Is there a 'Stranger Things' Season 5 Episode 9?
After nearly a decade, Stranger Things concluded on Jan. 1 (Philippine time), closing a story that had grown alongside its audience.
The credits to the final episode rolled with the fate of certain characters—like the main one, who may or may not be dead—left up to the viewers. As fans continue to talk about the series online, a certain "Conformity Gate" theory has made the rounds.
For the inundated, "Conformity Gate" is a fan-driven theory formed through the collection of supposed Easter eggs, perceived plot holes, and “evidence” suggesting that Season 5’s Episode 8 is a hoax, and that Hawkins is not okay after all. The theory concludes that Episode 8 is merely a fabricated reality, a dream, or an illusion that would eventually break down in a hypothetical Episode 9.
According to users online, the supposed new release would hit Netflix on Jan. 7 (Jan. 8 Philippine time).
One user on X explained that users have compiled alleged evidence of conformity gate, including how the exit signs in the epilogue were not erased in Stranger Things S5 E8, unlike in other shows or movies.
Another noted that the position of the heroes' Dungeons & Dragons character books in the ending was arranged to spell out "X A LIE."
A video posted on Jan 7 (Philippine time) by The Tonight Show further fueled the conspiracy theory, as it featured Vecna actor Jamie Campbell Bower as a workout instructor. In the middle of his routine, he said, "Tomorrow, it begins" in an ominous tone, prompting users to question this.
Wanna get snatched like Vecna? It's time to turn those pounds Upside Down with @Jamiebower! 🤣 @Stranger_Things #StrangerThingsOnFallon #FallonTonight pic.twitter.com/NnWgYb8o3G
— The Tonight Show (@FallonTonight) January 7, 2026
However, this may just be in reference to a line his character Mr. Whatsit, Vecna's alter ego, says in Stranger Things Season 5 Episode 5.
Rumors surrounding Episode 9 should be taken with a grain of salt. As of writing, neither Netflix nor series creators Matt and Ross Duffer have addressed the rumors of a ninth episode.
In a Jan. 1 interview with Variety, the brothers discussed other conspiracy theories, like how there were cut scenes involving Mike and Eleven going into Camazotz.
"Obviously, that's not a real thing," Matt said. "The show has just grown so massive. Online, there’s just so much misinformation. Just tons of it. We would be here for hours trying to bat down the stuff that was not true.
"But at the end of the day, hopefully, the work speaks for itself, and it is the show that Ross and I wanted to make. Netflix was, and has always been, incredible. I mean, there’s no interference or direction at all from them on us. They really trust us, and that’s been true from Season 1 on. It’s never changed, even though the show and the size of the audience have grown."
The brothers also confirmed that there was a hint in the finale for an upcoming spinoff exploring a different mythology. It also won't have any common characters.
Another thing established is the release of One Last Adventure, a behind-the-scenes documentary premiering on Jan. 12, which chronicles the years of work that went into the show’s final season. The creators have spoken openly about how difficult it was to end the story, underscoring that the conclusion was never meant to be easy.
Released in 2016, Stranger Things is set in the quiet town of Hawkins, Indiana, where a series of unsettling and supernatural events expose dark government experiments and supernatural forces from the parallel dimension. (with reports from Alexa Franco)
