Sadie Sink shares her view on Eleven’s ending after 'Stranger Things' finale

The Netflix series in which Sink stars as Max ended with an ambiguous outcome for Eleven, played by Millie Bobby Brown

Sadie Sink has shared her personal interpretation of Eleven’s fate following the conclusion of Stranger Things, offering a perspective that differs from some fan theories about the show’s final moments.

The Netflix series ended its fifth season with an ambiguous outcome for Eleven, played by Millie Bobby Brown.

In the closing episode, Eleven appears to sacrifice herself by remaining in the collapsing Upside Down to protect her friends and prevent the government from exploiting her powers to restart the programme that created Vecna.

However, Mike Wheeler, portrayed by Finn Wolfhard, suggests that Eleven may have staged her death with Kali’s help in order to escape and live peacefully. This idea was supported by a final scene showing Eleven in a serene location with waterfalls.

Appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Sink was asked directly whether she believed Eleven survived. After briefly hesitating, she replied, “I think she’s dead. I don’t know.” When pressed on whether she was certain, Sink confirmed that she was, before questioning whether her view was a “hot take”, a suggestion Fallon agreed with as he admitted he shared the same belief.

Sink went on to explain her reasoning, saying, “I think, like, Mike’s story is like just one last story. And that’s like…then they say goodbye to their childhood. But that’s just one final tale, and that’s it.” Fallon said he liked her interpretation, while Sink described it as “a coping thing”.

The actress added that viewing Eleven’s fate in this way made the ending feel more emotionally powerful. While Fallon noted that the finale was open to interpretation, Sink stressed that her comments reflected her own understanding of the story.