Stranger Things Finale Concludes 10-Year Run With Mixed Reactions
The finale of Stranger Things, titled Chapter Eight: The Rightside Up, was released at 01:00 GMT, marking the end of the beloved series' 10-year run. The two-hour episode briefly overloaded Netflix servers, causing some viewers to see an error before access was restored.
Set in Hawkins, Indiana, the show stars Millie Bobby Brown, Winona Ryder, and David Harbour. To celebrate the finale, Netflix staged multi-city cinema screenings in the US and Canada featuring cast members. These events were hosted in venues including Netflix-owned theatres such as the Egyptian Theatre in Los Angeles.
In the finale, the group defeats Vecna and the Mind Flayer as the Upside Down is demolished. Notably, there are no dramatic deaths among the core group, though the character Kali (Eight) dies. An epilogue set 18 months later reveals Hooper and Joyce are engaged, while the older teens pursue university or careers. Eleven's fate, however, is left open to interpretation.
Fans actively debated various theories including ideas on time travel, Will Byers' coming out, and Eleven's fate. Some theories were confirmed, others disproven, and viewers noted several plot holes.
Despite the cinematic release in the US and Canada accompanied by merchandise and fan screenings, the show's ending received mixed reactions and left some questions unanswered.
