What is Conformity Gate, the possible Stranger Things secret finale theory explored

If you're a Stranger Things fan, you must've heard about 'Conformity Gate,' the latest theory that the fans have come up with in an attempt to believe that Episode 8 - 'The Rightside Up' - was not the final episode of the series, and there is a brand-new secret ninth episode, which will either be released or announced on January 7, a day when Netflix has some big announcement in store.

The final episode of Stranger Things was controversial among fans of the show. Consequently, fans started to come up with a theory that the eighth episode was not actually the final episode; instead, it was a vision curated by Vecna himself, and there was going to be a secret ninth episode that would actually bring the end to Stranger Things.

Keep reading to find out more.

Fans are convinced that there's a secret ninth Stranger Things Season 5 episode titled 'Conformity Gate'

All Stranger Things discussion forums are currently ablaze with fans discussing the 'Conformity Gate' theory. The theory is currently massively trending on social media sites as a group of Stranger Things fans have come up with a theory that 'The Rightside Up,' the eighth episode of the show, was not actually the final episode, and instead, there's another super secret episode on the way.

Netflix revealed that it had a big announcement in store for January 7, and fans of the show have now theorized that this announcement is related to the 'Conformity Gate' episode, and it will either announce the episode reveal or be a surprise release.

Why has this theory gained traction?

Supporters of this theory have pointed out several details in the finale that are plot holes to them and which signify that this is not a real ending but instead a vision created by Vecna.

One of the first clues that was mentioned when this theory started gaining momentum was the fact that the WSQK shaft, which was used by Robin and the gang to electrify the demogorgon in the second volume, appeared to be of a different color, linking this change to Holly discovering that her merry-go-round was of a different color, opening a gateway, and leading Max through Vecna's memories.

As the theory started to gain momentum, fans started coming up with even more elaborate clues that, according to them, pointed to the 'Conformity Gate' theory being true. The name has stemmed from the fact that, per these supporters, the episode was conforming to a lot of norms when these characters have been defined by the fact that they go against the norms. The last fuel to this fire was when the Netflix algorithm started showing Stranger Things as a result when users searched the words 'fake ending' on the streamer.

Is there any truth to the theory?

The theory has received virality across social media owing to fans trying to cope with a Stranger Things ending that was unsatisfying for them, much like Sherlock fans hoping for a secret episode that would be released after the fourth season ended. The theory about 'Conformity Gate' comes in the wake of another group of Stranger Things fans who were convinced that Volume 2 of the Netflix blockbuster's fifth season had actually had a lot of influential scenes cut from the actual episode, which premiered.

The Duffer brothers confirmed that nothing from Stranger Things Season 5 had been cut except for some scenes being cut down in length. Additionally, they've even been defending creative choices that were made in the final episode in several press conversations, and more than one has iterated that this is the end of Stranger Things.

So, despite the enthusiasm behind 'Conformity Gate,' there's a very slim possibility of truth, and Stranger Things has officially been tied up with 'The Rightside Up.'

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