"They took it from us": Stranger Things stars Gaten Matarazzo and Joe Keery talk about the "You die, I die" scene from Season 5 Volume 2

With the final season of Stranger Things just around the corner, the hype has gone up to very high levels, and nothing has made more fans talk than the latest Season 5 Volume 2 trailer, particularly one dialogue that fans are calling epic.

In a tense situation, made even more dramatic by the danger of Vecna, characters that fans love the most, Steve Harrington and Dustin Henderson, exchange glances and say:

"You die, I die."

In an interview with Good Morning America, Joe Keery, who plays Steve on Stranger Things, said:

"No context needed whatsoever. They took it from us and they actually put it in. Yeah. Yeah. Like, man, they just kept saying, made everybody uncomfortable. They're like, you don't have to. It's like just in the show."

This particular line is treated in many trailer breakdowns and fan discussions as a very clear and emotionally charged promise between the two characters, marking one of the most mentioned moments of the latest marketing campaign.

During the interviews that took place for the show’s promotion, both Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin) and Joe Keery (Steve) talked about the strong bond that exists between their characters and the fact that these are the last episodes with very high stakes, thus giving a reason as to why that simple exchange has been so powerful.

Nevertheless, the two actors have not dished out the finale or any particular occurrences, but their musings surely point out the emotional heaviness that the phrase packs for not only the viewers but also the fans who are patiently waiting for the end of Stranger Things.

Here's the Good Morning America interview for your reference :

"You die, I die" is the line that features in Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 2.

A new trailer for Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 2, released on December 15, 2025, before the airing of the final chapter, shows a short clip of Steve and Dustin setting up their friendship against the worst scenarios.

Steve utters to Dustin: "You die, I die," and to his utmost surprise, Dustin affirms with the same words, thus making a bond that has already sparked a significant amount of dialogue in the online fan circles. The dialogue is pointed out as one of the most touching moments of the trailer.

Not that the expression has ever been voiced in the series, Dustin has claimed the same for Steve when he told him, "If you die, I die" in Season 3, a moment that has been frequently cited as the very symbol of their unwavering friendship.

Fans' and media's reactions

The moment the trailer was out, social networks and fans' forums became the place for the discussions on the "You die, I die" exchange to take place with the utmost intensity. Several fans showed their worries about the end of both characters, reading the line as a possible omen of trouble coming their way.

Still, some referred to the line's callback nature, that is, season 3, as a sign of how the show has gradually transformed the relationship between Steve and Dustin. The media spotlighted the sudden but very influential moment as the key topic of conversation around the trailer, with numerous news outlets asserting that the interaction between Steve and Dustin was an emotional moment in the series.

It might be perceived by the audience as either a sign of impending death or a heartfelt promise of loyalty, but its impact on the discussion of Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 2 is undeniable.

Actors’ inputs on the emotional stakes

Matarazzo and Keery have not yet gone into details about this particular line of dialogue, nor have they confirmed if it is going to be the same in the final episodes as in the trailers, but they have, anyway, made it clear in interviews the emotional depth as well as the stakes involved in the final season’s story arc.

Their remarks regarding the series ending have been mainly about character ties, loyalty, and facing danger together, topics that are very much in line with what the line conveys.

By discussing the relationship between Steve and Dustin in a more general way, the actors assist in understanding why such a statement strikes a chord so strongly, even without giving any overt confirmation of story details. Their thoughts reveal that loyalty and sacrifice have been the very traits that strengthened the emotional foundation of the show, which has been its hallmark all along.

How does this moment fit into Stranger Things lore?

Since the beginning of its seasons, Stranger Things has been a dramatic series not just because of the supernatural threats but mainly because of the beautiful relationships that it had.

The dynamic between Steve and Dustin started as an odd friendship, where the older teenager and the younger boy were helping each other to cope with the terrifying situations, and thus it became one of the show's most cherished partnerships.

In the Season 5 Volume 2 trailer, "You die, I die" has been interpreted as an actual pact, but also as the end of the growth and a verbal recognition of how much their fates are linked. It indicates their mutual experience and the very serious situation the characters are in with the final battle that is near.

Does the line confirm death or survival?

No, it does not at all confirm the death or survival of any character in Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 2. Trailers usually build tension and show emotional stakes without revealing the specific outcomes, and even lines with a dramatic tone can be used to increase the viewers’ anticipation rather than to disclose the plot resolutions.

Neither the official promotional sources nor the statements from the cast members have indicated whether either character will die in the last episodes. The line, however, does convey the dilemma they are in, an issue that has kept the fans talking since the trailer was released.

The placing of this line in a prominent position in the advertising is a way of the series asking the audience not just to think about the possible events of the last episodes but also to reflect on characters, what they mean to each other, and to the viewers who have been supporting them for years.

The line “You die, I die” has indeed become part of the Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 2 promotional conversation and appears in several trailers as reported by audiences and press.

However, it has not been specified if this precise dialogue is present in the episodes or if so, what its ultimate narrative importance will be; nevertheless, it certainly functions as a potent emotional signal foretelling the heavy stakes that await in the last season.

Tragedy, loyalty, or merely silent companionship, this phrase has become one of the most significant and emotional moments linked to the final part of the Stranger Things saga, and also a tribute to the fact that the children of Hawkins, when facing darkness, do so together.

Also Read: "Thing of dreams": Jake Connelly shares his feelings about auditioning for Stranger Things Season 5

Edited by Amey Mirashi

Help Us Improve