Stranger Things Season 5 aired its finale on December 31, 2025.The final season of the show has been divisive, to say the least, with many fans theorizing that Volume 2 of the season was cut, leading to the launch of a Change.org signature campaign calling for Netflix to release the uncut Volume 2.Now another theory has emerged that the entirety of the final episode is a massive illusion brought to life by the show's antagonist, Vecna. Called Conformity Gate, the theory speculates that the finale, aired on December 31, 2025, was, as mentioned above, an illusion and that there is another secret episode of the final season, which will be the real finale of Stranger Things.Speculations have been wide-ranging, with fans online digging up clues from the final episode to support the theory. One netizen, who stated that they had worked in the film and TV space, speculated on the three exit signs shown in the date scenes of the final episode of Stranger Things. They wrote:"Ok, so... Hear me out... In the epilogue, everyone who is on a "date" has an exit sign in the back of shot. A red exit. Will on a date at a bar Joyce and Hopper on a date Max and Lucas on a date 3 "happy" endings. 3 "dates" 3 RED EXIT SIGNS.""Just FYI. I used to work in film and television. It's literally someone's job to ensure things like exit lights are covered up and don't appear in shot. They don't appear on screen unless it's a deliberate choice," the X user added.bearwith @_bear_withLINKJust FYI. I used to work in film and television. It's literally someone's job to ensure things like exit lights are covered up and don't appear in shot. They don't appear on screen unless it's a deliberate choice.Others speculated on how the color of the dial of a lever used in the show for expeditions into the 'Upside Down' changed from episode to episode, claiming that the change was deliberate and hinted at the secret episode:"No bc im still tweaking about the fucking dial colors HOW does that happen accidentally. Its not a prop/costume continuity error its an entire set piece changing that happening “accidentally” is insane to me"Aug | Byler Delusion @meow237meow732LINKno bc im still tweaking about the fucking dial colors HOW does that happen accidentally. Its not a prop/costume continuity error its an entire set piece changing that happening “accidentally” is insane to me #conformitygateOther proponents of the theory have also latched onto the usage of the False Hydra creature in the final Dungeons and Dragons campaign played by the main characters. The false hydra is a monster that causes memory gaps and has the capacity to gaslight an entire town.Others have pointed to small details, such as the color of the graduation robes, orange. Netizens are pointing out that orange isn't used in graduation robes, but orange coveralls are used as prison uniforms. As @sendabellakona wrote:"Bright orange wasn’t a common color for graduation gowns in the late 80’s, but yk who used this color? PRISONERS."ignac ♱a 🦋⚔️🐈‍⬛🪽 @sendabeIIakonaLINKbright orange wasn’t a common color for graduation gowns in the late 80’s, but yk who used this color? PRISONERS. #conformitygateConformity Gate has become highly popular, with even Young Sheldon actress McKenna Grace referring to the theory in a viral clip that has been circulating on social media.Conformity Gate has been trending for the past few days continuously, with new posts appearing frequently. One user has also compiled a Google Doc with all the clues supporting the theory:"#CONFORMITYGATE IT'S HERE! My conformitygate master doc: https://docs.google.com/document/d/16P0RtZio4T_Q5s0P17cPtCC1yRxh7ZPqYoQbBLSo2z8/edit?usp=sharing It is far from perfect but here is the start"-`doll ˊ˗ @gutsnkissesLINK#CONFORMITYGATE IT'S HERE! My conformitygate master doc: https://docs.google.com/document/d/16P0RtZio4T_Q5s0P17cPtCC1yRxh7ZPqYoQbBLSo2z8/edit?usp=sharingIt is far from perfect but here is the startStranger Things final season left fans wanting moreAs mentioned above, the final season of Stranger Things left many fans dissatisfied. The show was review-bombed on Rotten Tomatoes, as per The Hollywood Reporter. Similarly, fans have also lashed out at the show on IMDb, another major review site.The final season has even been compared to Game of Thrones Season 8, another show notorious for its weak and controversial finale. It has also been compared to the finale of Squid Game, another popular Netflix series.Comparing the ending of GOT and Stranger Things, a user wrote:"They gave Eleven the Daenerys ending this is so sick and twisted for those of us who lived through Game of Thrones season 8 live… you did this to us TWICE????"hannah @cinephileswiftLINKthey gave eleven the daenerys ending this is so sick and twisted for those of us who lived through game if thrones season 8 live… you did this to us TWICE????Rick @RickDaSquirrel_LINKCongrats to Netflix for pulling a Game of Thrones season 8 on their two most popular shows in the same year.While another user mentioned:"Congrats to Netflix for pulling a Game of Thrones season 8 on their two most popular shows in the same year."The final episode of Stranger Things Season 5 has been criticized for multiple reasons, including Will Byers's coming-out scene, the fate of Eleven, as well as the breakup scene between Jonathan Byers and Nancy Wheeler.Meanwhile, Stranger Things showrunners, the Duffer Brothers, revealed in a recent interview with Variety that the ending scene of the show was planned years before the final season was shot and produced.