Conformity Gate

Conformity Gate is a fan theory hypothesizing that there is a secret ninth and final episode of Stranger Things season five that will be released on Netflix on January 7th, 2026, offering the true ending to the series. The theory started going viral on social media on January 1st, 2026, and is based on the idea that all of the main characters "conformed" to their expected roles in the finale episode, the idea being that the events of the eighth episode are simply being shown to the characters by Vecna. The theory was pushed by fans of the unrealized "Byler" ship between Mike Wheeler and Will Byers, suggesting that the two will end up together in the true ending.