10 Questions We Still Have After The Stranger Things Finale

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Well, it’s official: Stranger Things is done! After five seasons of battling monsters and jumping between dimensions, the show gave us a pretty big finale. But honestly, I’ve been hearing from a lot of fans – and I kind of agree – that a few things weren’t quite wrapped up. It leaves you wondering if maybe, just maybe, this isn’t a true ending and we might see more Stranger Things down the line.

The series finale left viewers with a few puzzling moments, like what happened to certain characters and why people in Hawkins suddenly remembered things differently. While the ending did wrap up the main story after years of struggle, these unanswered questions suggest some storylines could be revisited in the future.

Why Is Hawkins Suddenly OK With The Hellfire Club?

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Throughout most of season 4, the town of Hawkins turned against the Hellfire Club after Chrissy Cunningham’s murder. People believed the club was a satanic cult and quickly destroyed anything related to it in public. This hostility continued into season 5, with Dustin even getting attacked for simply wearing a Hellfire Club t-shirt.

In the final episode of Stranger Things, Dustin made a point of wearing a “Hellfire Lives” t-shirt during his graduation speech, and the crowd enthusiastically supported him. This was remarkable considering how strongly the town had previously opposed the Hellfire Club.

Since the people of Hawkins didn’t know about the supernatural events, they probably didn’t realize Eddie was actually a hero. The show doesn’t explain this, which makes us wonder if there’s a story element happening behind the scenes that we’re not seeing.

How Did Hopper Return To The Hawkins Police Force?

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After being held as a Russian prisoner for two years, Hopper was thought to be dead. When he finally returned to Hawkins, he kept to the shadows, even growing a beard to disguise himself and avoid attention.

At the end of the story, Hopper is seen back in town, wearing his police chief uniform – the same one he had at the beginning. Everyone accepts him being back, suggesting he had been quietly reintroduced earlier. This raises a question: how did they explain his disappearance and the fact that everyone believed he was dead?

Why Is Steve Coaching Baseball?

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Steve always loved basketball and excelled at it throughout high school, continuing to support the Hawkins High team even after graduation. That’s why it’s surprising to find out in the ending that he’s now a baseball coach – it feels like a bit of a change of pace for his character.

Honestly, I never pictured Steve Harrington with a baseball bat unless he was using it to defend himself! It was so strange seeing him suddenly involved with baseball. I guess maybe fighting Vecna sparked some kind of new interest, or he just needed to earn a living and stay around Hawkins. Whatever the reason, it felt like a really unexpected turn for his character.

How Did Max Graduate On Time?

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I’m just heartbroken for her. She was in a coma for almost two years, and now she’s trying to rejoin her classmates. It’s such a huge challenge, and honestly, she wasn’t always focused on school before, so catching up feels nearly impossible. I’m rooting for her, but it’s going to be a really tough road.

After Max’s attack and the fracturing of Hawkins, life at school continued as usual, but students, especially those in high school, had a lot of demanding coursework. Max’s recovery must have been incredibly difficult, leaving her with little time or energy for homework.

What Is The Significance Of November 6?

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Henry Creel, the villain, first kidnapped Will Byers on November 6, 1983, and also scheduled the climactic battle of season 5 to occur on that same date. This suggests November 6th holds a significant meaning, and the new play, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, might reveal what it is.

Okay, so the show delves into this high school play that was just hinted at before. Apparently, Joyce directed it way back when, and it’s kinda wild – Hopper, Mike’s parents, and Henry Creel were all in it! It actually took place on November 6th, 1959 – a date that’s clearly going to be important, knowing this show. It’s fascinating to see how all these characters connect even further back in their histories.

A significant event occurred in Henry’s life that night, and it seems to be linked to the date itself. Years later, the emotional impact of what happened might still make November 6th particularly memorable for him.

What Happened to Kay & The Government?

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In season 4, the government became a major force, actively pursuing Eleven and proving to be a formidable enemy. They were significantly more ruthless and dangerous than before, particularly under Kay’s leadership. Their priority was finding El, and they were prepared to eliminate anyone who tried to protect her.

They vanished completely. Despite recently controlling the town, they weren’t mentioned at all in the ending. It seems strange that Kay and her forces would simply release everyone after Eleven was believed to be dead and the Upside Down was defeated. It’s also odd that they would abandon Hawkins after investing so much effort there.

What Happened To Derek’s Family?

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In the first volume, Joyce and the children captured Derek and his family, holding them hostage in a barn as part of a dangerous plan. Surprisingly, after everything happened, life seemed to return to normal for everyone else. We know Derek survived, but the fate of his family remains a mystery. They weren’t shown in the final scenes, leading many to believe they may not have made it.

Henry tries to terrify Derek by showing him a disturbing vision of his family—dead, with their eyes removed, similar to how Vecna operates. But Henry is a known liar, and this was likely a manipulative tactic. Still, the possibility feels real, particularly because the demogorgon Henry sent attacked the barn where Derek’s family was being held. Considering Henry was capable of killing his own family, he’s clearly capable of killing anyone.

Where Is Dr. Owens?

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Dr. Owens played a crucial role in season 4, offering Eleven the support that Dr. Brenner never did. We first met him in season 2 when he was working at Hawkins Lab. Unlike Brenner, he saw Eleven as a person with feelings, not just a tool for accessing other dimensions. He genuinely wanted to protect Hawkins and ensure Eleven’s well-being.

However, in season 5, Dr. Owens completely disappeared from the story. We last saw him at Project Nina during the government attack in season 4, and his ultimate fate was never explained. Considering this season focused heavily on supporting Eleven, his absence was particularly noticeable – he wasn’t mentioned at all.

Why Wasn’t Will Affected When Vecna Died?

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It was a relief to see Will appear unharmed after the final battle with Vecna, seemingly unaffected by the ordeal. However, this feels inconsistent with everything else we’ve seen, considering how previous experiences with the Upside Down – and especially connecting with Vecna’s thoughts – have clearly impacted him.

After saving Max and Holly from Henry, Will briefly lost consciousness and was only connected to Henry’s mind for a short time. He often felt weakened after these encounters, and he experienced pain whenever Vecna or a Demogorgon caused harm. Although Henry suffered a terrible death, Will surprisingly felt no negative effects.

Why Did Henry Need 12 Kids?

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Henry Creel, before becoming Vecna, insisted on having exactly twelve children for his plans. We understand he targeted children because their minds were more easily manipulated, but the reason for needing twelve specifically remains a mystery. Some fans speculate it might be connected to his distinctive grandfather clock.

In season four of Stranger Things, Henry also required four victims. When Max was put into a trance, it inexplicably split Hawkins into four distinct sections, opening pathways to the Upside Down. This division wasn’t explained, and the characters didn’t seem to notice or question how it happened.

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2026-01-12 22:44