Face It, Stranger Things’ Secret Finale Would Have Been a Disaster

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Unfortunately, there isn’t a Season 5, Episode 9 of Stranger Things. After the show ended, a theory called #ConformityGate started circulating, suggesting the finale wasn’t real. People believed the episode was a hallucination created by Vecna, and the true ending was still coming. Netflix hinted at something happening on January 7th, 2026, leading fans to predict that’s when the real final episode would be released. However, it turned out that date was just for announcing Netflix’s upcoming shows in 2026, and we won’t be returning to Hawkins after all.

Okay, so the Stranger Things finale definitely wasn’t perfect – there were a few plot holes, let’s be real. The whole “ConformityGate” thing blew up online, and even caused Netflix to crash when it dropped! A lot of us were hoping for a hidden ninth episode to tie things up, and maybe in another universe, that exists! But honestly? I think it’s better that what we got was the finale. It felt right that it ended as it did, even with its flaws. A secret episode probably would have just complicated things further.

Stranger Things Season 5’s #ConformityGate Theory Was Always Impossible

The biggest problem with the ConformityGate theory is that it just wouldn’t have been a logical move for Netflix. The finale of Stranger Things was, without exaggeration, the biggest event in the company’s history – the conclusion of the show that really put Netflix on top in the streaming world, and one of the most popular series of the last decade. To secretly create and release an extra episode, while simultaneously promoting Episode 8 as the true finale with a massive marketing campaign and even a theatrical release, would have been an incredibly risky – and frankly, strange – strategy.

The idea that the Duffer Brothers deliberately created an expensive, potentially frustrating episode to generate buzz for a hidden one is troubling. Even if Netflix agreed to this plan, would it actually improve the show? Knowing that a whole episode, presented as the finale, was essentially a misdirection that doesn’t impact the overall story seems unlikely to make Season 5 more satisfying. It probably wouldn’t enhance re-watching experiences and could damage the reputations of both Stranger Things and Netflix, while also establishing a risky pattern for future storytelling.

Stranger Things Season 5, Episode 9 Would Only Make The Finale More Divisive

All the talk about #ConformityGate is making it seem like the Stranger Things finale was a total flop, but honestly, the show’s reputation is still pretty good. I checked IMDb, and the finale, “The Rightside Up,” has a 7.7/10 rating. It is one of the lowest-rated episodes, the third worst actually, but it’s still a decent score – people generally liked it. When you compare it to some really hated series finales from the past 15 years, it actually looks really good!

  • Two and a Half Men – “Of Course He’s Dead: Part 1 & 2”: 3.8
  • Game of Thrones – “The Iron Throne”: 4.0
  • Dexter – “Remember The Monsters”: 4.9
  • True Blood – “Thank You”: 5.4
  • How I Met Your Mother – “Last Forever: Part Two”: 5.5

The ending of Stranger Things sparked some debate, but it wasn’t disliked enough to warrant another episode – even if one were possible. Adding another episode would likely only deepen the disagreement, as those who liked the original ending would feel their opinions were dismissed. It could come across as a shallow attempt to please everyone and, crucially, there’s no guarantee a revised ending would actually be any better.

It’s not surprising that the ending of Stranger Things wasn’t flawless. Finales are notoriously difficult to get right, not just because of high expectations or fan theories, but because they have to tie up years of storylines and face a lot of pressure. Ultimately, an ending that feels true to the spirit of the show and provides emotional closure is a success, and I believe this one delivered.

While the show could have been better, the issues weren’t something the finale alone could fix. Problems stemmed from earlier storylines and a complicated backstory that was hard to tie together. Specifically, the finale had some plot holes that a stronger script could have addressed, and the villains were defeated too easily. Perhaps relying so heavily on a play within the story wasn’t the best approach.

Overall, the show nailed the character conclusions and emotional impact, which could have easily missed the mark. Successfully delivering that, then revealing it was a twist, and still making us invested in the events of the final episode is incredibly impressive. It’s arguably harder to achieve than the surprise episode itself, and a misstep could have caused even more negative reaction.

All five seasons of Stranger Things are streaming on Netflix.

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2026-01-08 21:10