Every Character Who Dies (& Lives) In The Stranger Things Series Finale

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The final episode of Stranger Things is now available (after briefly causing problems for Netflix again), and fans finally know how the story concludes – though the show has also hinted at future spinoffs. Now that the battle with the Upside Down is over, who survived the final showdown with Vecna, and who didn’t make it?

Be warned: the following contains spoilers for the latest episode. If you haven’t seen it yet, you might want to stop reading now.

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SPOILERS

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Okay, so the finale… it definitely pulled back from being super dark. Honestly, a lot of the characters fans thought were goners actually survived! Given everything that was on the line, and how badly things could have gone, it felt surprisingly… happy. Though, let’s be real, ‘happy’ is a relative term when you’re talking about a universe that’s been dealing with alien invasions for over twenty years!

Therefore, anyone not listed below is still considered to be alive. Here’s a list of those who died in the finale, along with a quick explanation of how they met their end.

Everyone Confirmed to Have Died in The Stranger Things Series Finale

Kali Prasad, also known as Eleven’s sister, is shot by Robert Akers, a soldier working for Dr. Kay. While it seemed like she died immediately, Mike believes she remained alive for a significant portion of the episode, projecting illusions until the Upside Down’s destruction finally caused her death.

Okay, so let’s talk about that scene. It’s brutal, honestly. Eleven doesn’t just take out Robert Akers – she makes him do it himself. While the other soldiers fall victim to her power in a pretty straightforward way – necks snapped, quick and efficient – Akers is forced to pull the trigger on his own weapon. It’s a particularly disturbing and psychologically impactful method, and it really highlights the extent of her abilities and the desperation of the situation.

The final showdown with Henry, also known as Vecna, ended up being surprisingly simple. Eleven initially defeats him in a brutal fight, sending him flying onto a jagged, tooth-like structure. Though he somehow manages to hang on, Joyce ultimately finishes him off by severing his head with an axe.

Did Eleven Actually Die in the Stranger Things Series Finale?

Towards the end of the episode, Eleven appears to sacrifice herself by staying in the Upside Down as it closes, but Mike wonders if that was actually an illusion created by Kali. While it could just be Mike hoping for the best, his theory seems likely. The scene as it currently stands doesn’t quite make sense – Eleven mysteriously vanished from a military truck, even though her powers were being blocked, and then somehow managed to re-enter the portal.

Because her death doesn’t add up, Mike wonders if Kali secretly helped her disappear both times, and that she’s now living a peaceful life, safely hidden from anyone who might want to experiment on her again.

Because the ending isn’t completely clear-cut, what happens to Eleven is up to how viewers interpret it.

Whether we’ll ever truly know what happened to Eleven remains to be seen. The creators have already explained one confusing plot point this season, so they might offer some hints about Eleven’s fate. Plus, with several spin-off shows planned, there are many chances to either bring Eleven back or officially confirm her death.

What are your thoughts on the latest episode? Share them in the comments below and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-01-01 06:40