'Stranger Things' series finale LIVE — latest episode updates, spoilers, theories and more

2026-01-01T04:19:25.727Z

What happens to the characters after the finale?

The "Stranger Things" series finale saw the end of Vecna's defeat, which came about halfway through the series finale, but also left plenty of room for the characters to move on and, in some cases, away from Hawkins.

After the dust settled, we see how the characters are doing 18 months later amid reassurances that the bonds they made in battle won't soon be broken.

Steve is now coach of the school baseball team —and also the Sex Ed teacher — and has no plans to ever leave town. Nancy started college at Emerson but dropped out to take a newspaper job at the Herald. Jonathan is studying film at NYU and making an "anti-capitalist cannibal movie," while Robin is making new friends at Smith.

They agree to meet once a month at a place somewhere between Hawkins, New York and Massachusetts, with Robin volunteering her "weird uncle's" place in Philadelphia. On top of the roof of the radio station, they toast to, "Nothing keeping us apart," while they run through the list of Steve's latest girlfriends.

Meanwhile, Hopper proposes to Joyce, who happily agrees to marry "a tired, grumpy, stubborn old man who loves you very much." The two discuss moving to Montauk, which needs a new Chief of Police and pays 20% more than Hawkins does.

After one more D&D campaign, Mike foretells the futures of all the players: Dustin, aka The Bard and the school valedictorian, goes to college but still makes time to catch up with BFF Steve. Lucas and Max (The Knight and the Zoomer) "retire from battle" and settle in a small village where their love grows stronger every day. Will the Wise travels to the bustling city, where he soon finds his place, along with "deep happiness and acceptance."

The Storyteller, aka Mike, "keeps telling stories inspired by his friends." He shares with them the one story he can never tell, about how the Mage (El) survived with the help of Kali, if they choose to believe his retelling of events.

As for demon-fighting mom Karen Wheeler, she wears those scars with pride. And still makes a mean lasagna.

Meanwhile, Holly and the kids she helped rescue from Vecna have become the next enthusiastic generation of D&D players.