Stranger Things has ended after a nine-year, five-season run, but the theories haven’t ended. Part of what made the show so much fun to watch was the fact that it’s been dripping with lore. Lately, a lot of lore has been added to the show, notably in Chapters 4 and 5, which have only enhanced the rate of fan theories.
But in the wake of the finale, which many are having trouble either enjoying or coming to terms with, one new theory has arisen: that it’s not the end after all. It should go without saying that this is a ridiculous idea, but it’s gaining a ton of traction within the community.
Stranger Things Fan Theory Reeks of Desperation
Based on Seriesgraph’s numbers, which come from IMDb ratings, the fifth and final season of Stranger Things was the worst. It had an average episode rating of 7.9. The previous low was Chapter 2, which had an 8.4. Chapter 5 also has the lowest-rated episode of the series, with the penultimate episode getting an astonishing 5.8.
Across the entire show, however, there are just two Stranger Things episodes with a lower rating than the finale, titled The Rightside Up. Its 7.8 rating is matched by Season 3 Episode 1 and is only higher than Season 2 Episode 7 and Season 5 Episode 7. With ease, it’s one of the lowest-rated episodes.
Naturally, some fans are a little disappointed. I find myself in the middle. It could’ve been a much worse finale, but it also could’ve been a whole lot better. Those who believe it’s an awful finale, though, have gotten a little bit desperate.
Enter Conformity Gate, a new fan theory that’s growing more and more popular all the time. The idea is that the finale was actually entirely one of Vecna’s mind tricks, so the kids didn’t actually defeat him yet. This means there’s another episode, at least, on the way, which will solve everything.
The evidence for this ranges from absolutely absurd to mildly convincing. Here’s everything people are claiming:
- Everyone in the graduation scene is sitting in the same pose as Henry/001/Vecna
- Lots of characters (Steve, Nancy, Karen, Ted, among others) share Henry’s haircut in the epilogue
- Robin says, “This isn’t even the Hawkins that I remember. It feels so different.”
- There is a Truman Show parallel when Mike exits the basement for the final time.
- Max displays anger in the final scene, channeling Billy, whom she didn’t want to be like.
- Steve coaches baseball even though he played basketball.
- The game “Whatzit” is in the Wheelers’ basement. Mr. Whatsit was Vecna’s alias.
- Background characters at Enzo’s and the graduation appear to look into the camera.
- The SQWK website has a reference to “Volume 3,” indicating that the full volume is, as it says, “lost.”
There are a couple of other minor details, but they’re inconsequential. It should go without saying, but most of this is totally absurd. The characters don’t have Henry’s haircut, and Max was playfully angry about losing her first game of Dungeons & Dragons. Steve had a baseball bat to attack Demogorgons in Stranger Things, so it’s probably an Easter egg that he coaches baseball and not basketball.
This also implies that the Duffer Brothers are playing some sort of 4D chess when they have not ever shown that ability. The writing for this show has gone downhill since early on, and the occasional moments of brilliance lately (Vecna’s origin, Will getting powers) do not take that away.
Plus, this would suggest that the Duffer Brothers made something bad on purpose so they could then make something good. If they had the ability to make something good for the finale and end on a major high note, why wouldn’t they? Why would they bother tricking everyone for a week with a poorly received episode?
The Real End, Not a False One
The Duffer Brothers might’ve misfired a little on the ending to Stranger Things, but it is the ending. People may not have loved it, but that’s what happens sometimes. Shows end poorly all the time. This isn’t even the worst in recent memory, and there’s zero chance of some secret episode coming out later to right all the perceived wrongs.
