Stranger Things has come to an end, yet there are still a lot of questions left hanging in the air. The hit Netflix series had a massive final season, culminating in the hugely anticipated finale. However, with all those expectations, some fans were let down by how Stranger Things ultimately came to an end.
While the finale delivered plenty of action and emotional moments, it didn't resolve everything. There have been a number of plot holes that have arisen since the series ended, as well as some questions that have been lingering throughout Stranger Things' five seasons that still haven't been resolved. Unfortunately, with the show now over, we may never get answers to these Stranger Things questions.
What was the magic stone?
The final season of Stranger Things continued to add more and more to Henry Creel's backstory, explaining how he became Vecna. The origin story was still being explored even in the final episode with the introduction of a mysterious and magical rock. Infecting young Henry's open wound, it seems that this rock is what gives Henry his supernatural powers.
It is an interesting layer that further explains the connection between Henry and the Mind Flayer, but it also raises a lot of further questions. Where did the stone come from, and how did this mysterious man with the briefcase get it? It feels like a rather big element to throw in at the last minute, only to give no further explanation.
The Duffer Brothers have implied that the upcoming Stranger Things spinoff could shed some light on this. Here's hoping that's the case!
Why did the military let the heroes go?
Just because the heroes of Hawkins defeated Vecna, that didn't mean that their troubles were over. Immediately after leaving the Upside Down, they were trapped by Dr. Kay and the military in the hopes of capturing Eleven. However, Eleven was able to elude them long enough to apparently sacrifice herself.
Her sacrifice means that the military cannot continue their experiments, but it doesn't seem likely that they would just let the others go free. As the episode skips ahead over a year, their characters seem to have experienced no repercussions at all for battling the military all season. In fact, Hopper, who personally killed dozens of soldiers, actually becomes Hawkins' sheriff again. It wraps that storyline up so hastily that it feels ridiculous.
How did Kali know what to do?
Eleven's apparent death is one of the most emotional moments of the Stranger Things finale, but the end of the episode suggests she is still alive. Though it is all through Mike's speculation, it is suggested that Kali used her dying moments to help turn Eleven invisible and project an illusion of her still in the Upside Down so it would seem like she died.
However, Kali was not anywhere near Eleven or the other heroes, so how would she have known the exact moment to shield Eleven from sight and project the fake image? It is possible Eleven is physically connected with her, but the military was using their suppression speakers to prevent her from using her powers.
Did everyone forget Hopper was supposed to be dead?
So many twists and turns happen in Stranger Things that it is easy to forget some of the biggest storylines from earlier seasons. For example, season 3 ended with the big moment of Hopper seemingly being killed in his fight against the Russians. He was hailed as a hero of Hawkins, and his loved ones mourned him.
Of course, season 4 quickly reveals that Hopper is still alive, and season 5 has him back in Hawkins to help lead the fight against Vecna. However, once the fight is over, there is no indication that the people of Hawkins are bewildered that their former sheriff has apparently come back from the dead to take his old job.
Given that this is a town known for its residents coming back from the dead (Will Byers, anyone?), surely the sheriff's apparent resurrection would have raised more eyebrows.
What is The Abyss?
The Upside Down has been a huge part of Stranger Things from the beginning, so it makes sense that the final season would bring so many new revelations. The truth comes out that the Upside Down is not an alternate dimension where these monsters live, but a bridge created by the military to reach another dimension of the Mind Flayer. This dimension becomes dubbed The Abyss.
Like the mysterious magic rock, this is a huge revelation late in the series that raises so many questions with not nearly enough time to address them. If the stone arrived on Earth before the bridge was open, is The Abyss another planet? Is the Mind Flayer the overlord, or are there more powerful creatures? It is likely that this is one open-ended mystery that a Stranger Things spinoff will address? Here's hoping!