Stranger Things is famously structured like a high-stakes Dungeons & Dragons campaign, complete with player roles, terrifying boss fights, and an ever-evolving map. But if the residents of Hawkins are the players in this impossible game, then who is the unassailable entity setting the rules, remaining untouched by the chaos?

The answer lies in identifying the character who dictates the world’s rules without ever joining the fight.

Many viewers agree that the show follows the structural logic of a D&D campaign, but the identity of the Dungeon Master (DM) is rarely explored. The DM is the one who guides the narrative, defines the rules, and is immune to the direct consequences of the game. After eliminating obvious candidates like Mike, the party leader, or Will, the highly targeted player, one person perfectly fits the role: Mr. Scott Clarke. The new fan theory breaks it down!

According to the fan theory, one should first consider the case of Ted Wheeler, who initially seems like a neutral non-player character (NPC). However, Ted is brutally attacked by a Demogorgon, suffering real-world injury. A true DM, or even a proper stand-in, cannot be targeted.

Mr. Scott Clarke, the kids' science teacher, fits the criteria perfectly. He never fights, investigates, or steps into the conflict, instead serving only as a guide. When the kids, or even the adults like Joyce, come to him, he offers scientific analogies.

He is also completely untouched by the Upside Down in Stranger Things. No possession, no visions, no physical attacks, and no emotional trauma ever affected him. While everyone else evolves, gains power, or suffers loss, Mr. Clarke remains unchanged, maintaining the rules of the world. He is the one who defines the rules everyone else is trapped inside.

Wildest ‘Stranger Things’ Season 5 Theories: What to Expect in the Final Hawkins Outing?

The D&D parallel has also inspired other compelling theories about the show’s final confrontation.

The show’s deep connection to Dungeons & Dragons has fuelled several other prominent theories regarding the final season’s ultimate villain and conclusion. The children’s first campaign in Season 1 ended with Mike introducing the Thessalhydra, a massive, multi-headed dragon in D&D lore. Fans now theorize that this creature is the true final monster, perhaps the Mind Flayer’s original form, which would bring the series full circle back to its D&D roots.

Another theory centers on the tragic character Eddie Munson and his D&D campaign in Season 4. In that game, Eddie’s character, Kas, was the vampire who ultimately betrayed and killed Vecna. Despite the Duffer Brothers confirming Eddie's death, many fans speculate that he will return as the undead Kas the Bloody-Handed to deliver the final blow to Vecna, completing the D&D myth arc.

Furthermore, Mr. Clarke’s science lessons often foreshadow major plot points. His explanations of wormholes, or Einstein-Rosen Bridges, combined with Will Byers’ drawings that resemble the chalkboard diagrams, have led to a major time travel theory.

Every Time ‘Stranger Things’ Used a Small Character to Tell a Grand Story

Do you also think Mr. Scott Clarke is DM? Which of these D&D-fueled fan theories do you find the most plausible for the final season? Let us know in the comments below.