For years, Stranger Things has leaned into the fear of the unknown: dark settings, strange sounds, and threats that always felt bigger than anyone could fully understand. As Hawkins heads toward its final chapter, the show is once again redefining what constitutes danger. The season 5 finale not only raises the stakes but also shifts the focus of the fight at the heart of the IP.

Just when it felt certain that Vecna or the Mind Flayer would be the ultimate villain, the Stranger Things story has taken an unexpected turn. The real danger is not any of them after all — it is something much more disturbing and much closer to home.

Stranger Things 5, volume three, trailer shows a dragon-like monster tearing through the sky, a moment punctuated by Dustin’s stunned “Mother of God.” The creature’s towering silhouette and snapping jaws immediately stand out, positioning it as the most dangerous force in the show yet.

The monster closely resembles Thessalhydra, a powerful beast from Dungeons & Dragons, suggesting season 5 is introducing a threat far beyond Vecna or the Mind Flayer.

Thessalhydra’s presence had been quietly seeded since season 1 of Stranger Things. During the boys’ Dungeons & Dragons game in episode eight, the creature is named as the challenge of their campaign.  Thessalhydra is described as a monster so powerful that defeating it would take everything the characters have.

Will, however, manages to pull off the impossible. Perhaps that is how the Stranger Things finale is set to end, too.

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Stranger Things 5 volume three, comprising the eighth episode of the season and the last of the sci-fi epic, is notably closer than farther now.

Stranger Things season 5 volume 3 will bring the show to an end with its longest episode yet, clocking in at two hours and five minutes. The final episode will drop on Netflix on New Year’s Eve, December 31, at 5 PM PT and 8 PM ET.

Netflix is also giving the finale a limited theatrical release, allowing viewers to watch the last chapter on the big screen. It is a send-off designed to let them say goodbye to Hawkins in a bigger, more cinematic way.

As Stranger Things prepares to close its chapter, the IP loyalists are clearly in for a finale that promises to be more thrilling than ever. With the Thessalhydra taking center stage, Hawkins faces a danger that has been quietly building since the very first season. The final episode is not just the end of a story; it is a farewell to a world that has captivated audiences for years, a chance to witness the ultimate showdown and say goodbye to the town, the friends, and the mysteries that made it unforgettable.

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Do you really think Thessalhydra will be the villain of Stranger Things 5? Let us know in the comments.