Is the “real” Stranger Things finale releasing on January 7? Conformity Gate rumor debunked

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Okay, so I’m totally bummed Stranger Things is really over after that Season 5 finale – it was a huge part of my life! If you’re like me and hoping there’s some extra content coming on January 7th that shows what really happened, you need to know something…

Before the latest episode of Stranger Things even aired on New Year’s Eve, fans started a petition asking for any extra footage from the final part of Season 5. They believe there are scenes that were filmed but didn’t make it into the finished episodes.

Okay, so there’s been this petition going around with almost 400,000 signatures asking for a scene to be put back in Stranger Things Season 4, but the Duffer brothers just said it’s not happening. Ross Duffer actually told Variety that there isn’t a single scene they cut from the whole season! That’s pretty definitive, I guess. I was hoping, but it’s good to know they really stuck to their vision.

A rumor is circulating that the actual finale of Stranger Things Season 5 will be released this Wednesday, and some are even calling it the biggest TV twist ever – but it’s false.

Is the “real” Stranger Things finale dropping on January 7? 

Currently, Netflix and the creators of the show, the Duffer brothers, have confirmed that episode 8 of Season 5, titled ‘The Rightside Up’, will be the final episode of Stranger Things.

While several sequels are planned, one is an animated story set in the past with a different cast, and another will introduce a completely new set of characters.

The speculation began after viewers voiced their dissatisfaction with the show’s ending on Netflix. Common complaints included a lackluster final fight, unanswered questions, and a lack of significant character deaths – though some debate whether a certain character, Eleven, actually survived.

Conformity Gate explained

So, there’s this theory going around – people are calling it Conformity Gate – and it basically says the final episode of Stranger Things Season 5, Episode 9, is actually finished and scheduled to drop on January 7th. It’s pretty wild if true!

Fans are buzzing that the real finale of Stranger Things will arrive on January 7th, and many believe it’s connected to a recent event. They think it’s a huge coincidence, and if true, it would be one of the biggest twists in television history!

— Armani Cherry (@chromesofhearts) January 4, 2026

Many fans believe the latest events are a deceptive illusion crafted by Vecna, and the true conclusion to the story hasn’t happened yet.

User Armani Cherry posted online, speculating that the actual finale of ‘Stranger Things’ will be on January 7th. They believe this timing is too coincidental and would be an incredible twist for the show.

Fans shared screenshots from Season 5 to support their theory, starting with a picture of Mike collapsing after Vecna appears in the first part of the season. They believe this is the exact moment Mike fell unconscious and entered a trance.

As of November 6, 1987, any events involving Mike that occur afterward should not be considered true or reliable.

Notice something in the post-credit scenes? Each couple enjoying a seemingly happy moment – Will at a bar, Joyce and Hopper, and Max and Lucas – has a red exit sign visible in the background. This could be a subtle hint about the future, with three ‘dates’ and three red exit signs possibly foreshadowing difficult endings. Fans are calling it ‘#conformitygate’ and speculating about what it means for Stranger Things season 5.

— bearwith (@_bear_with) January 4, 2026

The scene then features Lucas questioning whether the events unfolding are real or a deception crafted by Vecna. One fan theory suggests Lucas is essentially asking this on behalf of the audience, explaining why the latter part of Season 5 feels illogical.

The post then highlights a conversation between Robin and Mike as solid proof of the theory, dubbed #ConformityGate. Robin points out that everyone involved shares a common trait – they’re all unconscious – and asks what happens when Vecna captures someone. Mike replies that they fall into a trance.

Okay, so Robin just dropped a huge hint to Mike – she basically said everyone was acting weird because they were under some kind of spell or trance. Seriously, it felt like she was talking to us, the viewers, not just to Mike! And Mike? He’s totally lost, you can see him trying to piece things together, but he’s just not getting it yet. He’s completely in the dark about what’s really going on.

The “Conformity Gate” idea has become popular on social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and X, with many users sharing what they believe is evidence supporting it.

