Season 4 of Stranger Things, which became the most-watched English-language show on Netflix, left its storyline very open, and fans are already hyped for Season 5. Taking direct inspiration from Dungeons & Dragons, the show’s previous villains have included the Demogorgon, Mindflayer and Vecna. The tension and excitement have been building since the first season, and with the next installment set to be the last, Stranger Things needs an epic D&D-style Big Bad Evil Guy for the heroes to face.
Fans have been speculating about what Season 5’s main monster could be, but a recent article from Collider suggests that one in particular seems most likely: The Beholder. This powerful and iconic D&D monster’s appearance and attributes, which include mind-control, cunning and tremendous power, would fit perfectly into the show and the Upside Down. The Beholder can strike fear into even the most battle-hardened D&D veterans, so it would be the ideal fit to ensure that Season 5 of Stranger Things is the epic finale that the series deserves.
The Beholder is a highly intelligent and powerful floating orb with vicious teeth, one large central eye and ten surrounding eye stalks from which it can cast a devastating array of magic. Collider theorizes it could be Season 5’s main villain for several reasons. First, it inhabits the underworld and its eye stalks closely resemble the vines that cover the Upside Down. Second, its description matches Nancy’s premonition that she saw when Vecna got ahold of her. The Beholder also often founds “vast evil empires while enslaving and commanding a network of agents to operate on its behalf,” which matches up with the plot of Stranger Things.
Not only does it seem highly possible that The Beholder could indeed be Season 5’s BBEG, but it would also be the perfect choice to make the final season truly epic. Its magic and mind-control abilities, such as installing fear within, charming and petrifying, can be used to manipulate its enemies. Consequently, previously good characters could suffer an evil, but compelling twist, leading to some tough moral decisions. Additionally, it could bring together all the themes and characters from previous seasons to collide gloriously in an epic and all-encompassing finale to satisfyingly tie up every plotline and unanswered question.
The Beholder is also one of D&D‘s most intelligent and cunning monsters, making even the greatest of human ideas seem infantile. Stranger Things‘ heroes have always relied on their brains to outwit their enemies and set traps, but facing something on the level of The Beholder would further elevate this aspect. The heroes will need to unite together in new ways if they are to emerge victorious, which could lead to some exciting plot developments as the tide of battle swings perilously back and forth.
In addition to its mind-control and cunning, The Beholder is also incredibly powerful. It’s capable of casting magic from each of its eyes, so it won’t be distracted by battling just one hero at a time. Its eyes also ensure it has almost 360-degree vision, so sneaking up on it, as the older teenagers did to Vecna in Season 4, will be almost impossible. The terrifying monster is also notoriously aggressive and wastes no time in killing its victims. The combination of these factors would not only reinforce the idea that the heroes will need to adapt their approach, but would also bring urgency and peril to Season 5, as the heroes have little time to waste.
Finally, The Beholder’s central eye is capable of creating a magical shield. If it were to utilize this power in Season 5, it could mean that Eleven’s powers would be blocked. This twist could be perfect for creating an epic final battle as the heroes are forced to adapt and fight more physically than before. As a result, the main characters may find themselves in more imminent danger, which could lead to some emotional moments and major deaths that have been largely missing from the series so far.
Stranger Things‘ final season has a huge weight of anticipation on its shoulders. Fans are already excited to see how the series wraps up and are expecting epic battles, emotional moments and, of course, many twists and turns. If The Beholder were to be the main BBEG, it would provide the perfect foundations for Season 5 to achieve all of those things. It would ensure the final showdown is a tough and closely-contested epic that forces the heroes to adapt in new ways and face unprecedented challenges, while neatly tying together the series’ previous plotlines and characters.