Sadie Sink Details Eleven Death Theory, Stranger Things 'Hot Take' Issued

The end of 2025 also meant the end of Stranger Things with the beloved Netflix television show finally wrapping up after an almost decade-long run.

Beginning its life way back in 2016, Stranger Things has become a worldwide phenomenon, making it Netflix’s most popular show and seeing actors such as Millie Bobby Brown and Sadie Sink become household names.

With the finale airing on 31 December, many of us spent the last few hours of 2025 learning what would happen to some of our favourite characters and although we know the fates of the majority of the cast, El’s story is a bit less definitive.

That is because Eleven, played by Bobby Brown, was last seen sacrificing herself in order to ensure that her blood could no longer be used to create super weapons or another variation of Vecna.

Her sacrifice would also mean that the Stranger Things timeline was definitely over as it would stop another bridge forming between our world and The Abyss.

However, over a year after El’s sacrifice, our favourite young-adults can be seen embarking on another Dungeons & Dragons campaign and it is here that Mike Wheeler put forward a theory.

What if Kali, also known as Eight, actually helped Eleven escape by using her dying breath to form an illusion of her death?

There is no proof or evidence of this, it is merely speculation by Mike that he and his friends choose to accept, allowing the viewer to also adopt this theory.

So did El die or was she saved by Kali and disappeared into the night, leaving Hawkins behind?

Is Eleven Alive? Sadie Sink Responds

Well, that question has been on everybody’s lips since the finale aired but with reportedly just the Duffer brothers and Bobby Brown knowing El’s true fate, we may never know.

However, that has not stopped the cast of Stranger Things being asked which is what happened with Sadie Sink on her recent appearance on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon.

When asked what she thinks happened to Eleven during the Stranger Things finale, Sink responded, “I think she’s dead."

She added: “Is that like a hot take or something?.

“I think that Mike’s story is like, one last story. Then they say goodbye to childhood.

“I think it’s just like a coping thing. I don’t know. I think it’s stronger, right? That’s my interpretation.”

However, it was not long before the comments were filled with fan’s own takes.

“I choose to believe [El’s] with Mike and I hope Mike will find this place where three waterfalls are, and also El, and live their life happily forever after. At this point, I’m just trying to make myself believe,” one comment read.

“I mean if Vecna found an alternate dimension, who’s to say El didn’t find one with waterfalls?” Another asked.

Unfortunately, El’s true fate will never be unveiled to us, in the hope that we will all make up our own interpretation.