Closing the Gate: Stranger Things Finale
As Stranger Things reached its final season, for most it was not just the ending of a TV show, but the closing chapter of a cultural phenomenon. Season 5 marked the final moment where we saw which characters survived, evolved, or left their mark on Hawkins one last time.
Volume 1 of Season 5 was released on the 27th of November in the UK, beginning with Episode 1 – ‘The Crawl’ which helped to establish the context. It reminded viewers of the multiple rifts that had been opened by Vecna prior to Season 5. Whilst the end of Season 4 was left on an intriguing yet worrying cliffhanger, the first episode of the new Season reassured viewers, showing every character to be safe from the rifts, although under a strict military quarantine. The characters have even become more comfortable with these evil entities as they end up exploring the Upside Down through these ‘crawls’.
Throughout Volume 1, it becomes clear Holly Wheeler is an emerging main character within the show, with the second episode of Season 5 titled ‘The Vanishing of Holly Wheeler’. In this episode, we see Karen Wheeler step into a protective, maternal role, attempting to defend Holly from the Demogorgon, but ultimately failing. However, her bravery did not go unnoticed, as fans recognise that “She was faced with this hideous monster made from nightmares. And she didn’t hesitate.”
The memorable scene of Will Byers getting powers closed Volume 1. Although some may have predicted this, it surprised many, leaving questions like: Is he telekinetic? How does he have these powers? The Duffer Brothers quickly responded, explaining this is because of Will’s connection to Vecna from Season 1, when he was taken to the Upside Down, chosen as a ‘vessel’.
Following Volume 1, Volume 2 was released on the 26th of December 2025 in the UK, showing the group planning a way to reconnect Will to Vecna’s hive mind again – they do this by using electricity flowing through the Demogorgon in order to partially revive it, so Will can link to Vecna’s mind, as suggested by the name of episode 5 ‘Shock Jock’. In the meantime, El discovers Kali in the Upside Down at the end of Volume 1, and they are both now helping Max and Holly escape Vecna’s mind. Whilst Lucas is constantly playing Max’s favourite song ‘Running Up That Hill’ by Kate Bush, her running scene directly parallels the one from Season 4 Episode 4 titled ‘Dear Billy’.
The last episode of Volume 2 is called ‘The Bridge’ which explains the true nature of the Upside Down. As Dustin discovered Brenner’s journals in the Hawkins Lab in the Upside Down, the characters and the viewers became aware it is a cosmic wormhole (or ‘Bridge’) connecting their reality to the Abyss. This contrasts all previous knowledge and speculations that the Upside Down was a parallel world. However, this was the lowest ranked episode of Stranger Things on IMDB, receiving a 5.6/10 — but this was due to another factor.
While ‘The Bridge’ may explain the complexion of the Upside Down, the fans’ main issue was when Will Byers came out to his family and friends. Although many fans say it deserves its reduced rating as they believed it to be “rushed” or “unrealistic”, Noah Schnapp commented that he “tried to make it feel as real as possible”, saying he “left a piece of [his] soul in that scene”.
Finally, on the 1st of January 2026, the final episode of Stranger Things came to the UK. The finale portrayed the defeat of the Mindflayer, Vecna and the Upside Down, but also the loss of the beloved character who had been present since Season 1: Eleven. Whilst many fans continue to speculate that she did not die and is living peacefully, the Duffer Brothers confirmed her death/disappearance within interviews. Moreover, the finale explores a 40-minute epilogue, presenting the core group finishing their final Dungeons & Dragons campaign, moving away from childhood as they transition to adulthood.
Rather than offering a universally satisfying ending, Stranger Things closed with moments that continue to be debated and reinterpreted by fans online. Varying from Eleven’s fate to Mike’s character change, the finale invited conversation rather than closure. In doing so, Stranger Things proved its impact lies not in a perfect ending but its ability to spark emotional investment and discussion – allowing fans to find comfort in their own theories.
Lily Field
Sources:
Stranger Things Season 5 Episode 2 Review: The Parents Were Annoying, Except Karen - Fangirlish
How Did Will Byers Get Powers? Stranger Things 5 Volume 1 Ending Explained
