It’s understandable if you’re struggling to let go of Stranger Things after the Season 5 finale closed the chapter for good. But if you’re hoping to see the “real” ending of the Netflix show on January 7, there’s something you should know.
Even before Season 5 Episode 8 dropped on New Year’s Eve, Stranger Things fans launched a petition demanding to see the “unseen footage” from Season 5 Volume 2, suggesting that there’s “more to the episodes” that was cut.
Although it’s received a whopping 388,000 signatures and counting, the Duffer brothers have assured that it’s untrue. “I don’t think there’s a single cut scene in the entire season,” Ross Duffer told Variety.
Now, a new rumor has surfaced claiming that the “real” Stranger Things Season 5 finale is dropping on Wednesday, marking the “greatest plot twist in TV history” – but it’s not real.
Is the “real” Stranger Things finale dropping on January 7?
No, right now, both Netflix and the Duffer brothers have made it very clear that Season 5 Episode 8, ‘The Rightside Up’, is the last ever episode of Stranger Things.
Although there are spinoffs in the works, one’s an animated prequel with new voice actors and another will feature new characters entirely.
The rumor surfaced after many fans expressed disappointment with how the Netflix show wrapped up, with criticism ranging from an anticlimactic final battle to unresolved plot points and no major character deaths (depending on what you believe about Eleven).
Conformity Gate explained
The theory has been dubbed Conformity Gate, and it suggests that Stranger Things Season 5 Episode 9 exists and will be dropping on January 7.
According to speculation, the recent episodes are actually all an illusion created by Vecna, and the real ending is yet to be revealed.
X user Armani Cherry shared a post stating, “It is happening, Jan 7th, the real Stranger Things finale. This is just too much of a coincidence guys, this would be the greatest plot twist in TV history.”
They attached screenshots of Season 5 explaining the theory, the first showing Mike unconscious after Vecna entered the scene in Volume 1. “This is the moment Mike passed out and went into the trance,” it states.
“It is still Nov 6 1987 and any scene after this point that had Mike in it cannot be taken as credible events.”
The next shows Lucas asking the gang if any of these events are real or an illusion created by Vecna. The theory continues, “Lucas says this directly to Mike who represents us, and we are being clued in as to why Season 5 Volume 2 makes no sense.”
It goes on to say that what Robin says next “100% confirms” #ConformityGate. “Robin: ‘They share one thing in common, they’re all unconscious. What happens when Vecna captures you?’ Mike: ‘You go into a trance.’
“Robin is saying this to Mike and then says, ‘No wonder everyone was so clueless, it’s a trance.’ Hello, the 4th wall break is calling, pick up the phone… Mike is constantly shown as confused in this scene like he’s trying to figure it out but can’t see through the facade yet.”
The Conformity Gate theory has taken on a life of its own on TikTok, Instagram, and X, where fans have been sharing what they argue is “proof” that it’s real.
For instance, a Season 5 poster shows the Mind Flayer connecting the heads of both Mike and Vecna. Armani Cherry also questioned how Robin knew Holly’s favorite song, suggesting that she only knew because the events were unfolding in Mike’s head.
Another is the fact that she pulls out The Clash’s London Calling, despite Mike’s favorite song, ‘Should I Stay or Should I Go’, being on a different album. The argument here is that it’s a “false memory” bleeding through while Mike’s in a trance.
As for why it’s called Conformity Gate, it’s due to what some believe is another clue: when Dustin gives his valedictorian speech, he pays tribute to Eddie by shouting “screw conformity”.
Contrary to this, the students – including our main gang – are all sat up straight, wearing the same orange robes. As said by one TikToker, orange is usually the color of inmates’ clothes, and in this case, they’re all “prisoners of Vecna’s curse.”
What’s more, they all have their hands clasped in the same way Henry Creel would hold them before being banished to the Abyss.
There’s also a prominent exit sign in many of the finale date scenes, which some have taken to be a reference to The Truman Show – a movie about a man who doesn’t know his entire reality is fake.
The list goes on and on. But while most of these points could be explained away, the most compelling evidence comes from Netflix itself.
Netflix Season 5 Episode 9 search
When you head to the streaming service and type in either “fake ending”, “Season 5 Episode 9”, or “conformity gate”, Stranger Things is the only title that pops up.
This has sparked plenty of excitement, with one fan writing, “They are sick, why would only Stranger Things show up when you search ‘fake ending’ on Netflix.” Another said, “If you look up fake ending on Netflix this shows up #confirmitygate IS REAL.”
Fans divided over “secret” episode rumor
Even with this fact, there’s no indication we’re getting another ending for Stranger Things and the theory has generated a mixed response from fans.
One took to Reddit to write, “There’s a complete group of people on TikTok pulling out random stuff to claim that the show has not ended and that they are releasing another episode on the 7th lmao.
“Like it’s 100% obvious that the show has ended. Almost every single cast member posted some sort of a farewell to the show, finale even hit the theatres and the ending felt like a proper ending to me .
“There is not a single possible scenario for them to drop a 360′ out of the blue after all that. People are so in denial and delusional.”
Another agreed, “I love that show too but come on. It isn’t gonna magically have a new finale because not everyone likes it.”
“That final scene with Mike watching Holly and her friends from the top of the stairs, how can people not tell that was the ending scene to a show that’s been going for 10 years?” added a third. “It was a perfect ending and a pretty obvious one at that.”
Others are more divided, including this person who said, “I want to believe in all this badly, because so much of this just doesn’t make any sense to me on so many levels. And a ‘redo’ would make so much sense.
“But I fear we may have just severely overestimated the Duffer brothers and Netflix. Although I’m going to need them and cast to explain what the hell this was then because bruh.”
Another commented, “Alright so #ConformityGate could be either the most delusional moment of the fandom (+showing this season’s awful writing) or the best plot twist of television in recent times.”
But, as evidenced by the countless new additions to the theory, there are plenty of fans who are adamant that the Duffer brothers will surprise us on January 7.
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