The Duffer Brothers have officially closed all the chapters, and along with it, the portal to the Upside Down. But distraught fans of Stranger Things are secretly hoping for a 'ninth episode' to season 5 to drop on Netflix anytime soon. Thanks to the 'Conformity Gate' theory, discussions surrounding the globally popular show have not died down yet, and many are hoping to see one last 'real finale episode'.
What is the Conformity Gate theory?
While Stranger Things wrapped up its decade-long story surrounding Vecna, demogorgons and other deadly creatures via its recent fifth season, hundreds of fans are convinced that the ending is a 'fake' one and the makers could drop a secret 'ninth episode' on January 7.
The finale left many fans with mixed emotions, with some feeling emotional while the others felt dissatisfied with how the creators closed the show. Soon, a theory on how the whole 'perfect' ending could be....drum rolls...a facade, an illusion made by Vecna who might have won the battle against the Hawkins kids along with the Mind Flayer.
Many pointed out that several elements in the finale stuck out as a sore thumb, including Will's posture resembling Vecna's, the Wheeler family having hairstyles similar to Ted Wheeler, among other theories. One user shared that Lucas, Max, Will, Mike and Dustin's Dungeons and Dragons books line-up together to spell out 'X A LIE', essentially hinting that the entire ending, and the dimension X, might be just a big...lie. Hundreds of users took to their social media handles to post "evidences" of how the finale might be "completely fake". Some of them also showed how several elements in the season had their colour altered leading up to the final episode. Some even mentioned that Dustin and Robin's love interests - Suzie and Vicki were not seen in the finale as Vecna never "met them."
According to fans, the theories lined up with the number 7 as it was continuously hinted throughout the show, leading to many believing that the 'real finale episode' might release on January 7—a day Netflix has been teasing since December for A 'big announcement.'
However, the Duffer Brothers have not confirmed any of these theories. Earlier, speaking to Variety, co-creator Matt Duffer addressed several popular fan theories surrounding Eleven’s fate, firmly debunking one major assumption. “The only thing I’ll debunk is that Eleven does not communicate with Mike in any way,” he clarified. Duffer explained that the moment at the graduation ceremony where Mike hears the speakers distort is not a supernatural signal from Eleven but a realisation triggered by the principal’s anger. “It makes him realise that there was the kryptonite,” Duffer said, raising further questions about the logistics of Eleven’s supposed escape.
“If that’s the case, how could she have possibly made it all the way to the gate? Not only that—how could she have possibly used her powers to bring him into the void?” he added. The finale intentionally leaves viewers grappling with these unanswered questions, including whether Kali could have played a role or if she might even still be alive. “We like that it’s up to the audience,” Duffer noted. “Obviously, we tell you what the characters choose.”
Duffer went on to emphasise that Eleven’s fate is meant to remain ambiguous, reinforcing that the story is told strictly from the perspective of Mike, Max, Lucas and Dustin.
While a new episode may or may not drop on the streamer, Netflix had on Monay announced that a documentary on the finale season of Stranger Things titled One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5 will hit the platform on January 12.