The Stranger Things finale may not have been completely satisfying for all fans, but the last episode did serve as an emotional goodbye. Fans were prepared for some heartbreaking deaths and major twists in the finale, so some were left disappointed by a somewhat safe ending. Yet when it comes to saying goodbye to the characters we have come to love, Stranger Things' conclusion struck a chord.
Some of these moments dealt with the bigger consequences that came from the final episode. Some were reminders of how far these characters have come. However, many of the most heartbreaking moments in the Stranger Things finale addressed the emotions of this journey coming to an end after five seasons.
Kali's death
While there were a lot of predictions about which Stranger Things characters would die in the finale, Kali ended up being the only notable casualty among the heroes. It is true that she was not a fan-favorite, but her surprise return in season 5 of Stranger Things gave her some redemption. This includes her tragic end.
Facing off with the military once again, Kali was wounded and seemingly died. The end of the episode, however, proves just how heroic her final moments were in helping Eleven. But even so, it is hard not to be affected by her death scene. Like Eleven, she was just a young girl who went through unspeakable horrors. She deserved to get a happy ending, but faced her unfair demise with bravery.
Eleven says goodbye to Mike
One of the biggest questions going into the Stranger Things finale was the fate of Eleven. In the big ensemble of the series, she stands out as the most central character and the most powerful. That led to her decision to stay behind in the Upside Down when it was destroyed, so the military could not get their hands on her again. The heroic moment is accompanied by her heartbreaking goodbye to Mike.
It is a nice touch that these two can share their final private conversation inside The Void. Eleven tells Mike that he needs to thank the others for her before explaining that he is the reason she found some happiness in her young life, because he saw her for who she truly was. The flashbacks across the previous seasons, including the ones of them as little kids, as Prince's "Purple Rain" plays in the background makes it an even more emotional scene.
Hopper gives Mike another path
Following the defeat of Vecna, the finale jumps ahead over a year to much happier times. However, as his friends are celebrating their upcoming high school graduation, Mike is still devastated by the loss of Eleven. Fittingly, it is Eleven's adoptive father, Chief Jim Hopper, who gives him the words of wisdom to help him move on.
The final season of Stranger Things spent a lot of time reminding viewers of Hopper's past loss and how it led him to give up for many years. Hopper lets Mike know that it is not a path worth going down. Instead, he acknowledges that Mike will never get over the loss, but to simply find a way to accept that it happened. It is a bittersweet moment that shows how damaged these two are, but how they still have hope.
The rooftop reunion
The younger Stranger Things heroes tend to get most of the attention, but the older youngsters get their own emotional ending as well. After having gone off to start their individual adult lives in various avenues, Nancy, Jonathan, Steve, and Robin reunite on the roof of the radio station. Though they are happy in their new lives, there is the heartbreaking realization of how much they miss each other.
This scene showcases that not all the endings in Stranger Things are so clean. Nancy and Jonathan do not end up together. Steve stayed in Hawkins while all his friends left. It speaks to a reality of friends from high school drifting apart even after going through so much together. However, it does give hope for them to meet up and relive those glory days.
The final campaign
It is very fitting that the final scene of the series revolves around one last game of Dungeons and Dragons. Mike brings the last campaign to an end as the friends prepare to say goodbye to each other and head off on their own adventures. It is then that we get an emotional glimpse of what their futures will have in store.
After anchoring each other through the tough times, Lucas and Max's romance begins to grow even stronger. Dustin uses his intelligence to excel in college, but still finds time to have fun with Steve. Will embraces his true self and finds romance of his own.
However, the biggest emotional punch is the revelation that Eleven survived and went off to find her own happy ending, free from being hunted. It is a bittersweet and satisfying farewell to these characters. There is also a sweet end note as Holly and her friends take up the new game, perhaps hinting at a Stranger Things spinoff.