The highly anticipated series finale of “Stranger Things,” the horror-fantasy sensation that evolved from a modest ’80s pastiche in 2016 into a Netflix juggernaut, has officially concluded. Written and directed by show creators The Duffer Brothers, the plus-sized final episode brought resolution to the epic struggle against the Upside Down, while also impacting Netflix’s platform with unprecedented viewership and technical challenges.

A major reveal in the finale was the survival of Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown). Despite appearances of self-sacrifice as a bomb detonated to destroy the Upside Down and close the bridge for evil, her sister Kali (Linnea Berthelsen) had cast a final spell to create a fake Eleven. This illusion led to a heartfelt final kiss with Mike (Finn Wolfhard) and widespread mourning, only for Eleven to be found safe and sound, as Mike later estimated, enjoying a hike far from those seeking to exploit her powers.

The dual antagonists, Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) and the Mind Flayer, both met their demise. The climactic battle saw Eleven confronting Vecna within the enormous Mind Flayer, while the rest of the Hawkins crew engaged the monstrous beast with gunfire and direct combat. Will (Noah Schnapp) also played a crucial role by entering Vecna’s mind to assist Eleven, leading to both villains—who Henry (also Jamie Campbell Bower) confirmed were one and the same—receiving fatal blows. Joyce (Winona Ryder) delivered the ultimate strike, beheading Vecna with an axe, ensuring the safety of the younger children caught in the chaos.

The finale also saw the death of Kali, shot by Lt. Robert Akers (Alex Breaux) before Murray (Brett Gelman) created a diversion by blowing up a helicopter. Eleven then swiftly eliminated all military personnel and took over Akers’ mind, compelling him to shoot himself. Additionally, Henry Creel’s traumatizing cave memory was revealed, showing him watching his younger self open a briefcase from which a piece burrowed into his hand. This explained how the Mind Flayer used Henry as a vessel to reach Hawkins, much like Will was a vessel for Henry, though Henry himself maintained that he and the Mind Flayer were indistinguishable.

Eighteen months after Vecna’s defeat, life in Hawkins largely returned to normal. The catastrophic events, though severe, were officially attributed to an earthquake, with a memorial serving as the only physical reminder. The story then jumped to high school graduation day, catching up with the beloved characters. Max (Sadie Sink) was seen skateboarding and sharing a kiss with Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin), indicating their continued relationship.

Hopper (David Harbour) had embraced his role as stepfather to Joyce and her children, providing comfort to Mike, who was still processing his grief over El. Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) achieved valedictorian status, delivering a speech steeped in references to “Dungeons & Dragons.” Steve (Joe Keery) had transitioned into a high school sex-ed teacher and baseball coach, with Derek (Jake Connell) as a catcher on his team.

The group’s post-high school paths diverged as well: Nancy (Natalia Dyer) dropped out of Emerson to pursue a journalism career, Robin (Maya Hawke) began studying at Smith, and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) enrolled in NYU film school to work on a movie. Following graduation, Hopper proposed to Joyce, suggesting a fresh start by moving to Montauk where he had a new job offer.

Instead of attending a graduation party, Mike, Max, Dustin, Lucas, and Will engaged in a final D&D campaign. Its bittersweet ending mirrored their own futures: Will was destined for the big city and new relationships; Max and Lucas would remain together; Dustin would attend college but continue to spend time with Steve; and Mike would become an author. The final scene showed Mike watching Holly (Nell Fisher), Derek, and their friends initiating their own D&D campaign, prompting Mike to apologize to Will for not acknowledging his coming out sooner, reinforcing their enduring bond.

Other resolutions included Steve and Jonathan making amends, both agreeing that neither was the right partner for Nancy. Holly finally had her heroic moment, leading the younger children to the cave, making up for her past regrets about not assisting her mother, Karen (Cara Buono), or being brave. Unlike many contemporary blockbusters, the finale deliberately omitted any mid- or post-credits scenes, leaving Hawkins quiet, at least for the moment.

The “Stranger Things” series finale also had a significant impact on Netflix’s infrastructure. The streaming service experienced crashes for some users during both the finale’s premiere and earlier during the Season 5 premiere on November 26. The finale’s crash, coinciding with its 5 p.m. PT drop time, lasted roughly a minute and was resolved after a few refreshes, presenting users with a “Nailed It!” error image and a message indicating trouble with their request. Similar issues occurred during the Season 5 debut, lasting about five minutes.

Netflix had encountered technical problems with “Stranger Things” before, notably in July 2022 during the final episodes of Season 4, and experienced live stream issues with the Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul boxing match. However, the second batch of “Stranger Things” Season 5 episodes, released on Christmas Day, proceeded without technical hitches, leading Netflix to achieve its highest viewership ever for Christmas Day.

Globally, Season 5 became the most-watched title, garnering 34.5 million views between December 22-28. This marked its second-best weekly total, following an impressive debut in November with 59.6 million views, which established Netflix’s best-ever opening week for an English-language title. The highly anticipated series finale also received a theatrical release on New Year’s Eve, with co-creator Ross Duffer reporting 1.1 million RSVPs and 3,500 sold-out screenings across 620 theaters, signifying a monumental close to a decade-long journey for the series.