It feels like an age since the finale of Stranger Things landed on Netflix, but barely a month has passed since the iconic series concluded its original run on January 1st. Despite the relatively recent wrap-up, fan theories about the ending and potential continuations have flooded the internet – some even hoping for a secret episode to drop days after the conclusion.
Those hopeful fans were, of course, mistaken. No secret episode materialized. However, a new official installment is on the horizon: Stranger Things: Chapter 85! This animated series will be set between the events of seasons two and three, offering a fresh perspective on the beloved world.
Now, back to the central question that’s been captivating fans: the fate of Eleven. Caleb McLaughlin, the actor who portrayed Lucas Sinclair in Stranger Things, has recently shared his own theory about the character’s destiny. And be warned, spoilers follow.
While the initial moments of the finale seemed to indicate a fatal outcome for Eleven, a glimmer of hope emerged in the closing scenes. However, McLaughlin leans towards a more pessimistic interpretation, believing the character did not survive.
McLaughlin revealed his perspective during an appearance on ABC’s “The View,” while promoting his upcoming animated film, Goat. When asked directly about Eleven’s fate, he stated, “I think she’s…gone. I think rest in peace, Eleven.” His co-host, Alyssa Farah Griffin, audibly protested, but McLaughlin remained firm in his assessment.
This isn’t the first time a cast member has offered a somber outlook. Sadie Sink, who played Max Mayfield, shared a similar belief during an interview on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” Sink stated, “I think she’s dead,” adding that the characters’ speculation about Eleven’s survival at the end of the episode was simply “a coping thing.”
The series finale saw Eleven seemingly sacrificing herself to destroy the Upside Down and the Abyss. However, a subsequent scene depicted the group playing Dungeons & Dragons, with Mike (Finn Wolfhard) theorizing that Eleven and her sister Kali used their powers to conceal Eleven’s fate and create the illusion of her death. Mike expressed a desire to believe Eleven is alive and well, hidden away in a beautiful, peaceful location.
McLaughlin, however, doesn’t share Mike’s optimism. He believes Lucas, his character, likely clings to the hope that Eleven survived, but as an actor, he’s convinced of her demise. “Nah, she’s gone,” he told “The View” hosts.
The differing interpretations from cast members highlight the ambiguity intentionally woven into the finale by the Duffer Brothers, the series’ creators. This ambiguity has fueled endless debate among fans, with some clinging to the possibility of Eleven’s survival and others accepting a more tragic outcome.
The upcoming animated spin-off, Stranger Things: Chapter 85, will likely offer further insight into the world and characters, but it remains to be seen whether it will shed any light on Eleven’s ultimate fate. For now, the question lingers, leaving fans to grapple with their own theories and interpretations.
It’s a testament to the show’s enduring impact that even months after the finale, discussions about Eleven’s fate continue to dominate conversations. Whether she’s truly gone or merely hidden away, Eleven’s legacy as a central figure in the Stranger Things universe is secure. Perhaps, as some fans speculate, we’ll see a miraculous return in a future installment, with a grown-up Eleven re-emerging to face new challenges.
