Stranger Things Season 5: Fans Want These Characters To…

Summary

Fans eagerly await Stranger Things season 5 for closure on characters like Max and Dr. Owens.
Desired returns for season 5 include Argyle, Suzie, and Karen to add humor and depth.
Dr. Owens' morally ambiguous nature and Karen's mysterious past make them intriguing characters.

While it's possible to predict some parts of Stranger Things season 5, such as Max Mayfield's (Sadie Sink) dark storyline, fans don't know much about the last season of the hit Netflix series. Viewers have enjoyed discussing what's going to happen to their favorite characters ever since the show was renewed for the fifth and last season. Since the writers are juggling a huge cast of characters and everyone needs the spotlight at one point or another, it's clear that every arc has to be completed.

However, since there are so many minor characters in each season of Stranger Things, fans want certain side characters to come back in Stranger Things season 5. While it's unknown exactly who will return to Hawkins, Indiana, viewers think these people need attention in the final season.

What Characters Do Fans Want To See In Stranger Things Season 5?

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In a Reddit thread about side characters who should return in Stranger Things season 5, several fans shared their picks. Redditor @movieholic-92 said:

"Doc Owens is my favorite. I hope we find out his fate after Project Nina."

In 2022, Paul Reiser said that he didn't know about Dr. Sam Owens coming back for Stranger Things season 5, according to The Daily Mail. If he does, Dr. Owens should share more scenes with Eleven and explore their complicated history. Since there were moments when fans weren't sure if Owens was good or evil, he's an interesting character to want. He also could know more about the Upside Down and Hawkins than he's letting on.

A few fans would like for the popular Stranger Things character Argyle (Eduardo Franco) to return since he has a goofy personality and would add a lighthearted tone to what is sure to be a thrilling, shocking, and at times scary last season. Redditor @KatelynC110100 wrote:

"He brought that funny, awkward, laid back energy to the group that I would like to see more of."

Unfortunately, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Franco explained in January 2024 that his character probably wouldn't be in the fifth season of the Netflix series. He said on the podcast The Steve Varley Show, "I appreciate that. It’s nice to hear that there’s some sort of concern or something, you know what I mean. But I never got a phone call. So, I think that’s it.” If fans don't end up seeing Argyle again, hopefully there will be an update about what he's doing. Another character will have to be just as funny as Argyle in Stranger Things season 5 if viewers don't see this popular character again.

Several fans think that Suzie Bingham (Gabriella Pizzolo) should appear in Stranger Things season 5. If she does, she would be in a few scenes with Dustin Henderson (Gaten Matarazzo). It's possible that their relationship has become more serious, but it's also possible that they have broken up and she doesn't come back. Either way, she remains a popular character. Along with the action sequences that should be in Stranger Things season 5, viewers also want to see more of the character duos and groups that they love. Redditor @Purpledoves91 wrote:

"I would like to see Dustin and Suzie together at some point."

Fans also think that Karen Wheeler (Cara Buono) should be given more screen time. While she's the parent of one of the main characters, viewers don't know much about her. Even with a unique time jump, there could be some room to explore Karen's relationship with her kids. Redditor @Admirable-Homework36 wrote:

"100% Karen Wheeler. It always appears in promos every season, that she’s some sought of a big character or something, but rarely does anything each season once the season comes out. Its long overdue. The show needs to give us more of her, and I need to see more of her dynamic with her children."

What Happened To These Characters In Previous Stranger Things Seasons?

The characters that fans want to see again in Stranger Things season 5 all played important parts in the previous four seasons. Dr. Sam Owens is introduced in Stranger Things season 2 but is more significant in the fourth season of the hit series. He and Dr. Martin Brenner (Matthew Modine) come up with an evil plan called the Nina Project so they can force Eleven to get her psychokinetic powers back. While Owens helps Eleven, he's not completely innocent, which makes him a compelling morally ambigious character.

Although the last episode of Stranger Things season 4 set up what will be a terrifying last season, there is always a balance between humor and darkness on this show. Argyle and Suzie Bingham both provide comic relief, which is just one reason why they would both be perfect returning characters in Stranger Things season 5. Fans enjoyed Argyle's chill and goofy personality, and watching Suzie sing was hilarious.

While Karen Wheeler wasn't the focus of any Stranger Things season, she did have an affair with Billy Hargrove (Dacre Montgomery) in Stranger Things season 3. Besides this, she was also nervous about Eddie Munson's (Joseph Quinn) presence in Hawkins in the fourth season.

Although fans have different opinions about the last season, many think that Dr. Owens, Argyle, Suzie, and Karen should all play a bigger part. It will be exciting to see if they appear at all.