5 Volume 1, I strongly feel the groundwork is already there.
My Final Thoughts on Stranger Things Season 5 Theories
After watching Season 5 Volume 1, I truly believe these Stranger Things Season 5 Theories make more sense than ever. The show has always used DnD analogies to foreshadow future villains. So the Thessalhydra/Tiamat theory doesn’t feel random to me. Similarly, Kas being mentioned so directly in Season 4 also feels intentional.
Also read my previous expectation, ho true they are: Stranger Things Season 5: Release Date, Cast, Plot, and What to Expect
My personal prediction is that:
- Vecna will not be the final villain,
- Tiamat will emerge as the final threat,
- And Will, symbolically becoming Kas, will be the one who ends Vecna.
If this happens, Stranger Things will come to a poetic, meaningful close that connects all five seasons together.
My Honest Review of Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1
Before sharing more of my Stranger Things Season 5 Theories, I want to talk about how I personally felt after watching Volume 1. I honestly think Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1 was fantastic, cool, and superb in every way. I watched it with full excitement, and by the end, I genuinely felt this season gave us some of the strongest moments in the entire series.
The Emotional Weight and Storytelling Hit Perfectly
From the very first episode, the tone felt darker and more mature. I could sense that the show was preparing for the endgame. I really liked how every character got a meaningful arc instead of being pushed aside. The pacing felt tight, and the storyline finally connected the long-running mysteries from the past four seasons.
As I watched Volume 1, I kept thinking that Stranger Things has never looked or felt this cinematic before.
Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1 premiering on Netflix: Stranger Things Season 5 Now Streaming in India Full Release Details, Schedule, Episode Guide
The Scene Where Will Controls the Demogorgons Was Mind-Blowing
One of the biggest highlights for me was that ending scene where Will controls the Demogorgons. I was genuinely shocked. I always believed Will had a deeper connection with the Upside Down, but watching him actually influence Demogorgons was something I never expected.
That single moment reshaped many of my Stranger Things Season 5 Theories, especially the Kas theory. Will looked powerful, dangerous, and emotionally torn. This scene alone made Volume 1 unforgettable for me.
Kali’s Return Was a Beautiful Surprise
Another unexpected moment was the appearance of Kali (Eight). I honestly did not see that coming. Her role added a completely fresh layer to Eleven’s journey, and her powers blended perfectly into the ongoing war. I really loved seeing her again because she brings a different kind of energy to the story. It also makes me think she will be involved in the final battle in a bigger way.
As a fan of the series from Season 1, Kali’s return felt like a gift.
Volume 1 Set the Stage Brilliantly for the Final War
Overall, I really loved this volume. It delivered everything I hoped for:
- Cinematic visuals
- High emotional stakes
- New mysteries
- Incredible character growth
- And a shocking cliffhanger
My personal opinion is that Volume 2 is going to be even more intense, especially after what we saw at the end of Volume 1. I strongly hope the next volume will be amazing too, because Volume 1 has already raised the bar extremely high.
This season feels like Stranger Things is truly preparing for a legendary finale, and I am glad I got to experience Volume 1 with such excitement.
Pingback: Stranger Things Season 5 Trailer Breakdown – 9 Dark Clues Explained - CineSyncs