What is an indeterminate ending?

An indeterminate ending in a piece of fiction or storytelling occurs when the conclusion of the plot or character’s story is left unresolved or open-ended, offering little to no resolution to the overarching conflict or questions presented throughout the narrative. In such instances, the readers or viewers can draw their own conclusions and interpretations by analyzing available information and considering several possible outcomes rather than having them explicitly determined through direct storytelling.

Indeterminate endings tend to invite personal analysis and discussion, encouraging the audience to debate and compare ideas or theories about how the events may potentially play out, what happens next, or the state of the characters afterward.