How should Henry Creel’s story end? (Version 2.0)
(Since my last poll, I’ve been reading through all your notes and tags, and some of your comments really stuck with me. A few of you mentioned that you just wanted a redemption arc where Henry actually gets to live without the necessity of dying. Others pointed out how the show completely abandoned the powerful imagery of young Henry and little Eleven walking hand-in-hand.(First Shadow ending)
Because of that amazing feedback, I decided to revamp the previous options, make them more nuanced, and add two brand new options (Option 5 and 6) based on your thoughts. Let's vote again!)
The Sacrificial End
The Eternal Villain
The "Silent Passenger"
The Official Screen Canon
Salvation & Second Chance
The Ambiguous Sacrifice
Voting ended onJul 1
Option 1: The Sacrificial End (Blaze of Glory)
Henry realizes the horrific weight of his actions in his final moments. He consciously chooses to use the last of his strength to save the others, destroying himself in the process. A definitive, tragic end that prioritizes total erasure and a "moral scoreboard" clearing.
Option 2: The Eternal Villain (No Redemption)
Henry remains the unyielding nightmare until the very end. There is no moment of clarity, no hidden humanity left to save. A dark, pure-horror conclusion where the monster is simply put down.
Option 3: The "Silent Passenger" (Mental Symbiosis)
Henry’s physical form is destroyed, but his consciousness survives. Instead of fading into the Void, his mind finds a quiet sanctuary inside Patty (or Will), existing as a passive observer. He is no longer a threat, but a secret piece of a soul sharing the weight of survival.
Option 4: The Official Screen Canon
Accepting the narrative path executed by the creators in the actual Season 5 show. A complete acceptance of the story exactly as it was written for the screen, regardless of how bittersweet or logically unsatisfying it might feel.
Option 5: The "Purge" (Salvation & Second Chance)
Eleven and the others realizes the Upside Down and the Mind Flayer acted like a parasite. Instead of killing Henry, they are manages to completely purge the dark corruption of Dimension X from his veins.
Option 6: The Ambiguous Sacrifice (The Mindscape Exile)
The final battle takes place entirely inside the Mindscape. El (and Will) uses their connection to strip Vecna of his monster persona, leaving only Henry Creel. In a tragic, Vampire Diaries-esque twist (think Damon and Bonnie), El and Henry must hold hands and pull each other into the Void to permanently seal the Upside Down from the inside. Before the dimension collapses, they share a heartbreaking double-farewell with their anchors: Mike and Patty. Their ultimate fate is left ambiguous—trapped together in an unknown plane of existence, leaving the door wide open for Netflix to explore a future rescue mission.