The Upside Down is one of the most memorable parts of Netflix's Stranger Things, and there are many important questions about its existence. From the moment that Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) disappears into this alternate dimension in Hawkins, Indiana in the pilot episode, it's clear that this is a dangerous, dark, and sinister place. This unforgettable setting remains terrifying even in season 4, as the main characters explore and learn more.
Eleven's (Millie Bobby Brown) continual attempts to save her friends from the Upside Down and its monsters begs the question of how this place was created. When does Eleven first encounter the Upside Down and was she the one to create it in the first place?
What Was Eleven's First Experience With The Upside Down?
Eleven can be rebellious on Stranger Things, especially when trying to protect her friends from the evils of Hawkins. She also has a special connection to the Upside Down, and it's interesting to reflect on the first time that she encounters it.
In season 4, episode 7 called "The Massacre at Hawkins Lab," Eleven opens the Hawkins Lab Mothergate, which is what allows the Upside Down to look like the November 6th, 1983 world. This is the moment when the Upside Down looks the way that fans always picture it: without any humans and with membranes, spores, and creepy vines.
Eleven has a memory during this episode and realizes that 001/Henry Creel (Jamie Campbell Bower) wants her to join him on his evil journey, and she banished him to the Upside Down. 001 then transformed into Vecna, the horrifying Stranger Things villain.
The Upside Down includes the Hive Mind, which includes the most terrifying Stranger Things creatures like the Demobats, Demogorgons, and the Mind Flayer.
The Upside Down is a staple of Stranger Things from the very first season, and learning about its origins is one of the most powerful parts of season 4. The fact that the show gives fans answers to questions that they have been asking is just one reason why the show is such a hit. The Duffer Brothers always create an unnerving atmosphere and give viewers enough information to feel satisfied, but always make sure that fans want to keep watching.
One of the most memorable scenes is when, in the season 1 episode "Chapter Five: The Flea and the Acrobat," Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer) enters this alternate dimension through a gate and sees the Demogorgon, which is an early sign of trouble.
While the Stranger Things love triangle with Nancy, Steve Harrington (Joe Kerry), and Jonathan Byers (Charlie Heaton) is always thrilling to watch, Nancy is a key part of the series. Her connection to the Upside Down has always been strong because she experiences it early on and knows how strange, confusing, and all-encompassing it is.
Did Eleven Create The Upside Down?
One of the biggest questions is how was the Upside Down created in Stranger Things. Millie Bobby Brown spoke about this in an interview with Variety in 2022. When the actress was asked if the Duffer Brothers explained that Eleven creates the Upside Down when she interacts with 001, she said, "They did tell me. She does. She opens the rift."
When asked if Eleven creates the Upside Down or if she opens a portal to this alternate dimension, Brown said that in her opinion, her character opens the gate.
Brown said, "This is too big of a debate for me to answer. I’m so worried. I think — no, no, no. I think that the alternate universe was always there. That is always going to be under Hawkins. I just think she has access to it. I don’t think that she created the Upside Down. No, I think that it was always there, I think she just created a gate to it which no one could before."
While there won't be a Millie Bobby Brown Stranger Things spin-off, it's always interesting hearing Brown's perspective on her popular, clever, and tough character. Her answer makes a lot of sense as she and 001 are both very powerful, but it doesn't seem like Eleven creates the Upside Down out of thin air.
Can The Upside Down Be Destroyed?
Eleven hopes that she can destroy the Upside Down, and up until the end of season 4, she thought that controlling Vecna and closing the gate would be the way to do so. But Vecna shows Nancy the future in season 4, episode 8 called "Papa," which changes everything because it's so unbelievably chilling.
This version of the future includes the end of the world and four gates to the Upside Down. There are many things fans want to see in Stranger Things season 5, and that includes an answer to this question: will Eleven be successful in stopping Vecna from killing everyone and destroying the world?
Eleven's telekinetic powers are definitely strong, and fans hope that she will be able to defeat Vecna in the series finale. It's hard to imagine that this isn't how the popular show will end, as anything else would be devastating.