After nearly a decade on screens, Netflix's monumental sci-fi series Stranger Things has drawn to a close. The fifth and final season culminated in a cinematic, two-hour finale titled Chapter Eight: The Rightside Up, which aired on 1 January 2026. While delivering epic action and emotional closure for its beloved characters, the conclusion has sparked mixed reactions from its dedicated fanbase.
Who Made It Out Alive? The Final Casualty List
Contrary to widespread fears that fan-favourite Steve Harrington (Joe Keery) would meet his end, the final season's body count was relatively low. The real casualties were confined to key antagonists and supporting figures. Among those who perished were Kali Prasad (Linnea Berthelsen), the monstrous Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower), the entity known as the Mindflayer, and soldier Akers (Alex Breaux), along with several unnamed military personnel.
The core Hawkins group, including Steve, Dustin, Lucas, and Mike, emerged from the climactic battle physically unscathed. However, the fate of Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) was left deliberately ambiguous, becoming the finale's central mystery.
The Ambiguous Fate of Eleven & The Wormhole's Closure
In the final confrontation, it appeared Eleven sacrificed herself. As Hopper (David Harbour) and Murray Bauman's (Brett Gelman) bomb detonated to the soundtrack of Prince's Purple Rain, she seemed to vanish, sealing the inter-dimensional wormhole between Hawkins and the Upside Down forever. This act was prompted by her sister Kali, who suggested it was the only way to stop future experiments by figures like Dr. Kay (Linda Hamilton).
Yet, Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard) later proposed a theory. He believed that as Kali lay dying, she used her illusion powers to fake Eleven's death, allowing her to escape pursuit and live freely. A brief scene showed someone resembling Eleven hiking to three waterfalls, a promise Mike had made. The show's creators, the Duffer Brothers, confirmed the ending was open to interpretation. Ross Duffer told Netflix's Tudum, "[Sh]e lives on in their hearts, whether that's real or not."
As for the gateway, Dustin Henderson's (Gaten Matarazzo) plan succeeded. The bomb sealed the rift permanently. An 18-month time jump revealed Hawkins had returned to normal, with past supernatural events officially blamed on an earthquake.
How Vecna and The Mindflayer Were Finally Defeated
The defeat of the two great evils was a collective effort. The Hawkins gang combined their hard-won knowledge and diverse abilities, with Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) playing a crucial role by using his connection to the Upside Down. In a fitting full-circle moment, it was ultimately Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder) who delivered the final blow to Vecna, decapitating him with an axe—a direct callback to season one.
Some viewers questioned how Vecna was overcome so swiftly after seasons of build-up. Matt Duffer explained the finale was designed like the climax of a Dungeons & Dragons campaign, where "every character has a special skill, and they're able to bring it to this final fight." The victory represented the culmination of their collective growth and experience.
Where The Hawkins Gang Ended Up
The finale provided clear epilogues for most characters. Joyce and Hopper got engaged and planned to move to Montauk, New York—a nod to the show's original working title, hinting at potential spin-offs. Dustin headed to college, Lucas and Max (Sadie Sink) stayed together, and Mike became a writer inspired by Stephen King.
Steve Harrington surprisingly became a teacher and baseball coach. Nancy (Natalia Dyer) left Emerson College for a trainee reporter role at the Boston Herald, while Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) studied film at NYU. Robin (Maya Hawke) attended Smith College. The series ended with a symbolic passing of the torch, as Holly Wheeler (Nell Fisher) and her friends began their own Dungeons & Dragons campaign.
Stranger Things season 5 is available to stream in full on Netflix now.
