Fans furious as Stranger Things creator shares alternate ending for finale

Warning: This article contains serious Stranger Things spoilers

The end of any major TV series always proves to be divisive, whether it be Game of Thrones or Friends.

Stranger Things is the latest show to come to a close, with the two-hour finale landing on Netflix on 1 January and bringing the series' 10-year run to an end for good.

Concluding such a huge series is no mean feat and fans had been busy sharing their theories about the ending ever since season five dropped in December, meaning the pressure was on.

Now, it's been revealed that all of the main Stranger Things character survive but Eleven's fate is slightly more confusing.

The first 7 episodes of Stranger Things season 5 have dropped (Netflix)

It initially seems that she's made the ultimate sacrifice by staying behind in the Upside Down, but an 18-month time jump shows Mike hint that Eleven had survived. He appears to insinuate that Kali, who appeared to die at the hands of the military, had survived and tricked everyone into thinking Eleven had died.

However, the Duffer Brothers - the creators of Stranger Things - have now spoken out about the ending, disputing any idea that Eleven could have remained with the rest of the gang.

"There was never a version of the story where Eleven was hanging out with the gang at the end. For our characters to move on and for the story of Hawkins and the Upside Down to come to a close, Eleven had to go away," the siblings said.

The time jump gave fans plenty of closure on the rest of the Hawkins gang's fate. Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas and Max were seen preparing for their high school graduation and playing one last game of Dungeons and Dragons.

Dustin heads to college while Will uproots to a big city and Mike becomes a professional writer. Everyone's favourite couple Lucas and Max end up together and Hopper finally proposes to Joyce.

Steve opts to stay in Hawkins and Robin heads to Smith College, while Jonathan jets to New York University and Nancy joins The Boston Herald.

The Duffer Brothers have said they wanted every character to "find happiness but in their own specific ways", insisting that Eleven "lives on in their hearts".

Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven in Stranger Things (Netflix)

Netflix viewers were left torn over the conclusion and many were quick to complain, comparing the disappointment to that of the controversial Game of Thrones finale.

"Stranger Things after taking 10 years to end ... only to end up having the worst finale in TV history since Killing Eve & Game of Thrones," one user blasted on X.

Another penned: "Trying to decide if the final season of Stranger Things is worse than Game of Thrones or losts final seasons."