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.
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, finding peace through a new life by herself in what looks to be Iceland.
Kali Dies In The Upside Down
Though it seems like Kali was killed after the helicopter was blown up in the Upside Down, she may have lived long enough to help Eleven carry out her true escape. Even if the fake death of Eleven is real, Kali is still in the Upside Down when the bomb goes off, confirming her death.
The Party Defeats Vecna & The Mind Flayer
Eleven gets to the Abyss in time to help the Party fight the Mind Flyer. As the others help fight the giant monster, El jumps inside it to fight Vecna. With Will tapping into the hive mind, 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.
Holly & The Kids Are Rescued
Once Vecna is dead, Nancy is able to get to Holly, freeing her from the vines. The Party rescues the other kids, including Derek, and 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, with Holly and her friends taking over the basement to play D&D at the end of the 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 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.
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. Though Joyce is open to the idea, it seems more plausible after Hopper proposes to Joyce, suggesting that they will soon enter a new chapter of their lives together away from Hawkins.
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 at NYU, while Nancy dropped out of Emerson but got a job with the Boston Herald. To remain friends, 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. Then there’s Mike, who will go on to be a writer, cementing his role as the Party’s storyteller.
