Stranger Things ‘Conformity Gate’ Theory Turns Out to Be Nonsense, as Predicted — and Netflix’s Flashy Trailer for Upcoming Projects Isn’t Helping Fans Deal With It
The Stranger Things ‘Conformity Gate’ theory has — as expected — turned out to be nonsense, leaving conspiracy theorists facing the cold, harsh reality that Season 5 really is the end of the show.
In the wake of Stranger Things Season 5’s divisive finale, the so-called ‘Conformity Gate’ theory spread like wildfire across social media, especially TikTok. It posits that the lengthy epilogue we saw in the final episode was an illusion created by villain Vecna, who remains alive and well.
Some fans spent a great deal of time and energy assembling “clues” that pointed to the shadowdrop of an “Episode 9” of Season 5 that would reveal the true ending today, January 7. Alas, that failed to materialize. It turns out that any “clues” pointing to something happening today were in fact related to Netflix making a song and dance of upcoming projects, with a flashy trailer teasing TV shows and movies to come in 2026.
The ‘What’s Next?’ tagline for this trailer is about what’s next for Netflix, not Stranger Things. And Millie Bobby Brown’s appearance in the promo as Enola Holmes for this year’s Enola Holmes 3 isn’t helping dismayed Stranger Things conspiracy theorists move on with their lives either.
“So is Chapter 9 coming or not for Stranger Things?” pic.twitter.com/kZnZ0s3DSN
— Hajedan | WolfSwap.app (@Hajedan) January 7, 2026
Mike & Eleven finally got their happy ending? pic.twitter.com/5cZmUu0dHR
— BOB (@bobussyy) January 7, 2026
Stranger Things fans rn holding onto their theory rn be like😭 pic.twitter.com/CmrK3ulFv9
— Hajedan | WolfSwap.app (@Hajedan) January 7, 2026
I swear to god if I see a single comment saying this confirms the secret finale of ST … pic.twitter.com/arIPJ3vMeY
— Hajedan | WolfSwap.app (@Hajedan) January 7, 2026
So yes, Stranger Things is really done and dusted. And don’t expect a sequel either. The Duffer Brothers have ruled out a Stranger Things sequel that would check in on the characters years later, saying it would be “a gross cash grab.”
But all is not lost for Stranger Things fans. Netflix actually has two announced Stranger Things spinoffs in development, the first of which is Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, a new animated series due out at some point this year. This is set in the same universe between Seasons 2 and 3, and follows the original characters as they “fight new monsters and unravel a paranormal mystery terrorizing their town.” The second spinoff is an unnamed live-action series. And if you’re really desperate for more, there’s a making-of documentary due out on Netflix on January 12.
“The show ended guys. It’s over,” said one fan on the Stranger Things subreddit. “I understand you weren’t happy with the ending… I wasn’t either. But believing a secret episode is dropping just makes no sense. Not only that but the posts about it, which are nonstop and all I need at this point in the discussion of the ending and it clogs up all the space for actual discussion of the actual ending. If you want to play pretend with the ending there are several fan fiction websites to go to. I really hope today is the end of all the secret episode nonsense.”
Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at [email protected] or confidentially at [email protected].
