Fans float 'Conformity Gate' theory for secret ninth Stranger Things episode

Movieweb reports that some Stranger Things fans are circulating a fan theory called "Conformity Gate" that claims a secret ninth episode of Season 5 will drop on Jan. 7th, 2025, though Netflix and the Duffer Brothers have not confirmed anything. Supporters point to dissatisfaction with the finale and a Netflix video suggesting an announcement on January 7th.

Fans have posted about the theory on Reddit, X, and TikTok and cite alleged clues in the finale such as the absence of Vecna's clock in key scenes, a seven showing on a die, orange graduation gowns, characters making a hand gesture tied to Henry Creel/Vecna, and the idea that Vecna may have won.

As one fan explained on Reddit, "people are talking about how they were not satisfied with the ending, and how all of our mcs ended up conforming in the epilogue." The Netflix clip titled "Your Future is on its Way" — in which a young woman enters a tarot-reading scene and encounters a mysterious woman — has been linked to Conformity Gate by commenters, some of whom suggested the woman resembles Joyce Byers.

Key Topics

Culture, Stranger Things, Conformity Gate, Netflix, Vecna, Joyce Byers