JuicyTalk
Warning: Spoilers ahead for Stranger Things’ series finale!Stranger Things has officially come to an end, with a two-hour series finale episode that provided us with several massive story reveals and surprises. Following Stranger Things season 5, Volume 2’s ending, the series was tasked with tying up numerous storylines. While some fates are open-ended, the final episode effectively confirms the fate of most characters.
The finale, titled “The Rightside Up,” features the final fight against Vecna, with the Party emerging victorious. Granted, there isn’t a happy ending for all of Stranger Things‘ characters once Eleven makes the difficult decision regarding her own fate in the Upside Down.
Mike Believes That Eleven Is Still Alive
After one final game of D&D with Lucas, Dustin, Will, and Max, Mike reveals what he really thinks happened to Eleven. He’s choosing to believe that Kali helped create an illusion for everyone at the Gate, making it seem like she died when the Upside Down was destroyed.
With the illusion, the real El was able to become invisible and escape without the military and her friends knowing. Mike then envisions that El eventually found peace. While it’s not completely confirmed that Mike’s theory is true, Eleven is shown hiking a mountain full of waterfalls in what looks to be Iceland during the epilogue in Stranger Things‘ series finale.
Kali Dies In The Upside Down
Kali is nearly killed by Akers when the military arrives in the Upside Down version of Hawkins Lab. Just before he shoots her, Murray blows up the helicopter that is housing the kryptonite device. Though it seems like Kali is killed after the helicopter is blown up, she seems to have been helping Eleven carry out her true escape.
Hopper is led to believe that Kali died at Hawkins Lab, but Stranger Things suggests that the “death” is to allow Kali to help Eleven carry out her faked death by the Gate. Even if she helped Eleven disappear, Kali is still in the Upside Down when the bomb goes off, confirming her death.
Henry Creel Got His Powers In The Cave As A Kid
During the series finale, Stranger Things finally reveals how Henry originally got his powers, and it occurred in the cave. While chasing the kids, Henry relives the cave memory as he watches his younger self open the man’s briefcase and take out the glowing rock.
Particles then come out of the rock and into the gunshot wound in Henry’s hand, creating his connection to the Mind Flayer and the hive mind. As the injured man tells Henry to “resist” the darkness, Henry instantly kills the man with his new powers. Though the Mind Flayer existed first, Vecna later claims that he and the Mind Flayer are “one.”
The Party Defeats Vecna & The Mind Flayer
Eleven gets to the Abyss in time to help the Party fight the Mind Flyer, which is now in its true form. As the others help fight the giant monster with guns, fire, and other weapons, El jumps into the Mind Flayer, which was serving as Vecna’s lair. She then has another chance to face off with him as the others continue to weaken the Mind Flayer.
With Will tapping into the hive mind, hurting Vecna, El is able to overpower Vecna, impaling him as the Mind Flayer is also defeated. To finish off the job, Joyce uses her axe to chop off Vecna’s head. But before she does the job, each character watches on while the show plays a montage of the horrors Vecna and the Mind Flayer have inflicted on them over the last four years.
Holly & The Kids Are Rescued
Once Vecna is dead, Nancy is able to get to Holly, freeing her from the vines, making for a sweet reunion between the girls and Mike. The Party rescues the other kids, including Derek, before they are taken back to the Gate and back into Hawkins.
Despite a run-in with the military, they eventually get back to their normal lives. Robin later confirms that the military has left Hawkins as the town started to rebuild after the “earthquake.” As for Holly, she and her friends take over the basement to play D&D at the end of the Stranger Things series finale.
Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas & Max Graduate From High School
Following the defeat of Vecna and the destruction of the Upside Down, Stranger Things’ timeline jumps 18 months to the spring of 1989. It’s graduation day for Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas, and Max, though Mike is hesitant to attend after everything that has happened.
Hopper convinces him to attend, and he shows up just in time for Dustin’s rebellious valedictorian speech. At the end of the speech, Dustin rips off his robe and reveals his “Hellfire Lives” shirt as the crowd cheers on. The group is invited to a graduation party later that night, but they decide to play D&D one last time.
Hopper Proposes To Joyce & Suggests They Move To Montauk
Hopper and Joyce finally have their date at Enzo’s, where Hopper brings up the idea that they relocate to Montauk for a fresh start. He learns of a job opening, which will come with a raise, but more importantly, both Jonathan and Will are now in New York City, so the move would bring them all closer.
Though Joyce is open to the idea, it seems more plausible after Hopper proposes to Joyce, and she happily says yes. Hopper and Joyce’s fate suggests that they will soon enter a new chapter of their lives together away from Hawkins, something they both need.
Steve, Robin, Nancy & Jonathan Vow To Remain Friends Despite The Distance
Steve is the only member of the older group who has remained in Hawkins, where he now works as the baseball coach and the Sex Ed teacher. Robin and Jonathan are busy with college, with the latter studying film at NYU, while Nancy reveals that she dropped out of Emerson but got a job with the Boston Herald.
Though they are all back in Hawkins to celebrate the younger group’s graduation, it’s clear that there’s distance between them, which makes them all emotional. As a promise to keep their friendship going, they agree to meet once a month in Philly at Robin’s weird uncle’s house.
Mike, Lucas, Max, Dustin & Will Go Their Separate Ways
After sharing El’s fate through the Mage’s story, Mike overviews what happens to the other D&D characters, revealing what’s ahead for the remaining Stranger Things characters. Max and Lucas will stay together and eventually settle down, whereas Dustin will focus on his studies but still save time to go on adventures with Steve.
Will eventually finds his place in life, as well as acceptance from his peers, as Stranger Things implies that he will soon have a boyfriend. Then there’s Mike, who will go on to be a writer, cementing his role as the Party’s storyteller.
Oh, And Ted Wheeler Is Alive
After basically forgetting his existence in Volume 2, Stranger Things‘ series finale finally confirms that Ted Wheeler is still alive. He was last believed to be in a coma after being attacked by the Demogorgon in Volume 1. Whereas Karen saw more action, there haven’t been any updates regarding Ted’s fate.
However, Ted is shown sitting in attendance with the rest of the Wheeler family at the graduation ceremony. He even complains about Dustin’s language during the valedictorian speech, proving that Ted hasn’t changed in Stranger Things.
- Release Date
-
2016 – 2025-00-00
- Network
-
Netflix
- Showrunner
-
Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer
- Directors
-
Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer, Andrew Stanton, Frank Darabont, Nimród Antal, Uta Briesewitz
- Writers
-
Kate Trefry, Jessie Nickson-Lopez, Jessica Mecklenburg, Alison Tatlock
