‘Stranger Things’ Creators Confirm When They Decided Eleven’s Fate and Why They Gave Her That Ending [Exclusive]

Editor’s Note: This article contains spoilers for the series finale of Stranger Things.

For a show that’s spent nearly a decade thrilling and traumatizing audiences with Demogorgons, government conspiracies, and psychic horror, Stranger Things ended in a surprisingly quiet and thoughtful way. Instead of spelling out Eleven’s fate in bold, undeniable terms, the series finale hands that decision directly to the audience, and according to the Duffer Brothers, that wasn’t some last-minute hedge; it was baked into the story from the beginning. Speaking to Collider’s Steve Weintraub, Matt Duffer revealed that the idea of letting viewers decide what ultimately happens to Eleven was settled very early in the Season 5 writers’ room.

“Probably within the first three weeks of the writers’ room. We started from the end and worked backwards. So, we spent a long time, really, on that final scene, and one of the first things, obviously, that was kind of hotly debated was what we were going to do with El.”

The Duffers knew the finale would live or die on whether Eleven’s ending felt honest to the character they’d been writing for ten years, and one thing became clear pretty quickly: bringing her back into the familiar safety of the Wheelers’ basement just didn’t add up. Duffer went on to say:

“It never felt right to anybody that she would be there in the basement. It’s just, we couldn’t figure out, as much as we wanted her there, how that could really make sense. And then, when we were working on the finale, we tried to articulate all the feelings that we had as writers and people who care deeply about El.”

Instead of forcing a tidy reunion, the writers leaned into the emotional complexity of letting go. In crafting the finale, they essentially staged an internal debate about Eleven’s fate on screen, using the people who love her most to represent different perspectives. When Hopper speaks, he voices the hope and denial the writers themselves felt. Kali, more pragmatic and darker in outlook, represents the harsh reality of sacrifice. And Mike — fittingly — becomes the bridge between those extremes.

“So Hop was offering one point of view that we all had,” said Duffer, “and Kali, who’s a little bit more of a pragmatist and had sort of a darker view of things, was offering up the opposite point of view. Then, of course, Mike’s point of view, ultimately, which is, is there an in-between?” That “in-between” became the ending audiences got: a version of events where Eleven may have survived, may have sacrificed herself, or may have simply moved on in a way that means she can’t return. “We ultimately liked the idea that we present all those possibilities,” Duffer explained, “and it’s kind of up to the audience to decide ultimately what her fate is.”

Why Did Eleven Sacrifice Herself in the ‘Stranger Things’ Finale?

What isn’t ambiguous, though, is the nature of Eleven’s choice. “But either way you look at it,” Duffer added, “El is making a sacrifice. I think ultimately, it’s a very courageous and selfless thing she’s doing.” That sacrifice goes beyond stopping Vecna or closing the door on the Upside Down. In the Duffers’ minds, it’s about breaking a cycle. They explained:

“She’s not just preventing the government from doing more bad, she’s preventing more boys and girls from experiencing what she experienced, and that’s ultimately why she makes that sacrifice. Whether it’s her killing herself or her just having to move on and leave her friends behind, either way, there’s a sort of heartbreaking element to it.”

The ambiguity extends to Mike’s final act — the story he tells about Eleven surviving. Is it true? Or is it a coping mechanism? When asked whether Mike comes up with that version after talking with Hopper in the town square, Duffer offered another layer, and they want the audience to share the emotions that Mike is feeling. Do you believe?

“That would be one way to look at it, but there’s also the moment at the high school graduation where the speakers distort, and it reminds him of the Kryptonite speakers, and it brings them back to that moment, because he’s obviously been wrestling with this for a long time. Now, obviously, we’re leaving it up to the viewers in terms of, yes, is this Mike’s way of allowing him to move on, and his friends can move on, or is it real? I think there’s stuff that could point both ways, and that’s why we really wanted to leave it up to the viewers. Obviously, in this case, our characters choose to believe.”

Stranger Things is streaming now on Netflix in its entirety. Check Collider for more comprehensive coverage on the finale of Stranger Things.

Release Date

2016 – 2025-00-00

Network

Netflix