The Stranger Things finale episode had the fandom on edge well before its release. There were several theories as to how the Duffer brothers would end the fans’ beloved series. When the final episode finally aired, it fueled the debate and theories more than ever before. 

The Stranger Things Season 5 Vol.3 drop provided a very murky ending to Millie Bobby Brown's character, Eleven. This conundrum regarding her ending touched new heights as Mike Wheeler narrated a story that raised the possibility of Eleven being alive.

If anyone might have a better take than the fans, it is Sadie Sink, who plays Eleven’s best friend, Max Mayfield, and a crucial part of the show. 

Sadie Sink recently appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and finally weighed in on the most heated debate surrounding Eleven’s ending in Stranger Things. Unlike many fans who accept the theory explained by Mike in the finale, Sink made it clear she is not fully on board. 

“I think she is dead,” she said. “I think, like, Mike's story, is like just one last story. And that's, like, then they say goodbye to childhood. I think it's just like a coping thing.”

Sadie Sink, however, hinted that the explanation about Eleven being alive elsewhere feels more like emotional comfort than fact, even though she admits it is still one possible interpretation. The Duffer Brothers also had a response similar to Sadie Sink, where they explained that Eleven had to go away, but they left her fate open for the audience to hold on to a hopeful ending.

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Despite Sadie Sink disregarding the theories, the evidence that points otherwise is truly glaring. After all, a behind-the-scenes clip makes Mike’s theory of Eleven escaping with the help of Kali’s illusion powers sound both hopeful and intriguing.

The ending, with Eleven disappearing into the Upside Down, left fans stunned. But Mike’s theory has offered some comfort, as Sadie Sink suggested, and now a rare clip shared by an X Page titled, Stranger Things Spoiler hints at Eleven’s escape.

The clip shows the other side of the truck as Mike and his friends are being dragged away by the military. In it, Eleven can be seen running away from the truck in a completely different direction. Although this scene did not make it into the final episode, it suggests the possibility that the creators may have considered a different ending. 

Fans are now hunting for more clues, hoping for confirmation of this theory. Until then, the fandom remains divided, with some siding with Sadie Sink’s interpretation, while others cling to the hope sparked by Mike’s theory. 

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Do you agree with Sadie Sink regarding Eleven's ending? Let us know in the comments below.