The Stranger Things finale certainly had fans talking for a host of reasons, some more positive than others, but one of the biggest talking points following the show’s conclusion was whether Eleven really died in the end. The Duffer Brothersintentionally left the answer up to interpretation, but Lucas Sinclair actor Caleb McLaughlin has a clear opinion, and it has fans devastated.
While appearing on The View, McLaughlin shared that he believes Eleven is “gone,” following that assertion up with, “Rest in peace, Eleven.” The hosts of The View were immediately crushed by this perspective, and fans who watched the clip were soon to follow.
@theviewabc ‘GOAT’ star #CalebMcLaughlin dishes on what he thinks really happened to Eleven in the ‘Stranger Things’ series finale! 👀 #TheView
♬ original sound – The View – The View
Interestingly, McLaughlin is now the second of the main cast of kids to voice this opinion. McLaughlin’s Stranger Thingsco-star Sadie Sink, who played Max Mayfield, also shared that she believes Eleven died in the finale while on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallonand then seemed surprised that this was a controversial opinion.
Although these Stranger Things stars believe Eleven is dead, many fans of the show believe they have evidence that Eleven lived, including that she had no nosebleed despite using her powers and the fact that she theoretically would not have been able to use her powers because of the suppressors that were present in her (apparent) final moments.
It’s also worth noting that, while McLaughlin doesn’t believe Eleven lived, he clarified that Lucas does—something that each of the main characters voiced in the show’s final scenes.
Ultimately, fans are unlikely to ever get a direct answer regarding Eleven’s fate, and it’s clear that there are valid opinions on both sides. As controversial as the Stranger Things finale may have been, the Duffers did achieve their goal of leaving Eleven’s ending open to interpretation—even if it now means that actors like Sink and McLaughlin are breaking hearts with their perspectives.
