Stranger Things Series Finale Ending & The Fates Of Every Major Character Explained

Be warned, this contains spoilers for the final episode of Stranger Things! The series finale is over two hours long and has a lot happening. Picking up immediately after the events of the previous episode, “The Bridge,” the final episode of Stranger Things season 5 sees the group split up and begin their complex plan in the Upside Down.

While Eleven, Kali, Hopper, and Murray travel to Hawkins Lab, the rest of the group starts climbing the tower. Eleven, Kali, and Max briefly connect in the Void, where they explore Henry’s memories and locate the kids inside the Creel house. However, before they can defeat Vecna, he manages to stop them in the Upside Down.

After Kali seemingly dies, Eleven reunites with the group in the Abyss, setting the stage for the climactic action sequence in the Stranger Things finale. The episode includes a rematch between Eleven and Vecna, and also reveals the Mind Flayer’s original form. While Eleven and her friends ultimately win, the final battle and what happens afterward deserve a closer look as the main story of Stranger Things comes to a close.

Is Eleven Dead Or Alive At The End Of Stranger Things?

Image via Netflix

The ending of Stranger Things leaves Eleven’s fate uncertain, open to how viewers see it. The show suggests she stayed in the collapsing Upside Down, essentially sacrificing herself to prevent the government from creating others with powers like hers. But Mike believes something different, and he eventually explains his idea to his friends.

Following a triumphant end to their D&D campaign where the Mage saved the day, Mike shares his theory about what happened to El. He thinks that because El wasn’t harmed by the kryptonite around the Gate, Kali must still be alive in the Upside Down. He believes Kali created an illusion of El, allowing the real El to escape without being detected.

Then, Stranger Things briefly shows Eleven walking up a mountain with a view of waterfalls and a small town. It’s not yet clear if this is what will actually happen to her, or if it was just a hopeful vision Mike had, but the rest of the group chooses to believe she’s still alive and out there somewhere.

The Origin Of Henry Creel’s Powers Explained

Netflix

The final episode of Stranger Things finally explains where Henry Creel got his powers. This also clarifies the meaning of his memories in the cave and what happened to him after meeting that strange man.

The recovered memory revealed that young Henry was first exposed to the Mind Flayer through tiny particles. A strange, red-glowing rock was inside the briefcase, and when Henry touched it, these particles came out and entered the wound on his hand.

The Mind Flayer begins communicating directly with Henry, establishing a psychic link between them. This connection unlocks Henry’s hidden abilities, which he immediately demonstrates by violently attacking and killing the man he had previously injured with a rock.

Is The Mind Flayer The True Villain In Stranger Things?

Image via Netflix

As the final season of Stranger Things approached, a big question was who the true main villain was: the Mind Flayer or Vecna. The finale clarifies their relationship, confirming that the Mind Flayer existed long before Henry Creel gained his powers and became Vecna.

When Will tries to reason with the villain, Henry reveals his connection to the Mind Flayer, explaining that he wasn’t controlled by it, and it wasn’t controlled by him. He claims they are a single being who depend on each other, further complicating the nature of the hive mind and its goals.

Since Vecna held the children captive within the Mind Flayer while gaining power, his claim that they need each other to survive has some truth to it. However, Henry Creel wouldn’t have become Vecna or developed his abilities without first finding the Mind Flayer and the Upside Down. Considering this, the Mind Flayer could be argued as the original source of evil in the story.

How The Party Defeated Vecna & The Mind Flayer

Okay, so the Party’s attempt to take down Vecna and close the gate to the Upside Down wasn’t exactly flawless. There were definitely some hiccups – the radio tower wasn’t positioned right, and Hopper, poor guy, pulled Eleven out of her sensory deprivation session prematurely after Vecna messed with his head. But honestly? Despite those setbacks, they did manage to pull it off. They really came together as a team and got the job done, and that’s what matters most.

Once the party enters the Abyss, they come face-to-face with the true Mind Flayer. Nancy bravely volunteers as a distraction while the others come up with a battle plan. Luckily, Eleven shows up right when they need her, battling the enormous creature and venturing inside it to confront Vecna. The two then engage in another intense showdown that will continue in the next episode.

Okay, so the final showdown was intense. The Party really threw everything they had at the Mind Flayer, but it was Will’s connection that ultimately gave Eleven the opening she needed to trap Vecna. It looked like it was over – the Mind Flayer went down, seemingly confirming their victory. But just when they rushed in to rescue Holly and the other kids, bam! Vecna was still kicking. Thankfully, Joyce didn’t hesitate and took matters into her own hands, delivering the final blow with her axe and finally, finally, ending Vecna’s reign of terror. It was a bit of a scare there at the end, but satisfying to see him go!

Is The Upside Down Destroyed Forever?

After loading the children into the truck, the group drives toward the gate leading back to Hawkins, while Hopper and Murray speed after them in a stolen military vehicle. They’ve already planted a bomb set to explode when a specific Prince song plays long enough to activate it. As both vehicles reach the gate, they’re confronted by Dr. Owens and a group of soldiers.

Amidst the chaos, Eleven appears to return to the Upside Down, intending to sacrifice herself as the connection between worlds begins to fail. Although the show hints she survives, the explosion completely destroys the Upside Down. When Prince’s “Purple Rain” plays, the strange material keeping the dimensional gateway stable detonates, effectively ending the Upside Down and everything within it.

What Happens To Every Major Character In Stranger Things’ Series Finale

Everyone thinks Eleven died when the portal to the Upside Down closed, but Mike secretly believes she survived and is now living a normal life somewhere far from Hawkins.

Mike was the life of the party, captivating everyone with his stories. He eventually turned this talent into a career, becoming a writer who drew inspiration from his own experiences.

In the final season of Stranger Things, Will Byers comes to terms with his identity and begins a new chapter of life in college. The story suggests he finds happiness and even enters a romantic relationship with a boyfriend.

According to hints from Mike, Lucas and Max remain a couple and build a life together, with their feelings for each other continuing to deepen.

After giving a memorable graduation speech, Dustin remains dedicated to his schoolwork while continuing to prioritize his friendship with Steve. They actually end up having even more exciting experiences together.

Among the original group of Hawkins High students, Steve is the only one who remains in town after graduation. He’s now a baseball coach and also helps teach sex education to students.

Nancy, the oldest of the Wheeler children, eventually leaves Hawkins. She shares that she didn’t finish college at Emerson, and is now a journalist at the Boston Herald.

I was so happy to hear that Jonathan followed Nancy to NYU! He’s really pursuing his passion for filmmaking, which is awesome. Apparently, he’s even working on his own movie called The Consumer. I can’t wait to see what he creates!

Robin returns to Hawkins briefly to DJ, but she’s moved away for college. Despite the distance, she generously offers her uncle’s house in Philadelphia as a yearly meeting spot for her, Steve, Nancy, and Jonathan.

Following their date at Enzo’s, Hopper asks Joyce to marry him. Now that he’s reinstated as police chief, he also proposes they move to Montauk to begin a new life, and be nearer to Jonathan and Will who are in New York City.

At the end of the Stranger Things series finale, young Holly Wheeler is shown making new friends, including a boy named Derek. They’re all gathered in the Wheeler basement, enjoying a game of Dungeons & Dragons.

2026-01-01 08:41