Stranger Things: how does it end for each character?
We come back in detail to the end of Stranger Things. Where are Mike, Eleven, Hopper, Nancy and the others at the end of 5 seasons?
This time it’s over. Stranger Things closed the portal and completed the story of all its characters, at the end of a two-hour finale – available since January 1 on Netflix – which concludes with an epilogue, showing what each became after saving the world, defeating Vecna and destroying the Upside Down.
“Everyone had a very specific idea of how their character would evolve. We wanted them to continue the path they had all started,” the Duffers tell Netflix. We detail.
Spoiler alert!
Mike (Finn Wolfhard) becomes a writer
He’s the one who closes the door. Mike has the final words of Stranger Things, as he leaves his parents’ basement. We learn that he is now a writer, even if we understand that he will mourn Eleven forever. “Mike is a storyteller, so it seemed logical to us that he would continue to tell stories. We wanted each character to find happiness, but in their own way,” explain the Duffers.
Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) goes to college
Class of 1989 valedictorian of Hawkins High School, the boy delivered a memorable speech in front of his classmates and his principal: “A lot of the sequence is inspired by Eddie, right up to the final scene where he tears up his diploma and gives the principal the finger, something Eddie said he wanted to do. It’s a tribute to Eddie and what Hellfire was.” But of course, Dustin still goes to college. We don’t know which one, but we understand that the little genius will continue to learn: “Dustin will of course continue to seek knowledge. But we also wanted to show that his friendship with Steve is still as strong as ever, because their season 5 was eventful.” And he still finds time to have adventures with Steve.
Max (Sadie Sink) and Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) stay together
The story doesn’t say if they will marry and have lots of children, but it is hinted. In the meantime, we simply see them going to the cinema together, very much in love: “They had been planning to go to the cinema for a long time, so it was great to see them finally see this film. And they watch Ghost even if we don’t show it. We filmed it elsewhere and it was a very romantic scene, but it ruined their moment, so we cut it. But it’s the film they are seeing…”
Will (Noah Schnapp) finds his place elsewhere
We understand he left Hawkins. Now an adult, he left to make his life further afield. “As for Will, we liked the idea of him going to a bigger city where he would be more accepted,” said the Duffers.
Hopper (David Harbour) and Joyce (Winona Ryder) get married
They end up together, obviously. They finally have their date at Enzo’s house, where Hopper proposes to her, and they plan to move to Montauk. “We knew they were going to have their final meeting with Enzo. This final scene had been planned for a long time. Hopper had been through some very difficult things, especially with Eleven, and we liked the idea of giving him and Joyce the opportunity to start a new chapter in their lives. David liked the idea of a Dickensian ending for these characters. More than usual, we talked a lot with all the actors to make sure they were happy with the outcome of their characters. And of course, we slipped in a nod to Montauk because the series was originally going to take place there. It was a little homage to the die-hard fans who knew that detail.”
Nancy (Natalia Dyer) will be a journalist
After leaving Jonathan to lead her life, the brilliant and reckless young woman did not last at university. She left Emerson College and took a job as an intern at the Boston Herald, a popular east coast daily. “We definitely didn’t want her to take the easy path. Even in season 1, when she followed the classic suburban girl trajectory, Nancy clearly proved that she was much more independent, which partly explains why she and Jonathan aren’t together at the end. She’s still finding her way and what she wants from the world, which is why we wanted to give her that ending.”
Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) becomes director
The boy is a student filmmaker at New York University and is working on an anti-capitalist film about cannibalism, “The Consumer”. “Charlie called us the day before we were going to shoot the scene, he wanted more details about what he was doing at NYU. So we all worked together to develop this idea for a film. Even that day, we kept refining the concept.” Ross and Matt Duffer point out: “We made a shapeshifting cannibal movie in college, but it wasn’t an anti-capitalist movie.”
Steve (Joe Keery) becomes a youth baseball coach
The young man is one of the few to have stayed there. Steve continues to conquer and now works with the younger ones: “It always seemed logical to us that Steve would choose to stay in Hawkins. He has that ‘kid you grew up with’ side who would end up staying in his hometown and working with kids. It’s an area where he excels, and we’ve discovered it. We like the idea of him teaching and coaching. He doesn’t have kids yet, but as we’ve hinted, it won’t be long before he does.”
Robin (Maya Hawke) joined Smith College
No more is known, but she is now enrolled at the largest women’s university in the United States, located in Northampton, Massachusetts.
Erica (Priah Ferguson) will be on top
We barely see her in this finale, but the Duffers assure: “Obviously, no one is worried about Erica. She knows how to handle herself. She now has to finish high school, but she is so courageous. She will undoubtedly be valedictorian of her class. That’s for sure. After that, I don’t know. She can go wherever she wants…”
Murray (Brett Gelman) and Mr. Clarke (Randy Havens)
The Duffers reveal: “I like the bond that has formed between Murray and Mr. Clarke. Certainly Murray still does weird things, and Mr. Clarke probably still teaches. I think deep down he enjoys educating children.”
Holly (Nell Fisher) and Derek (Jake Connelly) are friends
The ending scene shows the younger sister taking over from Mike and his friends in the cellar. She starts playing Dungeons & Dragons with her own gang. We also find Derek there — who is also part of Steve’s baseball team! — and together, they take up the torch.
Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) in Iceland?
We don’t know if the Stranger Things heroine is still alive at the end of the series. She sacrificed herself to get the army out of Hawkins. Unless it was just an illusion… Mike wants to believe it. He imagines her having managed to escape to lead her life far from the tumult. We see her discovering the world, while hiking in the green landscapes of Iceland. But is this just reality?
