Stranger Things may be over, but for many fans, it doesn’t quite feel like the end. Ever since the finale dropped on January 1, social media has been flooded with several theories. Some viewers were happy with how the story wrapped up. Others weren’t fully convinced. And among all the speculation, one idea has clearly stood out. Fans are calling it Conformity Gate, and it has taken over TikTok, X, and Reddit.
The theory rests on one main belief. The Season 5 ending of Stranger Things isn’t as straightforward as it seems. A section of fans thinks Vecna is still in control. Not just of the characters, but of the reality being shown to viewers. According to them, the happy ending was created on purpose, possibly by The Duffer Brothers, and the real conclusion hasn’t been revealed yet. Some fans even believe there is a hidden Episode 9 still to come. Before we get into whether there's any truth to the tale, let's try to understand what the Conformity Gate theory is all about.
Stranger Things 5: What is the Conformity Gate theory?
Season 5 was released with eight episodes, split across three volumes. The first dropped on November 26, the second on December 26, 2025, and the final episode arrived on January 1 in India. Officially, that marked the end of the show.
But for many viewers, it felt almost too perfect. Those backing the Conformity Gate theory have pointed to small but integral details in the final episodes. One scene that keeps getting mentioned is the Hawkins High graduation scene. Fans say the characters stand in stiff, almost identical poses, which reminds them of Henry Creel and the way he controls people.
Another detail that has caught attention is the Wheeler family’s matching cropped hairstyles. On their own, they might seem harmless. But for fans who believe in the theory, these similarities feel intentional. To them, it suggests that themes of control and conformity may still be at work, even in what looks like a happy ending.
Also read: Stranger Things' Vecna to Voldemort from Harry Potter: Famous villains whose names begin with 'V'
Is there an Episode 9 of Stranger Things 5?
Neither Netflix nor The Duffer Brothers have officially announced an Episode 9. What they have announced is the making of Stranger Things 5, slated for release on Netflix on January 12.
How are fans reacting to Stranger Things 5 Conformity Gate theory?
Stranger Things loyalists have joined forces on varied social media platforms and spoken about Episode 9 and Conformity Gate. Those who feel Stranger Things has ended for good, wrote, "The fact there is zero sense of closure tells you the Duffers got it very wrong", "Hahaah OF COURSE he can believe that? Only the making off next week", "Honestly it would make great publicity & marketing to do this but to be frank I don't think is another episode either. But they did leave the show's ending with too many plot holes or out & out not even finishing the story arcs that most shows or movies have done before so forth," and others.
Those who believe that Stranger Things makers will release Episode 9 opined that in the epilogue, reality starts to slip. A student is seen holding a blank yellow poster with no clear meaning. Even the board game WHATZIT? appears repeatedly, which fans connect to Henry’s childhood nickname, “Mr Whatsit.” Even the final stack of Dungeons and Dragons books has been picked apart, with some claiming the spines spell out “X A LIE,” which they link to Dimension X.
Will there be an Episode 9 of Stranger Things 5?
Also read: Why Stranger Things fans think Season 5 didn’t really end; the Conformity Gate theory explained
