Could the Kate Bush song Running Up That Hill signal a shocking final twist in season four of Stranger Things?
One fervent fan seem to think so.
The highly-anticipated conclusion to this much-adored science fiction drama drops on Netflix this Friday (July 1), with two feature-length episodes providing ample time for some no-doubt astonishing twists and turns.
And an eager viewer has been quick to predict a seismic twist for super-powered teen Eleven ( Millie Bobby Brown ) and her boyfriend Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard).
And it could all hinge on Kate Bush’s stirring 1985 hit, which shot to Number One after featuring in the series.
The iconic song was used earlier this season when Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink) was rescued from the clutches of the wicked wizard Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower).
The classic pop track with its icily cool synths and haunting vocal has cropped up as a regular motif throughout the series. So much so, in fact, that it's driven one fan to making a bold yet convincing prediction for the final season.
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Reddit user Kallie said: “(Stranger Things creators) The Duffer Brothers have said Mike has an emotional scene at the end of the season. Also, they’ve kept his scenes in volume two largely out of the trailers.”
It's true that Mike is noticeably largely absent in the recent trailer for the series’ final two episodes.
As such, the viewer believes his disappearance could be down to him making a courageous sacrifice to save Eleven from Vecna’s clutches.
Fans will be aware how much Mike has been struggling to prove his feelings for Eleven, with the lyrics to Running Up That Hill perhaps alluding to this.
“We know he loves El, but is also feeling a lot of guilt about not saying it,” the theory continued.
“And then there’s Running Up That Hill that references making a deal and trading places.”
The sinister Vecna, unmasked as a Hawkins Lab orderly who faced off against Eleven ahead of the main events of the series, is clearly pursuing her.
Now terrorising Hawkins in the real world, Mike may have no choice but to wade in and prevent Vecna from dragging his girlfriend back into the Upside Down once again.
“I’m thinking Vecna wants El to come with him to the Upside Down as retribution for banishing him there,” said the Redditor.
“But Mike makes a deal with Vecna - to show his love - and takes her place.
“This will set up season five, which will be Mike stuck in the Upside Down, and the crew trying to rescue him.”
“This is also a way to bring his mom into the fold, which I assume is coming since she had her own promo poster.”
This theory could hold some weight, with Cara Buono, who plays Mike’s mother Karen, featuring surprisingly heavily in the marketing for the current season, despite appearing only briefly in the first seven episodes.
If the worst comes to the worst and Mike faces banishment in Hawkins’ frightening alternate dimension, Karen could have to team up with Joyce Byers ( Winona Ryder ) and the rest of the heroes to rescue him in what will surely be a fascinatingly tense conclusion to Netflix’s biggest series.
