01 January,2026 04:22 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Stranger Things
After a month and three volumes later, we finally have the complete picture of peace being restored in the small town of Hawkins in Stranger Things. The gang manages to shut the Upside Down for good after killing Vecna, the enemy who had terrorised their lives. Thankfully, all our favourite characters survive the murky, life-threatening situations. But the biggest question remains- what happened to Eleven?
As the gang heads back to the real world after defeating Vecna, they are confronted by real-world villains led by Dr Kay, who has been hunting both the real world and the Upside Down in search of Eleven and her sister, Kali. The group is caught at the gate just as they return from their mission. However, before Dr Kay can reach her, Eleven sacrifices herself by stepping back into the Upside Down moments before a bomb detonates.
The story then jumps 18 months into the future. Mike is still deeply troubled by Eleven's sacrifice but comes up with his own theory about what may have truly happened. During a Dungeons & Dragons game, he tells his friends that he believes Kali did not actually die and instead cast an illusion spell in the Upside Down, giving Eleven enough time to escape. While everyone thought they saw Eleven at the gate, Mike believes she fled through the tunnels so her friends could remain safe. He also imagines Eleven living peacefully in a faraway town, surrounded by waterfalls, just as they once dreamed.
So what really happened? Speaking to Netflix, the Duffer Brothers addressed the ambiguous ending. "There are two roads that Eleven could take - one darker and more pessimistic, the other optimistic and hopeful. Mike is the optimist of the group and has chosen to believe in that story," they explained.
Ross Duffer added, "There was never a version where Eleven was hanging out with the gang at the end. We didn't want to take her powers away - she represents magic and the magic of childhood. For the characters to move on and for Hawkins and the Upside Down to truly close, Eleven had to go away. We felt it was beautiful that they continue to believe in a happier ending, even without a clear answer."
Matt Duffer further noted, "If Eleven is out there, the most they can hope for is believing it's true because they can't be in contact with her. This was the best way to keep her alive emotionally, while allowing Mike and the others to find a way to move forward."
