Stranger Issues’ sequence finale continues to be a lightning rod for controversy. Whereas loads of folks had been high-quality with how the Netflix horror sequence wrapped up after a decade, there’s a loud subset of followers who’re taking to the digital streets to tear it down, say terrible issues concerning the individuals who labored on it, and declare it the next Game of Thrones-level failure. One other fraction of that group, nonetheless, is holding onto a weird sliver of hope with the idea that maybe the disappointing conclusion isn’t all it appears. The motion, which is asking itself Conformity Gate, has gathered “evidence” indicating that the occasions depicted within the finale are literally an phantasm and that there’s nonetheless a battle left to combat, which can play out in a secret episode that’s not accessible on Netflix proper now.
Clearly, we’ll be discussing the fifth season of Stranger Issues right here, so if you wish to keep spoiler free, it is best to depart now. (Actually, you in all probability shouldn’t have opened this text to start with.) However the tl;dr of the idea is that the sterile and rushed nature of the finale is an intentional artistic selection meant to mirror that it takes place in a distorted actuality created by Vecna and everybody within the present is “conforming” to it.
Admittedly, I absolutely deliberate to simply roll my eyes in any respect this beautiful wild hypothesis as a result of I lived by way of the Mass Impact 3 ending controversy and the Indoctrination Principle, which followers believed defined that sport’s finale as a hallucination however was actually only a approach for them to deal with not liking the way in which issues turned out. However, I don’t know, there’s some compelling proof within the principle, each primarily based on what’s within the present and on how Netflix and present creators the Duffer Brothers have talked about it since.
Many of those particulars are delicate, comparable to the way in which that characters sit through the commencement scene resembling how villain Vecna sits at different factors within the sequence, whereas others appear to be fairly overt, like Max calling out Mike’s D&D epilogue for being too comforting, as if one thing is off. Right here’s one of many faster rundowns I might discover, by @meechski on TikTok, however you too can discover much lengthier breakdowns on YouTube.
Additionally, as somebody within the feedback of that video factors out, when you search “conformity gate” or “fake ending” on Netflix, Stranger Issues is the one search consequence for the latter, and considered one of two for the previous alongside Emily in Paris. Make of that what you’ll.
I don’t know that anyone factor made me a full-blown believer, however taken all collectively, it was sufficient for me to a minimum of turn into thinking about seeing if it truly pans out. Conspiracy theories often have a minimum of some shred of plausibility that permits them to achieve some traction, however in addition they are typically made up of a whole lot of sq. pegs shoved into spherical holes. All these items of proof might simply be coincidences born of bad writing and desperation.
guys… discover how all of them are studying WHITE scripts when shawn levy confirmed the finale was printed on RED scripts… they’re making an attempt to confuse us with that trailer. i AM positive #confirmitygate pic.twitter.com/Pje0LF13dm
— ʅǝɯ | ੈ✩‧₊˚ (@melinastapes) January 5, 2026
Fortunately, we gained’t actually have to attend lengthy for these hopes to be shattered, as your entire principle hinges on this hypothetical secret finale premiering on January 7, when Netflix is planning to announce something about its 2026 programming. In fact, I don’t need any Stranger Issues followers to should undergo a worse ending than the one they’d hoped for, however after witnessing the habits of some members of the neighborhood within the wake of a disappointing finale, I’m additionally questioning if those that have stated some really heinous issues concerning the individuals who labored on this present even deserve a greater ending.
