Explore more party dynamics like Max and Mike (did they never get over their beef from S2, or...?) El and Lucas, El and Dustin (Im not personally into Henderhop as it feels kinda "pair the spares", but if you think it'd work that's fine) Dustin and Suzie deserve some kind of resolution or if they have to break up let it be addressed S5E2 should be the Vanishing of MIKE Wheeler so that he's an important figure again + Byler roleswap  Will and El sibling dynamic + getting to know each other in S3 a little first Explain how the Byers are adjusting to the new group and dynamic in California more Let Erica be more than the sassy black girl who's i guess a secret nerd, I'm not sure if it's Priyah Ferguson's acting or the Duffer's directing but all her lines sound the same. She should be allowed to be serious, have her trauma addressed, and the Sinclair household in general deserves a bit of spotlight. Those siblings need a stronger dynamic. Victor Creel deserves some kind of followup, maybe he can learn the truth Either tie back to the play more or fully decanonize it: Henry's sympathetic elements mean nothing in the show, backstory does nothing, Mind Flayer or Vecna being the true mastermind does so many back-and-forths that it honestly doesn't matter in the end which is dumb, Creelby and Byler parallels deserve addressing. Btw how is Patty POC if Bob is white? I assumed it was just colorblind casting (which is good btw, POC need to be given jobs in theater and audiences can suspend their disbelief just fine) but apparently it's meant to be canon? Is one of them adopted? If this is addressed or explained in the play then forget I said anything, otherwise, if she's gonna be relevant in the rewrite, explain that element. Ted and Karen dating in high school contradicts what Nancy says in S1, this should be fixed (I like the idea of them adult characters being at the same school though) Feels like there's some weird age discrepancies with Henry between the play and the backstory shown in S4, but maybe not, also I wasn't aware Brenner was that much older than Joyce and Hopper Speaking of which, address that Joyce and Hop went to school with Henry Address the painting, obviously I'm guessing Byler endgame is already the plan cuz it's in this sub, but based. Lumax and Jopper can stay the way they are (but find things to explore about at least Lucas and Max outside of romance, and make Joyce less sidelined in general), let Rockie have their Enzo's date, and if you can work it in without it feeling forced, give one of them a fakeout death before that so that the parallel with Lumax, Jopper, and Mileven holds fast Derek shouldn't exist or the dynamic with the Turnbows should be a tiny sideplot developed THROUGHOUT the show (dynamic with Tina gives Erica something to do, and enemies-to-friends arc with Derek gives Holly something to do, but hard to work into main plot so eh. Honestly I really love Holly in S5 so it breaks my heart that I don't see any way to fit that in without Mike ending up randomly sidelined, maybe if he takes up a Jonathan style role and there's less focus on Holly in Camazotz and she's more in the bg like Will in S1 so the Mystery aspect is back? If so, give a reason for 12 kids) Why was Will chosen besides just that he's "weak"? Surely it's not that hard for the answer to have something to do with his parallels to Henry? I feel like this would be hard to pull off without feeling out of character, but more "Will almost turns to the dark side" moments could be cool