Stranger Things Season 5 wrapped up at the start of 2026, but soon enough the Conformity Gate theory emerged. Now, as January draws to a close, a new question has emerged: is Netflix rewriting the final chapter?
For the uninitiated, #ConformityGate trended earlier this month following a loud response from fans who weren’t happy with how Stranger Things ended. The theory claimed that a secret Season 5 Episode 9 existed and would serve as the “real” finale.
But when the date it was supposed to arrive came and went, it became clear that the theory was nothing more than a viral trend, with no basis in reality. It’s been weeks since then, and talks are turning to what’s next for the Netflix franchise.
Stranger Things Season 6 isn’t going ahead, but there are plenty of spinoffs in the works, including an upcoming series that could impact the continuity.
Is Netflix rewriting Stranger Things Season 5?
The short answer is no, Netflix isn’t rewriting the end of Stranger Things. The main reason fans have started asking this question is due to the upcoming animated prequel show, Stranger Things: Tales From ‘85.
We’ve known for months that the spinoff is in development and will be set between Seasons 2 and 3 of the flagship series. But it’s only this week that certain details have been discussed in depth, leading to the rumor that Netflix is rewriting the final chapter.
Although the streaming service won’t be changing Season 5, Tales From ‘85 will introduce some elements that could impact the main show, including a new character named Nikki Baxter.
Nikki will be joining the whole gang, including Mike, Eleven, Lucas, Dustin, and Will, and while none of the original Stranger Things cast will be voicing their respective characters, Tales From ‘85 is canon. So, the introduction of a new character has caused some confusion.
Taking to Reddit, one wrote, “Funny to me how even in this spinoff that’s meant to fill the gaps between Seasons 2 and 3 and is meant to be canon compliant, they still can’t resist adding a new main character rather than just focusing on their actual original cast.
“I have no idea how they’re gonna work having them become friends with this whole new person and then never mention her again.”
The post has received hundreds of responses, with many agreeing that rather than the spinoff rewriting Season 5, it’s the other way around.
“Well Nikki is dead I guess,” said one, while another quipped, “There’s the ‘new character introduced just to die’ trope they love so much.”
“It’s just funny how we know she LITERALLY HAS TO DIE or else the show is gonna have plot holes,” added a third.
Some fans did jump in and defend the franchise, however, including this person who sarcastically wrote, “We know that in the 80s no one ever moved away, that definitely never happened to any of the main characters of the show or anything.”
Others pointed out that we don’t know much about Nikki right now, other than the fact that she’s described as “a tinker” with pinkish hair.
“Maybe not die, but leave Hawkins,” said another. “Also, there’s nothing there that says Nikki is the same age as them – she could be a bit older, and she might even be connected to the Russians, creating the origins of the Russian plotline in Season 3.”
We’ll have to wait and see how Tales From ’85 fits into the wider story when it arrives in 2026, but either way, Netflix isn’t rewriting Stranger Things Season 5.
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