How does Eleven lose her powers in Stranger Things 3? Will she get them back?

5 July 2019, 14:09

By Nicky Idika

Eleven loses her powers in Stranger Things 3. But why does she lose them and will they come back in season 4?

Stranger Things 3 returned with a bang and some big changes. Centred around Starcourt Mall, this season conjures up terrifying antagonists, including a guy that looks like The Terminator and, of course, the Flayed.

The kids come face to face with the slimy monster in ST 3, only this time there's an unintended consequence of their showdown at Starcourt Mall. Eleven finds herself powerless after a particularly painful confrontation. But how did Eleven lose her powers and will she get them back?

Warning: This post contains spoilers for the end of Stranger Things 3. Proceed with caution.

via GIPHY

Why did Eleven lose her powers? Will Eleven's powers come back?

In season 3 episode 7 of Stranger Things 3, Eleven and the others battle the monster at her and Hopper's house. At one point, the monster grabs Eleven by the leg and tries to pull her out of the rooftop. Eventually, Lucas manages to cut off a piece of the monster from its body and Mike painfully rips away the part of the beast still attached to Eleven's leg.

Eleven is injured but seemingly okay. It's not until the group arrive at Starcourt Mall that Eleven realises something is wrong. When they pull the bandage away from her injury, they see that there is something moving underneath the wound. A piece of the monster embedded itself into her leg.

In season 3 episode 8, they rush to cut the monster out of her leg but it's too painful and she uses her powers to remove it, instead. Thats's the last time her powers work for the rest of the episode, though she is still able to defeat Billie.

Later on, we see El try to move things with her mind but it doesn't work.

Eleven Stranger Things powers season 3. Picture: Netflix/Screenshot

It's likely that a mix of trauma, shock, and PTSD could be behind Eleven's broken powers. When we catch up with El three months after Hopper's apparent death, she seems physically healed. So, it's entirely reasonable to wonder whether she is suffering from some kind of emotional or psychological block. El's powers are tied to her mind, after all.

A hero losing their powers is a pretty common TV and film trope.

Think Hercules, Charmed, Spider-Man 2 (2006), X-Men: The Last Stand and more. Often times, a hero losing their powers is an integral part of their growth as a character.

Eleven losing her powers could also be a healing plot device for season 4. If she has to go on a "journey" and find other ways to solve her problems and address her loss, her powers could likely return and even grow.

One thing is certain, Eleven has a lot to overcome next season and the path to regaining her powers won't be easy.