Stranger Things is gearing up for its finale soon, and with it, the thrilling saga of Hawkins will end. As fans wait for the finale, Gaten Matarazzo, the actor who played Dustin in Stranger Things, has warned fans to brace themselves. View this post on Instagram Instagram PostHe hinted that no assurance in advance can prepare viewers for what’s to come, pointing to greater losses and heightened stakes in the showdown. The actor teased,“To do the most prep you can: Get some tissues, get some ice cream, get some friends, and some family."Stranger Things star Gaten Matarazzo teases a bittersweet finale for Season 5The cast and characters have remained careful not to give away much ahead of the much-awaited finale. Fans are wondering what the finale holds, especially when it comes to which fan-favorite characters might not make it out alive.Stranger Things is a show built on strong characters. From the core Party members to elders who protect and sacrifice for their future, the show’s emotional anchor is rooted in its characters.Even those who joined the Party later had profound losses and experiences that shaped them to be courageous. Case in point, Max. Throughout its previous seasons, it has taught attachment, loss, and found family, all the while raising the stakes to the maximum for Season 5.In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, Matarazzo, who plays Dustin Henderson, addressed the collective nerves surrounding the ending without offering false reassurance. Instead, he met fans where they are.“I understand the anxiety. I hear you”He said:“We're all here for all that support for whatever happens. If your favorite is no longer with us or not, who knows? I don't really have any words of comfort.”His advice brings a nostalgic moment for viewers who have already witnessed how unstable the world of Hawkins really is. Anytime, from anywhere, threats once thought to be neutralized reappear in newer forms.Stranger Things (Image via YouTube/@netflix)The Demogorgon poses dangerous threats, but through it all, the bonds found in survival and suffering prevail. Those fears gained traction after the release of the Season 5 Volume 2 trailer. In it, Dustin and Steve Harrington repeat a line first spoken in Season 3:“If you die, I die.”Once a dramatic declaration of loyalty, the line now sounds ominous. Both characters are deeply loved, and fans are increasingly worried that the promise may be tested in the worst possible way.Speculation around one particular character gained traction when Stranger Things creators Matt and Ross Duffer appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. During a segment, the brothers lined up Funko Pops of the show’s characters before swiftly knocking Steve’s figure off the edge of the desk.This moment was read by fans as a deliberate hint at the character’s fate. While played off casually, the visual sparked widespread concern, especially given Steve’s long history with near-death arcs.The moment felt less like a joke and more like a quiet signal, reinforcing fears that the final season may not spare one of the series’ most beloved characters. Will’s evolving connection to the Upside Down continues to raise questions. Eleven’s reunion with her sister Kali hints at unfinished emotional business.As the finale approaches, major story threads remain unresolved, and the fate of characters like Dustin and Steve hangs uncomfortably in the balance.Volume 1 of Stranger Things Season 5 is now streaming on Netflix. Volume 2 arrives on December 25, followed by the series finale on December 31. Whatever the ending brings, it’s clear the show plans to leave a mark.