"Stranger Things" creators Matt and Ross Duffer let fans decide whether Eleven really died in the series finale or whether her sister Kali helped her fake her death by casting an illusion.
But Linnea Berthelsen, who played Eleven's superpowered sibling on the Netflix series, has her own interpretation of how the show ended that might not be what fans want to hear. Ultimately, only the Duffer Brothers and star Millie Bobby Brown know Eleven's fate, a decision Berthelsen respects.
"Which is just the way it should be. I think everybody should be able to finish the story. I think that was such a brilliant way of doing that, like giving it to the fans who love the characters so much, let them finish the story," Berthelsen tells USA TODAY.
According to Mike's (Finn Wolfhard) theory, Kali did not actually die in the Upside Down and lived at least long enough to fake Eleven's death so the government would no longer try to capture her and create more superpowered humans.
"I love the theory, and I do appreciate it. I think she's gone and I think she made the right choice," Berthelsen said. "Being the actor, protecting the character, I definitely think (Kali) sacrificed herself for Eleven. I don't think Kali survived but it was for the best reason possible. Yeah, I think she's always been about doing what's best for Eleven. She just had to find out what that would be but definitely she was out."
