'Stranger Things' Season 5 ending scene holds message for viewers

Netflix original 'Stranger Things' wraps up with final season after running for nine years

By Hifza Ahmed Siddiqui January 03, 2026
'Stranger Things' Season 5 ending scene holds message for viewers
'Stranger Things' Season 5 ending scene holds message for viewers

Stranger Things, which became an absolute hit on Netflix, finally ended with its fifth season after breaking records on the streaming platform.

However, the ending left many questions unanswered as Eleven sacrificed herself to save her friends and family from getting caught again.

The plot twist revealed that Millie’s character closed herself in the Upside Down as it ceases to exist due to exotic matter explosion.

Stranger Things Season 5 ending scene holds message for viewers

The gate was closed forever, saving Hawkins from anymore monsters. But a theory was presented by Finn Wolfhard’s character Mike, who was the love interest of El in the show.

The team agreed to believe that their friend never died as she made a narrow escape to a secret place. It ended with Max, Lucas, Dustin, Will and Mike keeping their D&D books back in the shelf.

As the Duffer Brothers confirm that El represented childhood, it appears that the scene carried a message for the viewers to move on by giving them a theoretical closure.

Each friend says "I Believe" to put an end to their traumatic past and move on with their lives, making space for other children to enjoy their youth.

This was followed by each one of them going up the stairs, seemingly expressing how life must go on.

The series which started in 2016 centred on a government-run project which aimed at connecting with other dimension.

Is there more in Stranger Things universe after Season 5?

While the part ended on an emotional note, spinoffs and an animated series is said to launch soon on the streaming platform.

The animated show will be giving an in-depth look of the events that took place between Season 2 & 3 with original characters.

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