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Stranger Things fans wonder if they'll ever get closure after the series finale fails to answer their most burning questions

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By Megan Garside published 2 January 2026

Some Stranger Things fans are feeling a little short-changed

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Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven in Stranger Things season 5 volume 2
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After 5 seasons spread across almost 10 years, Stranger Things has come to an end. However, after the packed 2-hour-plus finale, some fans are feeling a little short-changed, with many pointing out that there are still a lot of unanswered questions.

Warning, the following article contains spoilers for Stranger Things season 5 episode 8, so make sure you are all caught up before reading on, and check out our Stranger Things season 5 finale review first.

Stranger Things season 5's finale, titled 'The Righside Up,' ended with our favorite Hawkins heroes defeating Vecna (you can read more on that in our Stranger Things season 5 ending explained), before jumping forward 18 months, showing what Will, Mike, and the rest of the main characters' lives are like after Henry Creel's defeat.

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However, fans have found that there are still a string of unanswered questions left after the series finale, and with no more spin-offs focusing on Hawkins on the way, the fear is that fans may never get the closure they desire. One fan took to Twitter with a list of everything left up in the air, including whether or not Dr. Kay is still alive, what happened to Max's mom, what happened with Robin and Vickie's relationship, and who unlocked the door when the demogorgon was chasing Will way back in season 1.

Another fan pointed out that many of the supposed 'plotholes' on the list can be explained away or are simply not important enough to be addressed on screen. However, the questions just keep on coming, with another adding, "Demogorgons, Demodogs, and bats just disappear. What happened to Owens, Argyle, and Dmitri? The strange time loop in the Upside Down was never explained. What happened to the Russian lab and involvement?

There's also some grey area around the show's connection to the play, Stranger Things: The First Shadow. The stage show jumps back to the '50s, where Joyce Byers, Jim Hopper, and both Ted and Karen Wheeler all went to school with Henry Creel, but the adults never mention it in the series. Speaking of Creel, aka Vecna, we never really find out what he was planning to do with exactly 12 children. "So did they ever explain why Henry needed TWELVE KIDS to merge the worlds??" asked one fan.

This could all be a case of the viewer only knowing as much as Will, Mike, and co do. The Duffer brothers have also said that they avoided linking the main show to the play too much, as not every Stranger Things fan has seen the stage show. However, fans are still finding further inconsistencies.

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The complete Stranger Things series is available to watch on Netflix now. For more, check out our guide to the best Netflix shows, and keep up with new TV shows coming soon.

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Megan Garside
Megan Garside
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Junior Social Media Editor, GamesRadar+

I'm the Junior Social Media Editor here at GamesRadar+, handling all of Total Film's social platforms. However, I also write, covering all things film and TV for the site's entertainment section. I joined GamesRadar+ in 2023 and have been here ever since. I previously worked in communications after graduating with an MA in journalism. In my spare time, you can find me binging horror movies or getting lost in a cosy little game on my Switch.

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