Stranger Things Conformity Gate: a theory to redeem the disappointing finale

Cassie Mammone

9/1/2026

Translation: Natalie McKay

Many fans were disappointed by the finale of Stranger Things. So much so that, with Conformity Gate, they came up with a theory that the final episode was just another illusion created by Vecna.

The new year began with Stranger Things coming to an end – in two senses. On the one hand, because the series is now officially over after five seasons spanning nine years. On the other hand, because many fans are expressing their disappointment on social media.

The following article containers spoilers for the fifth season of Stranger Things – you’ve been warned!

The fifth and final season got off to a promising start (including a climax which finally turned Will’s years of suffering into a superpower). The second half lost a lot of momentum after that. In the end, the finale was pure disappointment. Not because it was bad. But because it was a far, far cry from the quality of the first four seasons.

Stranger Things is known for the adventures of its various heroes, who come up against terrifying supernatural forces in the small town of Hawkins. A mystery has been lurking in the background since the first episode. It’s always fun to watch the group uncover the secrets. This usually leads to an epic battle against evil at the end of each season.

The fifth season follows the same formula, but sacrifices poignant character moments and clever twists in favour of over-the-top production. There’s no denying that the final fight against Vecna is impressive, but that’s not what gives Stranger Things its appeal.

An opinion that’s shared by many Stranger Things fans. Some of them are so dissatisfied that they’ve come up with an in-depth analysis of why the eighth episode, called The Rightside Up, shouldn’t be the last instalment in the series. They believe the real finale should have been released on 7 January 2026, a week after the «fake» one.

But the reality is different. This date has passed, and the fifth season of Stranger Things remains at eight episodes. This doesn’t mean the theory should be dismissed. It draws attention to the numerous goofs made towards the end of the series, and is an expression of the fans’ dissatisfaction.

Conformity Gate explained: when so many mistakes creep in that fans can’t believe it’s a coincidence

One theory in particular has gained significant traction – Conformity Gate. According to this theory, the around 30-minute epilogue to the finale is an illusion crafted by Vecna. He supposedly hasn’t actually lost the battle or died, but has put our heroes into a mass trance. This keeps them occupied.

The additional episode would’ve had the potential to fix all the plotholes.

These points support the Conformity Gate theory

The disappearance of the US military: After suffering huge losses during an intense search for Eleven, evil researcher Dr Kay and the US military retreat from Hawkins. Without any consequences for the protagonists. Not even for Hopper, who was responsible for killing several dozen people.

This raises a lot of questions. The Duffer brothers’ explanation to Collider doesn’t help either:

«[…] there’s not much else to do. [You] can’t explore this other dimension. There’s no Eleven to chase anymore because she’s gone. So, my guess is they just sort of slowly dismantled operations and left town.»

Vecna alone at home: After Vecna kept the entire Hawkins squad on their toes last season, he suddenly loses the plot in the final battle. While executing his master plan, he finds himself all alone in the Mind Flayer (apart from his twelve hostages, a number which is never explained either).

The numerous demobats, demodogs and demogorgons have disappeared. Where to? I’ve no idea, and the Duffer brothers don’t seem to either so they say:

«Mainly it’s just that Vecna was not expecting this sneak attack on his home turf. Never in a million years could he even imagine that. [The demos] are there somewhere [on the planet]. [...] He doesn’t need his little ant army to attack, he’s going to take care of this himself. »

If one day I find myself on the brink of world domination, I hope I won’t be so careless. But I suppose that’s easy for me to say.

Imagery: More than anything else, viewers have noticed a number of things that apparently hint to Vecna’s supposed illusion:

• At Mike and the gang’s graduation, the graduates are wearing orange robes. This is more reminiscent of captivity than a celebration. What’s more, the robes would normally be green.
• Sticking with the graduation ceremony, many of those present are shown with their hands clasped together – mimicking Henry’s signature pose throughout the series.
• When Mike and his friends put the binders back on the shelf after the final D&D game, they’re shown from one perspective where they spell «X a Lie». This would reveal that Dimension X (the unofficial codename of The Abyss before season 5) was a lie, as was the final battle within it.
• Max complains during the final D&D game with her friends that the ending is too easy, too happy. Perhaps this is meant in a tongue-in-cheek way?
• In Mike’s parents’ basement, the 1980s game WHATZIT? can be seen at the end, which is an allusion to Henry’s/Vecna’s disguise as Mr Whatsit.
• During his coming-out in episode 7, Will mentions the store Melvald’s, where his mother worked in previous seasons. He and his friends like to drink milkshakes there – only it’s now a general store. We know from the play about Henry’s backstory that in the 1950s Melvald’s was a diner, and Henry’s familiar with it. According to the Conformity Gate theory, this isn’t a goof, but rather a slip of the tongue by Vecna, who was already controlling Will at this point.
• and there’s more where that came from.

The observations and analyses sometimes go down absurd rabbit holes. But they’re all right about one thing: the last true episode was supposed to be released on 7 January. That’s allegedly a cold hard fact. Firstly, the Duffer brothers promised a «dark Christmas». But this didn’t materialise. That could’ve been referring to 7 January, because that’s also Christmas – the Orthodox one.

Secondly, the number seven appears on the die in the final scene of the credits. It’s also the number Will rolls in the Dungeons & Dragons game in the first episode just before he disappears. In short, the Duffer brothers seem to be obsessed with the number seven. But that’s not to say there’ll be a new episode. Even though Netflix jumped on the bandwagon and shared a cryptic video at Christmas about an unspecified release on 7 January. In the end, of course, it was just more marketing.

An unworthy conclusion doesn’t mean the end

As the world we live in becomes ever more turbulent, it brings me joy to observe this mass phenomenon in response to the disappointment over the Stranger Things ending. It’s nice to see that so many people were emotionally invested in the same story as me.

As much as I would’ve loved to see Conformity Gate come true, I saw it as a coping mechanism for the audience from the very beginning. I find it less understandable that Netflix and other official bodies like chain stores (linked video in German) are playing with fans’ hopes. The theory may be nonsense and the series fictional, but people’s feelings are real.

I, too, was disappointed by the final season. But there were still moments that moved me. Most notably Holly and Max’s escape from Camazotz or any altercation between Steve and Dustin in the Upside Down. Also, the wormhole twist was just wild. You can tell this point was planned from the start, because it means that many of Vecna’s and the Mind Flayer’s actions make sense.

The disappointing finale can’t take the rest of the series away from me. The mystery behind the disappearances of the first season, the spy games between Will and the Mind Flayer, the creation of a human fertiliser-eating army and the introduction of Vecna as the antagonist are all compelling storylines that also work on their own. And at one point, the disappointment expressed by viewers definitely goes too far for me. Stranger Things is a far cry from the fever dream that was the last few seasons of Game of Thrones.

For me, Stranger Things remains very special. Plus I’m already looking forward to new things to watch from the show’s universe – such as the announced Tales From ‘85 spinoff. But I remain cautious rather than blindly optimistic. Another, as yet unspecified spinoff is said to be about the mysterious rock from space that young Henry Creel finds in the desert. A cool idea, but one that should have been dealt with in the fifth season.

In the words of a wise wizard: «End? No, the journey does not end here.»

Header image: Netflix

Cassie Mammone

Freelance Editor

cassie.mammone.freelance@gmail.com

I wrote my first text about video games when I was eight years old. I haven't been able to stop since. The rest of my time is spent on my love for 2D husbandos, monsters, my cats and sport.

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