Did the Party Defeat Vecna In STRANGER THINGS 5: THE FINALE?

This article reveals significant spoilers about the final episode of Stranger Things, including how the main characters defeated Vecna. If you haven’t watched it and don’t want to know what happens, please don’t read further!

“I love it when a plan comes together.”

It seems perfect that a famous line from an ’80s TV show perfectly captures how the fifth season of Stranger Things ended. The show’s finale saw the group’s bold, and maybe even crazy, plan to defeat Vecna succeed—despite a few hiccups along the way.

What Were The Party’s Goals in Their Plan to Defeat Vecna on Stranger Things 5?

Going into the final chapter of Stranger Things season 5, the group had three main objectives. First, they needed to stop the Abyss from colliding with their world. Second, they aimed to defeat Vecna. And third, they planned to destroy the Upside Down, permanently severing the connection between the two worlds. Eleven intended to use Brenner’s tank within the Upside Down to mentally connect with Vecna once the Abyss drew near, bringing Kali and Max along with her – Max to provide guidance, and Kali to assist in the fight. Their initial focus was stopping the Abyss’s advance and then defeating Henry. At the same time, the rest of the group would climb the radio tower in the Upside Down, hoping to reach a rift and rescue the children. Ultimately, they needed to plant explosives to eliminate the strange material that made up the Upside Down.

Did The Party’s Plan to Defeat Vecna Succeed on Stranger Things 5: The Finale?

Let me tell you what went down in Stranger Things 5: The Finale. Basically, everything I’ve described actually happened, but it wasn’t without its bumps in the road. It was a bit messy at times, honestly.

Eleven Stopped the Abyss From Smashing into the Real World, But Hopper Broke Her Connection to the Hive Mind

Thanks to a quick memory from Max, Eleven managed to stop the Abyss by locating Henry while he was at his dining table, saving her friends just in the nick of time. The radio tower didn’t connect with the rift as expected; instead, it crashed directly into the antenna, causing the entire structure to collapse. Luckily, Jonathan was able to catch Steve just before he fell.

When Henry threatened Eleven, Kali used her abilities to conceal herself and the children from his sight, hoping to convince them that Holly was telling the truth about Max and Mr. Whatsit. They escaped to Henry’s cave in the woods. Back at the house, Kali attempted to kill Henry, but he vanished and traveled to the Upside Down, where he tormented Hopper with disturbing visions – including a false image of Hopper shooting and killing Eleven, whom he had freed from the tank. This disruption severed Eleven’s mental connection with Vecna in Stranger Things 5: The Finale, jeopardizing their entire plan to defeat him. Without the sensory deprivation tank, Eleven, Kali, and Max were forced out of Henry’s mind, and he pursued them into the cave, enduring significant pain to do so, as they were now guided by Holly.

Things took a turn for the worse when Akers led his soldiers into the Upside Down lab. The military used a substance called “Kryptonite” to weaken both Kali and Eleven. Hopper prioritized saving his daughter, then returned to try and save Kali, but Akers’ men captured them both. Just as Akers was about to kill Kali, Murray destroyed the helicopter attacking them with sonic blasts. Eleven arrived to help, but not before Kali suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the abdomen. The speed at which the bullet killed Kali remains a point of discussion among fans.

Eleven, Joyce, and the Party Defeat the Mind Flayer and Kill Vecna

The group journeyed to the Abyss as part of their plan to stop Vecna in Stranger Things 5, focusing on rescuing the captured children. While there, Will connected with the hive mind and discovered that Vecna was still alive, and wasn’t acting alone. The creature serving Vecna in the Abyss was revealed to be the Mind Flayer, a massive monster that came to life. Ultimately, the group needed to defeat both the Mind Flayer and Vecna in Stranger Things 5: The Finale. Fortunately, their connection through the hive mind helped them.

Eleven arrived just as the Mind Flayer was about to harm her friends. She then entered the Mind Flayer’s body to confront Vecna directly. While inside, Nancy kept the Mind Flayer’s attention focused on her, allowing her friends to climb to higher ground and prepare an attack. They used fire – the Mind Flayer’s weakness – to destroy it. Meanwhile, Will, still linked to the Mind Flayer’s network, helped Eleven in her fight with Vecna, taking control of Vecna’s mind and stopping his attack by forcefully severing his hand.

Eleven, with support from her friends, finally defeated Vecna in the climactic battle of Stranger Things 5: The Finale by impaling him with a tooth from the Mind Flayer. After the Mind Flayer was defeated, the group entered its body and discovered Vecna was still alive. Joyce quickly ended his threat by beheading him in front of everyone, ensuring the Party’s ultimate victory in Stranger Things 5: The Finale.

The Upside Down Is Blown Up, But Eleven Might Have Died with It

Murray and Hopper planted explosives in the Upside Down, intending to destroy the energy source keeping that dimension stable. However, as soon as they returned to their world, Dr. Kay was there to arrest them, hoping to capture Eleven.

But she didn’t actually go. The Upside Down was destroyed as intended, but Eeven remained inside and was destroyed with it. Or was she, though?

The Party Defeated Vecna on Stranger Things 5: The Finale, but at What Cost?

The group finally beat Vecna in the last season of Stranger Things. However, the fate of Eleven remains uncertain. While the show depicts her death, Mike Wheeler thinks she secretly planned with her sister Kali to fake it, leaving her survival a mystery.

The Party achieved all its goals, but they’ll never have proof of El’s fate. They can only hope she survived.

Mikey Walsh writes for TopMob and will soon be hosting afternoons on The Squawk. Find him on Bluesky at @burgermike, and look for his rankings of the Targaryen kings wherever you discuss them!

2026-01-01 08:34