Stranger Things fans 'work out' iconic guest star's role as they predict major showdown

Stranger Things fans have finally been given their first full look at the upcoming fifth and final season, including an exciting new star.

Linda Hamilton, best known for portraying Sarah Connor in the Terminator franchise, will be joining the hit Netflix series as a mysterious character called Dr. Kay.

However, fans believe they've already sussed her character's trajectory in the epic finale, even though details about her role are sparse.

A synopsis for the final season reads: "Hawkins is scarred by the opening of the Rifts, and our heroes are united by a single goal: find and kill Vecna.

"But he has vanished - his whereabouts and plans unknown. Complicating their mission, the government has placed the town under military quarantine and intensified its hunt for Eleven, forcing her back into hiding.

"As the anniversary of Will's disappearance approaches, so does a heavy, familiar dread.

"The final battle is looming - and with it, a darkness more powerful and more deadly than anything they've faced before. To end this nightmare, they'll need everyone - the full party - standing together, one last time."

The new trailer promises more high-stakes thrills with Eleven (played by Millie Bobby Brown), Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) and the gang taking on Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) one last time.

But how does Dr Kay factor in the narrative? The first-look has revealed her wielding a firearm and wearing a military uniform, giving eagle-eyed viewers some clues to piece together her role in the final episodes.

Fans took to Reddit to speculate, with one user predicting: "She is the grumpy military officer of this season I guess."

While another predicted: "Looks like she's playing against type and is gonna be a bad guy."

Others have theorised her role could be more substantial than the early shots suggesting, with one comment reading: "When they announced her casting, I was totally expecting her to be revealed as Eleven's secretly still-alive mom...

"With the past mom being some kind of red herring, in a nod to her previously playing John Connor's mom, but I like that she gets to play against type here and be an enforcer/bad guy."

And someone else suggested: "She looks like a senior military figure. Maybe she's the one who ends up stopping Colonel Sullivan (Sherman Augustus)?"

Although a final fan has predicted a more grisly fate, writing: "She looks like the demogorgon food of the season."

Will Hamilton be portraying hero or villain in her latest foray into science fiction? Tune into the hit Netflix series' final showdown later this year to find out.

Stranger Things season 5 part 1 is released on Netflix on November 26; part 2 on Christmas Day; the finale on New Year's Eve.