Stranger Things: the 9 burning questions we need answered in season 5 part 1

We saw Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) seemingly confess to the audience his silent romantic feelings for his best friend Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard). But Will does not explicitly tell Mike himself, especially given the latter is in the throes of his own romance with Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown). Will this finally be the time he gets his will power and admit it? And how will Mike even react? (my prediction: he unfortunately won't reciprocate, but will be his champion nonetheless)

Speaking of unrequited, we have to talk about Robin Buckley's (Maya Hawke) crush on Vickie Dunn (Amybeth McNulty), who has been confirmed as an "Also Starring" character this season. We saw them start to bond by the end of season four, will this be the time they put an end to Robin's perpetual gay panic?

And speaking of Vickie, as an Amybeth McNulty stan (JUSTICE for Anne with an E!), I do think we as a collective universe deserve to see more of Vickie's cool and collected nature on the show, especially as a counterbalance to the more frantic personalities of some of the other teens (looking at you, Steve).

I have a sinking feeling one of our main crew might be perishing in this first part, especially as a way to create dramatic tension in the build-up to part two over a month later. My prediction is that someone central to the story dies at the end of episode four, creating a cliffhanger of sorts to drive the plot forward in part two. I'm thinking Murray Bauman (Brett Gelman), Karen Wheeler (Cara Buono) or…

Listen, I don't know if things are looking too peachy keen for Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink) over there in her hospital bed. HOWEVER, I am also someone who played the Stranger Things mobile game, in which Max somehow had powers of her own. Could it be that Eleven transferred over some of her powers to Max when she brought her back to life?

With all due respect to the Stranger Things costume design team, Nancy Wheeler has had some of the worst dregs of '80s fashion in her wardrobe, ever since she gave up her preppy season one style for more…pleats? Why? 

Natalia Dyer has, what we call in technical terms, a "face card," and it's not that Nancy is an ugly duckling character in any way. While I get the impetus to differentiate her from her peers with her journalistic integrity, that doesn't necessarily have to include frumpier fashion. Maybe a style update, please?

Mike's little sister Holly Wheeler (played by Nell Fisher this season in an "Also Starring" turn) has felt like a background character that really hasn't had much to do despite being so intrinsically tied to the show's leads. 

In fact, there was even an episode in season one named after her that didn't feature her prominent involvement. Given Henry Creel's own history with his little sister, though, I believe (and fear) Holly might finally have some room to shine this season, notably the way Lucas' sister Erica Sinclair (Priah Ferguson) became one of season two's breakout stars.

We saw Dustin Henderson (Gaten Matarazzo) share the story of the death of Eddie Munson (Joseph Quinn) with his grieving uncle, but it looks like Eddie's Hellfire Club leading days still have him perceived as an enemy to Hawkins. However, given the character's immense popularity, I wonder whether they'll attempt to capitalize on it just a bit more for part one (although the Duffer brothers have confirmed Eddie is well and truly dead).

This isn't even a question, this is a proper request, let's have Shannon Purser's Barb back just one more time for the final season. Maybe she can be a ghost to retraumatize Nancy all over again. Maybe have her return as a Demogorgon in disguise to exact revenge on Steve Harrington (Joe Keery). Either way, we want Barb, we deserve Barb as a nation.