Duffer Brothers Keep Eleven’s Fate Secret After Stranger Things Finale

The final episode of Stranger Things’ fifth season left viewers with a real cliffhanger, as the future of its main character, Eleven, was left uncertain. While fans have come up with all sorts of theories, the show’s creators, the Duffer brothers, have revealed that only they and Millie Bobby Brown, who plays Eleven, actually know what went down. After a dramatic showdown with Vecna and helping her mates escape, Eleven makes a tough call. She figures the only way to stop anyone from opening another gate to the Upside Down is to make the ultimate sacrifice. So, when Hopper sets off an explosive in the Upside Down, Eleven steps through the gate and appears to be destroyed, with her friends watching on in shock.

Open-Ended Finale Sparks Debate

Later in the episode, Mike Wheeler tries to reassure the group, saying he doesn’t reckon Eleven is really gone. He suggests she managed to escape, and that what they saw was actually a projection created by Kali. This theory has set off a wave of debate among fans, with some convinced that Eleven is still alive, while others are sure she’s dead for good.

During a chat on the Happy, Sad, Confused podcast with Josh Horowitz, the Duffer brothers explained that they left Eleven’s fate deliberately open. They want punters to make up their own minds about what happened. When pressed for their own take, Matt Duffer said,

This is ambiguous. I mean, you're writing from a point of view of understanding what the truth is and the reality is,

and added,

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 it.

Millie Bobby Brown Sworn to Secrecy

Millie Bobby Brown is in on the secret too, but she’s not letting anything slip. Matt Duffer mentioned,

she’s not going to tell you either… Millie swore herself to secrecy.

Ross Duffer even joked that he warned Brown not to tell Noah Schnapp, who plays Will Byers, because he’s known for letting spoilers slip.

I said, 'Don’t tell Noah,' and she said, 'Of course not.' She knows better,

Matt Duffer said.

We all know and love Noah, but we do not trust him with secrets related to the show.

Fan Theories and Unanswered Questions

So, what’s the real story? The finale shows Eleven apparently dying, but if Mike’s theory is right and Kali was behind the illusion, she could still be out there. Not everyone’s convinced, though. One fan pointed out on Twitter,

Eleven is dead. Kali was gone on that floor. How could she have made an illusion?

Others have noted that even if Kali was still around, she would’ve been caught in the blast before she could help Eleven escape. Looks like the truth might stay hidden for good.

The full Stranger Things series is streaming now. For those keen on more, there’s plenty of other top telly to check out on Netflix.