Stranger Things Season 5 Finale Deaths Explained

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The ending of Stranger Things season 5 surprised many fans with the fates of some favorite characters, and some viewers were unclear about who didn’t survive. Since its 2016 debut, Stranger Things has become a huge cultural hit, captivating audiences worldwide with its blend of science fiction, horror, and 80s nostalgia.

As a huge fan, I could really feel the end was near while watching Stranger Things Season 5. It rolled out in three parts throughout November and December 2025, and honestly, things had been getting so intense in Hawkins for a while now. You just knew as the final showdown approached that some of our favorite characters weren’t going to survive.

Shows like Stranger Things stand out because they combine high-quality production with thrilling sci-fi horror. From the start, it was obvious that any character could be in danger. As the kids learned more about the Upside Down and faced increasing threats, the show carefully hinted at who might survive and who wouldn’t, leading many viewers to predict the fates of their favorite characters.

Death is a common part of stories, so viewers of Stranger Things anticipated saying goodbye to some characters during the final episodes. Over five seasons and almost ten years, the show consistently put its characters in perilous situations, making it unsurprising when dangerous events led to loss by the end of the series.

Honestly, the finale of Stranger Things season 5 was really tough to watch – so much death and danger! And while it was thrilling, some things felt a little rushed or unexplained. I’ve been watching these characters grow up for years, and it feels like we need to fully understand what happened to them before we can really say goodbye. It’s important to unpack their fates and get closure, you know?

5. Kali “Eight” Prasad

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Kali Prasad, also known as Eight and portrayed by Linnea Berthelsen, was a test subject at Hawkins Lab and Eleven’s sister. Though her role in Stranger Things was relatively small, her death had a strong emotional impact and marked a significant moment in the series finale. During the final battle in the Upside Down, Kali fought alongside El and Hopper.

As soldiers surrounded them, Kali was shot by Lieutenant Akers’ team while trying to shield El and the others. Though everyone tried to help, Kali died from her wounds, but not before sharing a heartfelt message encouraging El to keep going.

4. Lieutenant Akers

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Lieutenant Robert Akers, positioned as the main military villain in the final episodes, is killed during the showdown with El, Kali, and the group. After capturing Kali and Hopper, Akers tries to force them to reveal El’s location and threatens to kill them. El then uses her powers to defeat the remaining soldiers, and ultimately makes Akers shoot himself.

The scene is emotionally powerful, showing Akers taking his own life and revealing the full scope of El’s abilities under immense pressure. Although it eliminates the danger posed by Akers and his army, it’s a hard scene to watch, even though it feels like the only possible outcome.

3. Henry Creel/Vecna

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Henry Creel, also known as Vecna (played by Jamie Campbell Bower), is definitively killed in the final battle of Stranger Things season 5. The season delves into how Henry became Vecna, and while the finale reveals pieces of his past, his death is more dramatic than his origin story.

Eleven and Will Byers manage to hurt Vecna, leaving him vulnerable, but it’s Joyce Byers who ultimately defeats him by striking the final blow with an axe after he’s been impaled. As Vecna falls, the Mind Flayer’s link to him is severed in a dramatic and powerful way.

2. Mind Flayer

By the end of the story, the Mind Flayer is confirmed to be destroyed. Because the Mind Flayer is deeply connected to Vecna’s life, it also dies when Vecna is defeated. As the Upside Down and the Abyss crumble, the Mind Flayer disintegrates along with them.

Unlike earlier seasons where the creature somehow managed to survive, the series finale definitively defeated the major threat that drove the biggest conflicts in Stranger Things. Both the Mind Flayer and Vecna are confirmed to be completely destroyed, not just injured.

1. Eleven

Image via Netflix

Throughout season 5 of Stranger Things, there were hints that Eleven might die, building on suggestions from earlier seasons. However, many viewers wondered if the show would actually kill off such a popular character. The season 5 finale doesn’t definitively state whether El lives or dies, but it strongly implies she intends to sacrifice herself by staying in the Upside Down as the gateway closes.

Early hints pointed to Kali’s death, but later scenes show Mike Wheeler imagining a scenario where she faked her death with an illusion. The group appears to prefer believing she’s alive and safe, far from Hawkins. Ultimately, the show Stranger Things left the question of Eleven’s survival open for viewers to decide.

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2026-01-01 22:42