Stranger Things Finale Brings the Story Back to Where It Began
The last episode of Stranger Things season 5 returns the main cast to the Wheeler basement, closing the series with a moment the Duffer brothers had envisioned from the start.
The closing chapter of Stranger Things season 5 delivers a powerful sense of closure, as the main group gathers in the Wheeler family basement. This final scene, set a year and a half after the Upside Down showdown, was part of the Duffer brothers ’ vision from the very start. The friends come together for one last round of Dungeons & Dragons, echoing the very first moments of the series back in season 1.
“It was always going to end with the kids in the basement. That’s been planned for eight years,”
Ross Duffer shared in an interview. He explained that once the writers landed on Mike’s line, ‘I believe,’ the entire ending started to take shape. Early in the writing process, the team decided that Holly’s expanded role would symbolize a passing of the torch, and these ideas shaped the basement scene before the season’s scripts were even drafted.
Coming of Age and Passing the Torch
According to the showrunners, the story was always meant to be a coming-of-age journey. The basement scene represents the friends’ final moment of childhood before stepping into adulthood. As they climb the stairs, they leave behind their youth, while Holly and her friends step in as the next generation. The last shot of Mike captures his bittersweet transition—he moves from sadness over leaving his childhood behind to a sense of peace, knowing those memories will stay with him forever.
Matt Duffer revealed that introducing Holly, Derek, and the other younger kids this season was crucial for the ending they had in mind. He described it as a “passing of the torch moment” for the series. The ending also drew inspiration from the classic film ET, as Matt explained:
“I also love the idea that the original ending of ET was them going to be them playing D&D; again. So I like the idea of doing that.”
Eleven ’s Absence and the Meaning Behind It
One notable detail is that Eleven does not join her friends in the basement for this final gathering. Ross Duffer clarified that she was never meant to be there, as her story in Hawkins was never destined for a happy ending. Instead, her sacrifice may have brought her peace elsewhere, away from the town and the friends she once fought alongside.
For those interested in more details, there are in-depth reviews and lists of top Netflix shows to explore, offering further insights into the series’ conclusion and its place among the streaming platform’s best offerings.