Seven days after Netflix unveiled the final episode of Stranger Things season 5, fans have been continuing to hold on to the theory of the finale being "fake", thanks to a wave of online users forging a 'conformity gate' theory which pointed to several "flaws" and "inconsistensies" in the last episode of the critically-acclaimed show. Many had also hoped that a secret 'ninth episode' would drop on January 7, the number that appears a considerable number of times in the show throughout its ten-year-long run.
Millions of users who believed the theory, tuned into Netflix to catch the 'real finale episode', but surprise, surprise... the hoax turned out to be...indeed a hoax. The excitement soon turned into disappointment as they were met with the reality check that the final episode was indeed the final and no 'new finale' was dropping on the streamer. As a result of the massive increase in the volume of users logging on to Netflix, its site and app crashed, paving way to a meme-fest online.
Though show creators Matt and Ross Duffer have made no official comment on the theory, the show’s bio on Netflix's social media sites read, "ALL EPISODES OF STRANGER THINGS ARE NOW PLAYING." This veiled confirmation has debunked the viral 'conformity gate' theory.
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 were 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 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."
Fans were also convinced that Netflix would make an announcement regarding the same on January 7, a day Netflix has been teasing since December for a 'big announcement.' But all these viral claims were junked when the streamer posted their official slate of films and series to look forward to for 2026.
While the disappointment is palpable, the Stranger Things chapter isn't fully over. 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 while a spin-off is in early development.
