Stranger Things fans who believe in the viral conspiracy theory that a secret ninth episode of the Netflix series will be released on January 7th at 8pm ET will have their post-series finale hopes dashed – because there is no such thing.
Netflix and creators Matt and Ross Duffer have not publicly commented on this theory as the series finale press conference continues, but as of Wednesday, the show description on Netflix’s Instagram, TikTok, and X accounts stated that “all episodes of Stranger Things are currently playing.”
The theory, colloquially known as “Conformity Gate” on social media, is that the Duffers still have another episode of the show that will undo certain plot points from the series finale, such as the reveal that Vecna/Henry (Jamie Campbell Bower) wasn’t actually dead and was in control of what viewers saw as the conclusion to a fourth-wall-breaking experience.
The theory gained traction across social media, especially on platforms like TikTok and Reddit, where fans shared posts and videos that seemed to hint at changes in the world in Episode 8, “The Right Side Up,” which debuted on Netflix as the much-hyped series finale on Dec. 31.
Some of the alleged “evidence” for this theory includes everything from wardrobe choices (while Hawkins High’s colors are green and yellow, the graduation gown was orange, and many extras were seen wearing glasses similar to those worn by Henry/Vecna). They also point out changes to the design of the set. The Wheeler’s basement doorknob appeared to be on the opposite side of the door in the finale, and the WSQK radio station dial changed color between episodes.
Eagle-eyed viewers even spotted an example in the series finale where a stack of cassette tapes featured in the epilogue scene appeared to be arranged to spell out “U DID NOT STOP ME” in Morse code.
The idea for the episode to air as a surprise on January 7th was sparked by a video shared on the official Stranger Things TikTok page of Hawkins University science teacher Mr. Clark (Randy Havens) standing in front of a clock set to 1:07. Conformity Gate officials interpreted this to mean that a surprise episode 9 would be released on January 7th, with a release timing of 8pm ET (the same time as Volumes 1 and 2 were released).
All of this fuels a larger Conformity Gate fan theory. The name derives from the idea that Henry/Vecna is outmatched by the gang, including Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), Will (Noah Schnapp), Joyce (Winona Ryder), and Mike (Finn Wolfhard), and that Hawkins’ gang is under Vecna’s mind control, “fitting” the false memories and endings he has created for them and the viewers.
The final season of Stranger Things has been plagued by conspiracy theory thinking. After the second volume was released on Christmas Day, a section of the fanbase began to believe that the episode had been “altered”, and a fan-created Google document detailing the purportedly deleted scenes was widely shared on social media. A Change.org petition calling for the release of the “unreleased footage” currently has more than 390,000 signatures. In a Jan. 1 interview with the Duffers for the series finale, they firmly shut down this misinformation, with Matt Duffer saying of the Google Doc they had seen, “Obviously, that’s not real.” Ross Duffer added, “I don’t think there’s a single cutscene in the entire season.”
“The show has become so huge,” Matt Duffer said of the conspiracy theory-ridden segment of the show’s fan base. “There’s so much misinformation online. There’s so much. We’d be here for hours trying to beat back information that’s not true.”
