Every STRANGER THINGS Main Character and Their Ending

The time has come, the Walrus said, to talk of Stranger Things. And that’s because Stranger Things is officially over. With Stranger Things 5: The Finale now streaming on Netflix, the fate of every single main character has been decided. So, where did Stranger Things‘ series finale leave your favorites? Below, we break down every single Stranger Things main character and their final ending.

The Stranger Things Main Characters & Their Endings

Mike Wheeler Graduated From High School and Intends to Become a Writer in His Stranger Things‘ Ending

Although he almost didn’t walk in his graduation, we learn that Mike Wheeler has graduated high school in Stranger Things‘ epilogue. In the ending scene of Stranger Things 5: The Finale, Mike offers us a flash forward to some of the characters’ futures. In his future, Mike Wheeler is a writer, he “keeps telling stories, stories inspired by his friends. One day, he hopes their tales of grand adventure will spread far and wide across the land, so all can know of his great bravery.”

Dustin Henderson Graduated From High School as Valedictorian and Is Heading to College

We love Dustin Henderson’s Stranger Things ending. In Stranger Things 5: The Finale, we see him graduate as Valedictorian. But though Dustin excelled in school, he didn’t just give a standard speech. Instead, he makes sure to honor one Eddie Munson at his graduation. Dustin creates just the right amount of chaos (chaotic good-style), reminding everyone that their differences are beautiful and shouldn’t separate them. He then rips his gown and shirt off to reveal a “Hellfire Lives” shirt, snatches his diploma, and gives Principal Higgins the bird, just as Eddie always swore he would. Our hearts are full after seeing Dustin’s ending in Stranger Things‘ series finale.

In Mike’s vision of Dustin’s future, which we get during the ending scene of Stranger Things, Mike shares that Dustin will go off to study at a university (only a day’s drive away from Hawkins) and he’ll work hard and learn a lot. But he’ll always make time for adventures with Steve Harrington. And that’s a vision of the future we support.

Lucas Sinclair Graduated From High School, and He and Max Are Going to Live Happily Ever After

Lucas also graduated from high school in his Stranger Things ending! Hurrah! He and Max are still together and very much in love. We even see them kiss. And good for them. Mike Wheeler lets us know there are more good things in store for the pair in their Stranger Things ending. He foresees that Lucas and Max will move to a small town, where they’ll find peace and ever-deepening love.

Max Mayfield Is Healed Up and Skate Boarding Again in Her Stranger Things Ending

Max and Lucas’ endings are very intertwined. But we feel it’s important to point out that Max is healed all the way from her Vecna injuries at the end of Stranger Things 5: The Finale. In her Stranger Things series finale ending, Max is even skateboarding again. She is ALSO playing Dungeons & Dragons—Nerd!

Will Byers Has Graduated From High School and Is Heading for NYC

Will Byers, too, has made it out of high school. And, according to Mike, he’s heading for NYC in his Stranger Things ending. It’s implied he ends up in “The Village,” where he finds love, acceptance, and an epilogue boyfriend. Nice. His brother Jonathan is also in the city.

Eleven Is Either Dead or On Her Own In a Place with Waterfalls in Her Stranger Things Ending

We’re not sure what Eleven’s true ending is on Stranger Things 5. In one vision of the story, she died when the Upside Down blew up with her inside it. In another version, Kali helped her escape the military unnoticed, and she’s off on her own somewhere, lying low and feeling free.

You can read all about it in our piece, below:

Steve Harrington Is a High School Coach and Wants to Settle Down in Hawkins (And Yes, He’s Alive in His Stranger Things Ending)

Steve Harrington is alive in his ending on Stranger Things! Huzzah! Steve Harrington is now the baseball coach at Hawkins High, and, evidently, the Sex Education teacher. Good for him. We know he’ll take his children’s learnings of the miracle of life and how to avoid it very seriously. We also suspect he’ll make sure to always give the freaks and weirdos a hand. We learn in the Stranger Things series finale that Steve wants to buy a house in Hawkins, a place he really seems to love. He’s going to live where Eddie Munson once did, too… So, we approve of that.

Robin Buckley Is at Smith College and Thriving

Robin Buckley has headed to Smith College, a place she’ll no doubt be very happy. This all-women’s college has a VERY high rate of queer folks today, and we feel that was pretty likely back in the day as well. Plus, she’s in Massachusetts in the Stranger Things series finale, just like Nancy… And that means the RoNance dream remains real.

