‘Stranger Things 5’ Finale Explained: Duffer Brothers on Eleven’s Fate, Spinoff Clues and All Those Real Tears

Note: This story contains spoilers from “Stranger Things 5” Episode 8.

“Stranger Things 5” ended not with monsters, mayhem or flickering lights, but with tears. Lots and lots of tears. And for creators/showrunners the Duffer Brothers, that’s exactly how they wanted to conclude the five-season journey of Netflix’s biggest series. On the emotional journey of the characters with whom audiences fell in love in the first place.

“The basement scene with our core group of kids we’ve known for eight years...