Why The Duffer Brothers Left Eleven’s Fate Unclear In Stranger Things 5 Finale

Stranger Things 5 finale finally premiered and fans were left with one big question: Is Eleven alive or dead? The final episode ended on an emotional and open note, sparking endless debate online. Now, creators Matt and Ross Duffer have explained why they chose to keep Eleven’s fate unclear.

Spoilers alert: Many viewers first believed that Eleven, played by Millie Bobby Brown, sacrificed herself to destroy the Upside Down and stop Dr Kay from using her powers. But in the conclusion, Mike shares that he believes Eleven escaped, leaving the ending hopeful but unclear. On this, Ross Duffer told Netflix, “For us and our writers, we didn’t want to take her powers away,”.

He added, “She represents magic in a lot of ways and the magic of childhood. For

our characters to move on and for the story of Hawkins and the Upside Down to come to a close, Eleven had to go away.”

Instead of giving fans a clear answer, the Duffers wanted the story to end with. In Ross’s words, “We thought it would be beautiful if our characters continued to believe in that happier ending even if we didn’t give them a clear answer to whether that’s true or not.”

The Duffer Brothers’ On Eleven’s Unclear Fate

Matt Duffer added that Mike is the “optimist” of the group and “has chosen to believe in that story.” As for Ross, Eleven’s impact goes beyond her physical presence. He said, “She lives on in their hearts, whether that’s real or not.” The filmmaker added, “The fact that they’re believing in it, we just thought it was such a better way to end the story and a better way to represent the closure of this journey and their journey from children to adults.”

Stranger Things 5 Ending Explained

The finale of Stranger Things delivered a touching goodbye. In the final scene, Max, Lucas, Dustin, Will and Mike finish their last Dungeons & Dragons game in the Wheeler’s basement. As they head upstairs, Mike closes the door, marking the end of the series.

Matt Duffer revealed that the idea for this final moment had been planned for a long time. The brothers admitted that always knew the story would end with a closed door. Mike becomes a writer, Dustin goes to college but still finds time for adventure whereas Max and Lucas settle down together. As for Will, he finds acceptance elsewhere.