Netflix has officially addressed rumors of a surprise ninth episode for the “Stranger Things” finale, dismissing speculation surrounding an unofficially named episode called “Conformity Gate.” The streaming platform updated the show’s social media accounts to confirm that all episodes of “Stranger Things” are currently available for viewing. This move was prompted by a conspiracy theory that emerged after the series finale aired on December 31, suggesting that the apparent ending was false and that a hidden ninth episode would rectify it.
Fans analyzed clues from the show’s five seasons, proposing that the defeat of the villain Vecna and the characters’ return to reality was an elaborate deception. Despite requests for comment, Netflix has not responded to inquiries from CBC News.
While not as criticized as the finale of “Game of Thrones,” the last episode of “Stranger Things” sparked controversy due to its unresolved plot points and a conclusion that seemed more focused on setting up a spinoff than providing a satisfying ending to the main storyline.
Critics like Stuart Heritage from The Guardian and Angie Han from The Hollywood Reporter expressed disappointment with the episode, highlighting its lack of emotional depth and definitive resolutions for the main characters. NPR’s Linda Holmes criticized the ambiguous ending, cautioning against expanding characters’ powers to the extent that reality becomes blurred.
Speculation about a secret episode gained traction, fueled by the theory that Vecna’s mind-control abilities were used to deceive both the characters and the audience in the original finale. Fans on TikTok and Reddit tried to convince each other that perceived narrative flaws were intentional, citing details like wardrobe choices, doorknobs, and Morse code messages as evidence. The theory gained momentum when a clock set to 1:07 in a promotional post hinted at a potential January 7 release for an additional finale, mirroring the release dates of Volumes 1 and 2.
However, Netflix quashed these theories by reaffirming that the existing episodes were the complete series. The Duffer brothers, creators of “Stranger Things,” confirmed that the main characters’ stories concluded in the last episode. The creators are now developing a spinoff series to address lingering questions from the finale, with an animated production titled “Stranger Things: Tales From ‘85” set to bridge the gap between the second and third seasons, featuring the original characters facing new challenges in their town.
