Millie Bobby Brown Calls Eleven’s Conclusion “Beautiful and Cathartic,” While Admitting She “Kinda Loves” Mike’s Take on It

While some fans may feel let down by the finale of Stranger Things season 5, Millie Bobby Brown, who plays Eleven, seems to be quite satisfied with how her character’s journey concludes.

In a pivotal moment during the finale, Eleven chooses to remain inside the gate as Hopper’s bomb detonates, obliterating the Upside Down and everything within it, including herself. Brown described this choice as “so beautiful and cathartic,” something she had hoped for a “very long time.”

By sacrificing herself, Eleven ensures that Dr. Kay or anyone else cannot exploit her powers for malevolent purposes again, effectively closing the door on any future threats of opening another gate. Brown emphasized the importance of this resolution, stating, “I just think it’s incredibly important that it all ends for her, and the suffering and the pain end.”

However, the epilogue reveals that Mike Wheeler, Eleven’s love interest, holds a different belief about her fate. He tells his friends that Kali projected an image of Eleven at the gate, allowing the real El to escape unnoticed. In Mike’s daydreams, we see Eleven living in Iceland, exploring the waterfalls they had previously discussed. Brown expressed her fondness for this ending, noting, “I kinda love that ending, that there is just such a bigger purpose to Kali’s powers.”

So, is Eleven truly gone? On the Happy, Sad, Confused podcast, the Duffer brothers, the series creators, mentioned that they intentionally left Eleven’s fate “ambiguous,” allowing viewers to interpret what happened to her. They confirmed that only they and Brown know the true outcome. In contrast, Brown’s co-star Sadie Sink seems to believe Eleven is indeed gone, sharing with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show, “I think she’s dead… I think, like, Mike’s story is just one last story.”

All seasons of Stranger Things are currently available for streaming, and there’s a detailed review of the season 5 finale for those looking for a deeper analysis.