WARNING: Spoilers for the Stranger Things series finale are below!
After almost ten years, the popular Netflix series Stranger Things has concluded. The final, extended episode fulfilled many hints and expectations the creators, the Duffer brothers, established throughout the show’s run. Beloved characters like Mike, Dustin, Lucas, and Will all came to terms with how their story unfolded, sharing a final, heartfelt game of Dungeons & Dragons. Some characters, such as Joyce and Hopper, found lasting happiness, while others, like Eleven, faced a difficult outcome (though not necessarily a permanent one).
Despite the show finally giving fans the character development they’d waited for, the ending didn’t quite land as powerfully as expected. While the finale had sad moments, moving speeches, and fulfilled foreshadowing – all the right ingredients – it somehow lacked the deep emotional resonance it seemed to promise. It’s tough to create a satisfying ending, but what prevented this one from truly connecting with viewers?
‘Stranger Things’ Season 5 Kept Teasing Emotional Devastation
Image via Netflix
Even before the final season of Stranger Things started, viewers anticipated a dark and dangerous conclusion, with characters facing real threats to their lives. The show has a history of heartbreaking deaths – many fans are still upset about Eddie Munson – so everyone expected multiple characters to die in the final season. Theories abounded about who might not survive, with names like Hopper, Will, and Steve frequently mentioned. The creators, the Duffer brothers, even hinted that this season would feature the show’s most shocking and violent death yet.
Everyone expected this season to be much more dangerous, with major characters potentially dying. The show heavily hinted at high stakes and emotional consequences, leading viewers to anticipate significant losses as the season went on. However, very few characters actually died. The show had opportunities to make a real impact – even killing off someone like Karen Wheeler – but consistently avoided doing so. Despite building towards a tragic finale, the season ultimately failed to deliver on its promise of major character deaths, leaving audiences disappointed.
The ‘Stranger Things’ Finale Spent Its Runtime Softening the Blow
Netflix
The final episode of Stranger Things takes its time bringing the series to a satisfying conclusion. The creators rely heavily on emotional speeches throughout, and while David Harbour delivers a powerful performance, Hopper’s plea for Eleven to change her mind foreshadows the heartbreaking events to come. The scene where Hopper, acting as a father figure, urges El to fight is a strong moment for both characters. However, it also reminds viewers of the potential danger, as Kali’s earlier appearance hinted at the possibility of Eleven’s death.
The show Stranger Things led viewers to believe Steve might die, especially during the tense scene on the radio tower. However, he wasn’t the only character who seemed in danger. The death of Kali, while potentially meant to release Eleven from a past commitment, actually signaled that Eleven would become even more determined. Before the final battle with Vecna, Eleven had a heartfelt conversation with Hopper about trust and letting go – a conversation that strongly hinted at what was about to happen.
As the group escaped the Upside Down after the final fight, it was clear soldiers would be waiting for them, but no one seemed worried about it. Predictably, the Hawkins resistance was immediately attacked, leading to a heartbreaking moment where El chose to sacrifice herself to save her friends. This sparked another deeply emotional conversation between El and Mike, meant to be the peak of their feelings. However, the scene felt inevitable, as the entire episode had been leading up to it, subtly preparing the audience for the one major death the showrunners were willing to risk. While sad, El and Mike’s goodbye felt preordained and lacked true surprise.
‘Stranger Things’ Was Afraid To Commit To Killing Eleven
Netflix
The show spent nearly two hours building up to what seemed like a major character’s death, but then hesitated to fully commit to it. Eleven was declared dead for only about ten minutes before the series walked it back, explaining how she could have survived through a story told by Mike. This created another emotional moment for viewers, but the show didn’t actually confirm whether this explanation was true, leaving it ambiguous.
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The ending, intended to offer fans a glimmer of hope, instead feels like a way to avoid making a difficult decision. Instead of definitively showing Eleven’s fate, the show leaves it ambiguous, seemingly unwilling to take a risk. Whether El is truly alive or dead is left up to interpretation, and this indecisiveness ultimately undermines the story. After building up to a potentially devastating conclusion, the show backs down, offering unanswered questions instead of clear answers.
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2026-01-02 01:18