Millie Bobby Brown Has Emotional Reaction to Eleven’s ‘Stranger Things’ Ending
After nine years, Stranger Things has officially wrapped up on Netflix, leaving fans with a finale that was both thrilling and emotional.
The last episode takes the characters back to the Upside Down for one final showdown, where Eleven and her friends face Vecna in an effort to stop the threat for good. While the group succeeds, the ending does not offer a simple, happy conclusion.
Following the battle, Eleven makes a choice that separates her from the others. The Upside Down is destroyed, but she does not return with her friends. The show implies that she may have sacrificed herself, though her fate is never fully revealed.
The finale then shifts focus to the other characters as they try to move on with their lives. Hawkins begins to rebuild after the destruction, which is explained to the townspeople as an earthquake. The kids grow up, graduate, and some leave for college or work while others stay close and promise to maintain their friendships. Hopper and Joyce finally share a quiet moment together, and life continues despite Eleven’s absence.
In the closing scenes, the group gathers around their Dungeons & Dragons table. Eleven is present in spirit, and Mike imagines a future where she survives and finds peace somewhere far away. Her story ends without a definite answer, leaving viewers to interpret her fate.
In interviews after the finale, the Duffer Brothers shared why they chose to leave Eleven’s ending open. Matt Duffer explained that the story was meant to reflect the reality of Eleven’s life after all she had been through. “There are two roads that Eleven could take. There’s this darker, more pessimistic one or the optimistic, hopeful one. Mike is the optimist of the group and has chosen to believe in that story,” he said.
Ross Duffer added that keeping Eleven with the group was never planned. “She represents magic in a lot of ways and the magic of childhood,” he said. “For the other characters to truly move on and grow up, Eleven had to leave. Letting them believe in a hopeful ending, even without proof, felt more honest to the story.”
Matt Duffer also explained that if Eleven were alive somewhere, the group could never truly stay in touch with her. “This is really the best way to keep her alive,” he said, emphasizing that the ending is about learning to live with loss rather than avoiding it.
Millie Bobby Brown, who portrayed Eleven, was visibly sad when asked if she was happy with her character’s ending. Her reaction reflected the emotional weight of saying goodbye to a role she had inhabited for nearly a decade.
Millie Bobby Brown's reaction when asked if she was happy with Eleven's ending in 'Stranger Things'
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The finale may be painful for fans, but it remains true to the story Stranger Things has been telling from the start. Growing up means facing loss and moving forward, even when not all answers are clear.
What do you think about Eleven’s ending? Do you agree with the Duffer Brothers’ decision to leave her fate uncertain? Share your thoughts in the comments.
