One of the most contentious topics in Stranger Things has been that of death. It's not something too prominent with the protagonists in Hawkins, Indiana in the three seasons so far. Well, apart from Bob, who got mauled by the Demo-dogs. Instead, the show faked out fans with Eleven and Chief Hopper, teasing they died when they were really alive and well.
Interestingly, with Steve taking a crew to the Upside Down, there's a strong case to be made the teens will finally learn the hard way they can't escape the Grim Reaper. As for who may be the one on the cutting block, well, while many would assume Steve, Nancy is a way better option who'll resonate a lot more emotionally.
The final Season 4 trailer had them biking through the Upside Down, as well as Steve fighting off Demo-bats, in a haggard, bloody state. But there's also a shot as red lightning hit, illuminating a panicked Nancy. This could foreshadow doom for the Wheelers for a couple of reasons.
Firstly, the Duffers love everything nerdy, such as Star Wars, so this red lightning could be like the red shirts in Star Trek, marking folks for death. Secondly, Nancy dying would be quite a surprise, fooling fans who think Steve's redemption as a hero will be brought full-circle with a sacrifice. That already happened with Billy, so the show will want to buck the trend of one-time jerks making a 180 and dying.
Instead, a main character and true blue from the very first episode makes sense, adding unforeseen gravity. It's unlikely the show will kill one of the kids from the Hellfire Club, after all, so Nancy as an older victim fits in terms of teaching them a lesson on mortality. More so, seeing as the Wheelers were more prominent in the series and fans know the parents, her death will resonate, not just with her brother Mike, but with them too, shaping a story of true grief and trauma. This would be more nuanced than killing off someone whose parents the fans didn't know.
In Nancy's case, she'd also leave a mark on Jonathan (who loves her) and the Byers, not to mention, Nancy dying may bring full-circle the Barb issue from Season 1. Remember, Nancy trying to hook up with Steve is what led to a rejected Barb remaining by the pool, getting kidnapped and killed by the Demogorgon -- something Nancy had a lot of guilt over.
Thus, her perishing in the Upside Down would feel darkly poetic, spiritually having her share in Barb's pain, and symbolically showing karma does catch up with folks in the series. Ultimately, this kill would gut fans, be a brave stroke from the Duffers and act as a nuanced dagger to remind fans in this final war, all bets are off and everyone is expendable.
See if Nancy survives her ominous trip when Stranger Things 4, Vol. 1 premieres on Netflix on May 27, 2022.