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A post shared by Evan Solo (@evan.solo.tt)

For example, a poster from Season 5 depicts the Mind Flayer linking Mike and Vecna’s heads. Additionally, Armani Cherry pointed out that Robin’s knowledge of Holly’s favorite song seemed to come from what was happening inside Mike’s mind.

She also plays The Clash’s London Calling, even though Mike’s favorite song by them, “Should I Stay or Should I Go,” is on a different record. The idea is that this is a kind of memory error surfacing while Mike is in a trance.

The name “Conformity Gate” comes from a moment in the show when Dustin, during his graduation speech, honors Eddie by defiantly declaring, “screw conformity.” Many fans think this is a deliberate hint related to the gate’s significance.

However, all the students, including our group of friends, are sitting up straight and dressed in identical orange robes. One person on TikTok pointed out that orange is often used for prison uniforms, and in this situation, it makes them look like they’re “prisoners of Vecna’s curse.”

THE WAY EVERYONE IS SITTING IN THE SAME POSE. #conformitygate

— 💙 FIZZY BIRB 💛 (@fizzybirb) January 2, 2026

It’s really creepy, but I noticed everyone was holding their hands exactly like Henry Creel did before he got sent to the Upside Down. It’s like a really unsettling echo of what happened to him.

Many of the final scenes feature a noticeable exit sign, which some viewers have connected to the film The Truman Show. That movie tells the story of a man unaware that his whole life is a constructed reality.

There are many more examples, but even if most of them could be dismissed, the strongest proof actually comes directly from Netflix.

Netflix Season 5 Episode 9 search 

If you search for terms like “fake ending,” “Season 5 Episode 9,” or “conformity gate” on a streaming service, the show Stranger Things is the only result you’ll find.

The discovery has generated a lot of buzz online. One fan noticed that searching “fake ending” on Netflix only brings up results for Stranger Things, leading them to comment, “They are sick, why would only Stranger Things show up when you search ‘fake ending’ on Netflix.” Another user echoed this, stating, “If you look up fake ending on Netflix this shows up #confirmitygate IS REAL.”

Fans divided over “secret” episode rumor

Despite this, there’s no sign that Stranger Things will get another ending, and the idea has received a varied reaction from fans.

Someone posted on Reddit about a group on TikTok who are convinced the show isn’t over. They’re sharing random things and claiming a new episode will be released on the 7th, which is pretty funny.

It’s clear the show is over. Most of the cast said goodbye online, there was a finale shown in theaters, and the ending felt conclusive.

After everything that’s happened, it’s completely unrealistic to expect a sudden, unexpected change of plans. People seem to be refusing to accept reality and are living in a fantasy.

Someone else agreed, saying, “I enjoy that show as well, but let’s be realistic—it’s not going to suddenly get a different ending just because some people didn’t like it.”

Honestly, that last scene with Mike watching Holly and her friends from the stairs just felt like a series finale, you know? After ten years of watching them, it was the perfect way to wrap things up, and it was pretty clear that’s what it was meant to be!

The recent ‘conformity’ situation is either a really bizarre moment for fans – and a sign of poor writing this season – or a surprisingly clever plot twist. I’m honestly torn – want to know my thoughts?

— AdoroLaPizza (@PizzaAdoro) January 2, 2026

Some people are conflicted, like one person who expressed a strong desire to believe, despite finding many aspects illogical. They feel a fresh start would resolve a lot of issues.

I’m worried we might have had too much faith in the creators of the show and Netflix. I really need them and the actors to explain what just happened, because honestly, it was confusing.

One person wrote that the controversy, dubbed #ConformityGate, is either a sign of really bad writing this season, or a surprisingly clever plot twist – it’s that divisive!

Despite all the new theories popping up, many fans still believe the Duffer brothers have a few surprises in store for us when the new season arrives on January 7th.

Want to learn more about the world of Stranger Things? Discover what happened to the characters who weren’t in the last scene, find out what the actors are working on now, and explore the popular theory that Eleven survived.

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2026-01-05 14:48