Stranger Things Season 2: What The Ending Really Means

8. Eleven Is Even More Powerful

At the end of the first season, Eleven uses a huge amount of energy to disintegrate the original Demogorgon, which seemingly results in her "dying" (in reality she merely disappears, pulled into the Upside Down for reasons not entirely explained. This is very much presented as a result of her struggling to command such high usage levels of her powers.

And up until episode 7, the threat of her powers seems to hang over her as she struggles to find her position in the world (mostly because she's a caged bird under Jim Hopper's watchful eye). It's only when she meets 008 that she begins to learn how to channel those powers and unlocks something within her, which seems to mark an evolution in her powers.

That episode might be a low point for the season, but it was important for Eleven, representing her "training montage", and it's only through 008's tutelage that she builds up the focus to be able to close the Gate at the end.

But what does this increase in power mean for Eleven? Will she become more of a target for the Mind Flayer? Could she still be at danger of opening a rift again? Or could it be more positive, with her using her newly strengthened powers to jump through to the Upside Down at will to her own advantage? It's all very possible.