After a decade in Hawkins, even the cast is ready to close the gate for good. ‘Stranger Things’ star Caleb McLaughlin isn’t entertaining far-fetched finale theories and he is certainly not trying to soften his ideas on what happens to Eleven.
To McLaughlin, the conclusion of the five-season saga was not a gimmick but a definite wrap-up.
Caleb McLaughlin Shuts Down Finale Theories
In a post-epic final chapter of the show, speaking frankly, McLaughlin made it clear: the story is finished, and fans might have to come to terms with that. “Guys, it’s over. It’s been 10 years,” he said, sounding both nostalgic and firm. “We were full-on kids, and now we’re full-on adults. We don’t need any more of us.”
Related: ‘Stranger Things’ Finale Wasn’t The End For Hawkins, It Was A Brief Pause
A fan theory that went viral on the internet, dubbed the Conformity Gate theory, was that the two-hour finale was a trick by Vecna. Some viewers thought that an unexpected additional episode would be released, and the happy ending was fake. McLaughlin wasn’t buying it. “At first, I thought it was dumb,” he admitted bluntly.
He explained that creators Ross Duffer and Matt Duffer always wanted to leave fans with hope. It would have been a betrayal of the spirit of the show to end it without that feeling. The last episode, a touching Dungeons and Dragons campaign by Mike, was not a breadcrumb for more. It was a complete circle. “It’s all just storytelling,” McLaughlin said, gently pushing back against the idea that there’s something hidden beneath the surface.
Caleb McLaughlin Further Breaks Hearts With His Eleven Comment
If that was not heartbreaking enough, McLaughlin also gave his own version of what happened to Eleven. “She’s gone,” he said. “I’m so sorry. I think she evaporated.”
It is a remark that sinks deep, particularly for fans who have vehemently supported her survival. However, McLaughlin’s viewpoint is less of a spoiler and more of an acceptance.
In case you missed it: 10 ‘Stranger Things’ Questions the Finale Never Answered
He believes sacrifices were the hallmark of the series at the outset. The Duffers have always claimed to have known the ending from the beginning: they had always imagined a D&D campaign, closing the door on childhood, and letting the characters step into adulthood. For McLaughlin, that door is well closed. And maybe that’s the point.
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