‘Stranger Things’ Creators Reveal Why They Didn’t Kill Off More Characters in Season 5 Finale

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Be warned: this article contains major spoilers for the final season of Stranger Things. The show recently concluded, and fans are deeply saddened by the death of a key character in the series finale. The ending was emotionally satisfying, showing the Hawkins group sharing one last Dungeons & Dragons game without Eleven. Just before this, the character made the ultimate sacrifice to save everyone from the Upside Down. While this was a powerful moment, some viewers feel it simply fulfilled a common trope of having a character die in a final season. But was this always the Duffer brothers’ intention, or were other characters considered for this fate?

The creators of the hit show, the Duffers, recently talked to Deadline about wrapping up the series. Matt Duffer described the emotional reaction after they and the cast watched the final episode together. He said everyone was in tears, and afterwards they all went back to his apartment in New York. Some of the actors even chose to walk the 30-minute distance, seemingly needing time to come to terms with the ending. He added that everyone is still processing everything.

Regarding the recent episode and the choice to eliminate characters, Ross Duffer explained they explored all options. Ultimately, they decided against killing off more people, feeling it fit the show’s overall theme of the heroes surviving. As Ross Duffer puts it:

As someone involved in crafting the story, we really explored every single idea in the writers’ room. We debated all the possibilities, and we quickly figured out what we wanted to do with Eleven and her journey. We did the same with all the other characters, but ultimately, we always came back to the heart of the show: it’s a thrilling adventure, and it’s about growing up.

We focused on the final 30 to 40 minutes of the story, thinking about where we wanted our characters to end up and how they would develop. These conversations led us to the decision that most of our heroes would survive the events.

Was Eleven Always Going To Die in the ‘Stranger Things’ Finale?


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The last episode of Stranger Things features Eleven making a surprising sacrifice. While fans have had mixed reactions, the creators, the Duffer brothers, reveal this was always how her story was meant to end, even when the show was initially planned as a short, limited series. The Duffer brothers explain that Eleven likely made this choice to protect Hawkins from future threats connected to her powers and family history. Matt Duffer shared more details about this original plan.

We’ve been thinking about this for a while now. Originally, when the show was planned as a short, one-time story, the idea was that Eleven would have to make a sacrifice. In fact, one of the first things we discussed while working on Season 5 was how the show would end, and specifically what that would mean for Eleven – it was a difficult conversation.

Making that decision was incredibly difficult and emotionally draining, but ultimately, it felt like the right thing to do. Considering everything that had happened, it seemed like the only way to finally resolve the situation. It was a very generous act on her part to spare others the pain she experienced.

One of the show’s creators explained the meaning behind Eleven’s character, describing her as a representation of the wonder and possibility of childhood – something that stays with you even as you grow up. He emphasized that the memories of Eleven will always remain with Mike and their friends, and their choice to believe she’s still alive is a powerful thing. According to Matt, this enduring belief is key to understanding her impact.

It’s not a farewell; she’ll always be with them. As Dustin pointed out, even though their childhood – and everything they experienced together, including the frightening and difficult times – ultimately brought a lot of good. Eleven, and all they went through together, made them who they are today.

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2026-01-02 19:22