Max Mayfield will return in Stranger Things season 5, but things somehow look even more perilous for her. Hawkins as a whole is in a lot of danger heading into Stranger Things season 5, with the Upside Down bleeding into the real world, and another fight against Vecna looming for the heroes. But Max’s fate in particular is worrisome.

Stranger Things season 4’s ending left Max in a coma (after technically, briefly, dying) thanks to Vecna, and so far, there’s no confirmation of if/when she’ll wake up. That’s a rather grim situation for her coming into the fifth and final outing of the Netflix show, and yet, based on the Stranger Things season 5 trailer, it’s about to get worse for Sadie Sink’s character.

Max Is In Even Greater Danger In Stranger Things Season 5

The Situation Is More Dire For Her

As if being comatose weren’t bad enough, things are going to worsen for Max given what we see in the trailer. The footage only includes a couple of shots of her: one in the hospital bed with Lucas by her side, and another of them being hunted by Demodogs.

The real kicker of the second is that Max is still unconscious at this point, putting her fate entirely in Lucas’ hands for now. While he’ll undoubtedly do anything to protect her, that she’s being hunted down while comatose puts her in even graver danger than before, and makes the struggle to survive that much harder.

Stranger Things Season 5 teaser trailer

Of course, we also don’t know what mental torment may be being inflicted upon Max at this point, nor the exact state of her connection with Vecna. It’s certainly plausible that still exists, and she is trapped, but even if not, he could be sending the Demodogs – and other creatures – after her.

…It also suggests that Max will, unfortunately, remain in a coma for a decent chunk of the story with just eight episodes remaining.

It’s also not clear just how much of the season this trailer covers. It seems a fair guess it’s only the first couple of episodes, given the spoiler-phobic and mystery-heavy nature of the show’s marketing, but it also suggests that Max will, unfortunately, remain in a coma for a decent chunk of the story with just eight episodes remaining.

Will Max Survive Stranger Things Season 5?

There Is Reason To Be Hopeful

All of this raises the question as to what Max’s ultimate fate will be in Stranger Things and, sure, things aren’t looking too good right now. She’s comatose, potentially with her mind trapped with Vecna, while the ultimate battle against the forces of the Upside Down begins around her.

There has to be a payoff to the coma storyline, and it’d be odd if it were to have her die…

Despite that, I do think the chances of Max not only waking up, but surviving season 5, are actually pretty good. There has to be a payoff to the coma storyline, and it’d be odd if it were to have her die – because they could have simply done that already with maximum emotional impact.

It’s likely characters will die in Stranger Things season 5, and the show does need to fully commit to at least one main character being killed off, whether that’s Hopper, Will, Steve, or someone else. But having Max spend so much time out of action makes me think that, while she’ll play a key part in defeating Vecna, she will be alive when it’s all said and done.