Stranger Things concludes with a stunning full-circle moment that ties back to its very first scene, fulfilling the creators’ vision from the start.

Stranger Things finale spoilers ahead!

The closing moments of Stranger Things season 5 bring everything full circle for the main characters in the Wheeler’s basement, with the creators confirming that this was the plan from the start.

In the series’ final scene, set 18 months after the events in the Upside Down, the gang gathers to play Dungeons & Dragons one last time, mirroring the very first scene from season 1. “It was always going to end with the kids in the basement. That’s been planned for eight years,” one of the creators shared.

This moment serves as a perfect parallel, with a shot-by-shot comparison highlighting the same visuals from years apart, from the water sprinkler in front of the house to Mrs. Wheeler calling Mike from the top of the stairs.

“Once we figured out this ‘I believe’ line from Mike, that’s when everything sort of crystallized. And of course, that was very early on, like week two or three of the writers’ room this season. Once Holly became a bigger figure, sort of the passing of the torch, those were some of the first ideas we had when we were discussing what we wanted this basement scene to be, before we even started writing the season. So it was always headed towards that goal post,” the showrunner elaborated.

“At the end of the day, we see it as a big coming-of-age story. This scene is about one last moment of being kids before they leave that childhood behind. Them going up the stairs symbolizes leaving it behind, while Holly and her friends represent the new generation who will carry that legacy forward. That’s why in the last shot of Mike, you see him transition from feeling sad about leaving his childhood to embracing the happy memories he’ll carry with him forever.”

In a discussion about the season, it was noted that introducing Holly, Derek, and the other preteens was crucial for the intended ending, creating a “passing of the torch moment” for the series. There was also a nod to E.T. as an inspiration for the conclusion: “I love the idea that the original ending of E.T. involved them playing D&D again. So I liked the idea of doing that.”

Lastly, it was clarified that Eleven was “never going to be there” in the basement with her friends. For her, there was never a happy ending in Hawkins, but perhaps her sacrifice led to happiness elsewhere.