Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers regarding the Stranger Things finale.
Netflix has officially put an end to the rumors of a hidden Stranger Things episode scheduled for release tonight, addressing fan theories about an unofficially mentioned finale named “Conformity Gate.”
By Wednesday morning, the show’s official social media pages were updated to state, “All episodes of Stranger Things are currently available.” This move seemed to counter a conspiracy theory that gained traction on social platforms right after the series’ December 31st finale. The theory suggested that the apparent finale presented a false conclusion, which would be rectified in a clandestine ninth episode.
Fans speculated that the conclusion they witnessed on screen — featuring the defeat of the antagonist Vecna and the protagonists returning to reality — was deceptive based on various “clues” scattered throughout the show’s five seasons.
Netflix has not responded to CBC News’ inquiry for a statement.
Although not reaching the same level of criticism as Game of Thrones’ controversial finale, the latest Stranger Things episode sparked debate due to its numerous unresolved plotlines and a conclusion that seemed more focused on setting up a potential spinoff rather than providing a satisfying ending to its narrative.
Canadian actor Finn Wolfhard shares his emotional experience wrapping up filming for Stranger Things, a series he grew up with, having been a core cast member since the age of 12.
“Did Stranger Things deliver a satisfying conclusion?” questioned the Guardian’s Stuart Heritage. “Well, no, because in the grand scheme of things, this doesn’t qualify as a conclusion at all.”
“Similar to many aspects of Season 5, this episode felt like it was presenting a lot but lacked emotional or thematic depth,” remarked the Hollywood Reporter’s Angie Han. “It seemed hesitant to provide definitive resolutions for the main characters.”
“While ambiguous endings can be effective, this one felt like a cop-out, an attempt to have it both ways,” added NPR’s Linda Holmes.
“Expanding characters’ supernatural abilities to the extent where they can manipulate reality raises questions about what is real and what isn’t. If you are unsure about what truly happened, what else could be questioned?”
‘Hidden episode’ speculations
It was this notion that