Nancy Wheeler Dropped Out of Emerson and Is Working as a Journalist in Her Stranger Things Ending

In a surprise twist on her Stranger Things ending, Nancy Wheeler dropped out of Emerson, her dream school. Instead, she got a job at The Herald. Ah, the good old days of journalism. Nancy says she was sick of school and just wanted to get out there and do the work. After all that Upside Down nonsense, we can see how that might be. Nancy Wheeler continues to surprise us and pave her own way on Stranger Things‘ series finale.

Jonathan Byers Is at NYU Film School and Making an Anti-Capitalist Movie

Jonathan Byers headed to New York City. He’s at NYU’s film school… a place where he truly belongs. He’s currently working on an anti-capitalist movie, The Consumer. Jonathan’s movie is about a woman who gets hungrier the more she eats. And we love that for him.

Robin, Jonathan, Nancy, and Steve Promise to Meet Up Once a Month

Our older kids have made a beautiful pact, though. In Stranger Things‘ series finale, they agree that oonce a month, they’re going to get together at Robin’s Weird Uncle’s House in Philadelphia and just be together. Maybe they’ll film Jonathan’s movie.

Hopper and Joyce Byers Are Getting Married and Moving to Montauk in Their Stranger Things Ending

Hopper has chosen to live this time around after losing his daughter. He wastes no time in proposing to Joyce in Stranger Things‘ series finale, who happily accepts. Hopper tells Joyce that they should leave Hawkins and that he has been offered a new job with better pay in Montauk. Montauk was originally the title of Stranger Things, so that’s a little Easter egg nod to the die-hards.

Erica Is Still Teasing Her Brother and Making Trouble

We don’t get too much of Erica’s Stranger Things ending in the series’ finale, but we do see she’s still teasing Lucas mercilessly. She also remains close friends with Dustin, which we love, and helps him set up his graduation confetti cannon for maximum chaotic-good madness.

Vecna Is Dead on Stranger Things

Henry Creel/Vecna/One is dead on Stranger Things. Vecna’s ending came much earlier than most others in Stranger Things: The Finale. Eleven, Nancy, and the whole Party took down his Mind Flayer form. Eleven impaled him on a spire. And then Joyce chopped his head off with an axe. RIP Vecna. We assume this means that the Mind Flayer is also dead on Stranger Things series finale.

Kali/Eight Is Dead on Stranger Things

Kali/Eight is also dead on Stranger Things. We weren’t sure about Kali/Eight’s return on Stranger Things 5, but now that her ending was so tragic, we feel sad about it. We wish Kali could have lived. Instead, Akers shot her in the Upside Down.

Murray and Mr. Clarke Are Hanging Out in Their Stranger Things Ending

You know, people are really shipping this. They were even before Stranger Things 5. And good for those people. We don’t know too much about Murray and Mr. Clarke’s endings on Stranger Things‘ series finale, but we do know they sat together at the kids’ graduation. Hey, it’s never too late to go on a date.

Holly Wheeler and Delightful Derek Are Picking Up the Dungeons & Dragons Mantle

We loved getting to know Holly Wheeler and Delightful Derek on Stranger Things 5. And we love their ending even more. Holly, Derek, and a few more of their friends have created a Dungeons & Dragons party and intend to play their own campaign in Stranger Things‘ series finale. Holly is the Dungeon Master!

We Don’t Know Vickie’s Ending on Stranger Things

Although Vickie helped out the Party on Stranger Things 5: The Finale, she vanishes into the sunset without an ending in the series finale epilogue. We’re going to say she was barely a character to begin with, so we’re not that surprised.

Dr. Kay Is Still Alive on Stranger Things

Dr. Kay remains alive to menace another day. While she lost Eleven in Stranger Things 5‘s ending, we bet Dr. Kay hasn’t given up on figuring out a way to get back into The Abyss. Perhaps in a spinoff?

Barb Is Still Dead on Stranger Things

Alas, after ALL of that. Barb is still dead on Stranger Things.

Eddie Munson Is Still Dead on Stranger Things

The only thing that would have made Stranger Things 5: The Finale‘s ending perfect is Eddie Munson coming back to life. We all deserved that. But he remains dead. RIP.

Stranger Things‘ Ending Is Only the Beginning

Although the characters of Stranger Things have all found their endings on the series finale of the show, a story never has to close. We have all been on this adventure with Stranger Things, and our story continues.

All of Stranger Things is now streaming on Netflix.

Rotem Rusak is the Editor-in-Chief of Nerdist. She is obsessed with the Fruity Four (Vol. 2), but insists Eddie Munson crawl back to life.