Only Millie Bobby Brown Knows Eleven’s True Fate After The Stranger Things Finale: ‘Don't Waste Your Time’

The final episode of Stranger Things gave fans many answers, but it also left one big question open. The biggest mystery is what actually happened to Eleven after the show ended. The story showed one clear ending, but it also hinted at another path. This has led to many theories and long debates among fans. Now, the creators of the show, Matt and Ross Duffer, have shared an interesting detail by revealing that only one person, apart from them, knows the full truth about Eleven’s fate. That person is Millie Bobby Brown.

The brothers said they spoke to her about it but chose not to share the answer with anyone else. They believe explaining everything will reduce the impact of the ending viewers saw. The makers wanted the ending to feel unsure,

just like the characters and stay open so fans can decide what to believe, using the clues.

Why The Ending Of Stranger Things Was Left Open

While appearing on Happy Sad Confused, Matt Duffer said, “I don’t know what the answer is. This is ambiguous. I mean, you’re writing from a point of view of understanding what the truth is, right? Ross and I know and we were just talking to Millie about it, but I think it takes away the power of the ending if you tell people what you were thinking as you were writing that. Don’t waste your time. Millie and Noah are very close. We were going to tell her not to tell. I’m not even joking. I’m literally going to text her right now. I said, ‘Don’t tell Noah.’ She said, ‘Of course not.’ She knows better.”

“We left it ambiguous for a reason. I mean, we want the audience to be in the shoes of Mike and the whole group, which is it’s up to you to choose whether to believe or not. I mean, there’s evidence that could point in both directions. So that you know that’s the intent of the scene,” the filmmaker added.

Can Eleven Ever Live A Normal Life?

Matt Duffer explained that while writing the ending of Stranger Things Season 5, they kept asking a very basic question, how can Eleven live a normal life after everything she has been through? Throughout the season, the team discussed what her future can look like and if a happy ending was even possible. They thought about a simple life where she is with Mike, living peacefully, the government leaves her alone and all experiments are wrapped up. But they could not find a way to make that feel real.

They care about Eleven, so they looked at different views. Hopper’s thinking also mattered, as he sees her more protectively. Kali showed another side of the same problem. In the end, Mike shared a middle path, where life may not be perfect but still meaningful. Eleven chose that path. The makers wanted viewers to decide if they believe in that choice, which is why they left it open.

How Stranger Things End

In Episode 8, after the group detonates the bomb to destroy the Upside Down and rushes back to safety, they suddenly realise that Eleven is not with them. She is later seen standing near the gate inside the Upside Down, as everything around her gets destroyed. Later, during a final game with his friends, Mike shares a story. He imagines that Kali helps Eleven one last time by creating an illusion which allows her to escape without anyone noticing. In his version, Eleven survives and goes far away to live in a small place where no one knows who she is.