Netflix crashed as the highly-awaited finale of its 'Stranger Things' began. In case you are missing it, here's everything you might want to know from the nearly 2-hour-long Season 5, Episode 8.
Netflix's most popular supernatural saga, Stranger Things, has officially come to a close. Over the years, the iconic series, which began in 2016 as a nostalgic '80s sci-fi thriller evolved into a successful global franchise. But finally, it got a much-deserved emotional ending after a nearly two-hour-long finale carefully crafted by Matt and Ross Duffer. Stranger Things Season 5, episode 8, does not just end a monster story; rather, it brings together tales of friendships, first love and painful losses with coming-of-age moments for the kids of Hawkins.
Stranger Things' finale episode opens with a scene of chaos and uncertainty. Initially, it appears that 'Eleven' (Millie Bobby Brown) sacrifices her life to Yoga Upside Down after a bomb explodes. It seems that it erased her along with the interdimensional evil once and for all. Consequently, viewers experience an emotional moment as she shares a heartbreaking final kiss with 'Mike' (Finn Wolfhard). But just as everyone thought she was gone forever, a shocking twist reveals her death was an illusion by her sister, 'Kali' (Linnea Berthelsen).
According to Variety, throughout the entire episode, 'Eleven' has adequate time to escape safely. On the other hand, there is a cinematic show where 'Vecna' ( Jamie Campbell Bower) and 'Mind Flayer' receive brutal setbacks. 'Will' ( Noah Schnapp) helps to attack 'Vecna's' consciousness. Meanwhile, Hawkins' crew physically fight on the outside. Subsequently, 'Joyce' (Winona Ryder) delivers the final blow, beheading 'Vecna' and marking the end of terror in Hawkins. At the the same time, viewers get a final clarification that 'Henry' did not make 'Mind Flayer' rather the latter found him as a child but they eventually became 'one'.
However, not everyone is fortunate enough to survive. 'Kali' is tragically killed during the mission, and 'Lt Akers' loses his life when 'Eleven' takes over his mind in the last move. Viewers also discovered a significant truth: the 'Mind Flayer' had manipulated 'Henry Creel' from the beginning, a fact the latter refused to accept, claiming they were the same being.
After the destruction of the Upside Down, the plot jumps ahead 18 months in one of the most emotional time jumps and reunion sequences of the series. Hawkins has moved forward from the past, considering the events as a devastating "earthquake", but some impact continues to exist. 'Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) graduates as valedictorian, 'Hopper' (David Harbour) takes up his new role as a stepdad dad and 'Mike' continues to grieve over 'Eleven' as he stays close to his friends.
Whereas in the final scene, viewers see a figure similar to 'Eleven' hiking through mountains and waterfalls (identified as a remote location, hinting she chose a life in hiding). However, 'Mike' feels her presence when he hears a signal after his speech at the graduation. 'Max' (Sadie Sink) and Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) are happily together, whereas 'Steve' (Joe Keery) becomes a baseball coach and high-school teacher.
'Nancy' (Natalia Dyer) leaves college to pursue a career in journalism and 'Robin' (Maya Hawke) attends Smith College and 'Jonathan' (Charlie Heaton) studies filmmaking in NYU fulfilling the dream he expressed in Season 1. 'Will' finds love and acceptance in a bigger city and 'Mike' becomes a writer suggesting how everyone has moved ahead in their respective directions in life.
The thrilling and emotional finale ends in one last Dungeons and Dragons campaign in the Wheeler basement, bringing the storyline to a complete circle. The game showcases the future of characters and reminds them that the childhood of the characters might be over, but nothing would change their bond. Meanwhile, according to Ross Duffer, 'Hopper' proposes to 'Joyce', marking a fresh beginning in Montauk, as a tribute to the show's original concept location.
Lastly, the final show showcased another young generation beginning their first D&D campaign, symbolising hope. Since the series has come to a close, there is no post-credit scene or cliffhanger; instead, we see Hawkins quietly healing from the trauma. Sharing how it was important to end the story in Montauk, Ross Duffer said:
"Of course, we did the Montauk shout-out because the show was originally going to be set in Montauk. It felt like a nice little wink to the superfans of the show who were aware of that nugget."
With the grand turn of events, Netflix's iconic series, Stranger Things has finally bid farewell to its audiences, but viewers can still go back and watch the earlier seasons. Further, they can wait for the upcoming animated series, Tales From '85, set to premiere in Spring 2026 on Netflix. It would focus on the events that took place in the winter of 1985, between seasons 2 and 3. Additionally, makers are planning a live-action spin-off and stage production, but there will be no Stranger Things Season 6.
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