Remember me
Stranger Things ended this past December after five seasons, and it’s still being talked about. The final season of the Netflix hit was divisive amongst fans, so much so that many were convinced there was a secret episode following the release of the finale. This led to the #ConformityGate theory, which suggested that the "true" ST capper had yet to be released. While there's been no official indication that such a development might happen, Vecna/Henry Creel actor Jamie Campbell Bower is still getting asked about a bonus installment.
Fans' displeasure with Season 5 seemed to stem from apparent plot holes as well as the ambiguity of Eleven’s fate. It's somewhat wild to think that even though that dropped over six months ago, some people would still want more. Well, that would seem to be the case, as Bower recently confirmed to Entertainment Weekly while recalling what he believed to be the wildest theory to ever swirl around the Duffer Brothers' massive show:
That there was gonna be another episode. Everyone was like, ‘Conformity Gate, there’s gonna be a ninth episode.’ I was like, ‘If there is, I’m not in it! I shot what I shot, I’m done.’
#ConformityGate picked up shortly after the series finale aired, and a portion of viewers seemed very convinced that a secret ninth episode was filmed and the eighth episode was actually an illusion, thanks to Bower’s Vecna. Fans kept pointing out clues either in the episodes or via something that the Stranger Things or Netflix social media accounts posted. Bower recalled that as part of all that, even slight moves that the cast made were scrutinized:
Anything that we did was like, ‘Well, that just proves it.’ They were like, ‘That’s it, it’s coming.’ And I still get asked the question, even now. People are like, ‘Is there a ninth episode coming?’ I’m like, [pauses and pretends to check his watch] It’s been six months! If there is, they’re kinda behind.
Ultimately, #ConformityGate has remained nothing more than a theory. There certainly don't seem to be any plans for a secret episode to be released, at least not yet. As someone who also has mixed feelings about the finale and Stranger Things 5 in general, I honestly wouldn’t mind if there was something else up the Duffers’ sleeves in regard to the ending. Still, even I can admit that the fact that this still being brought up months later is wild, or as Bower called it, “pretty crazy.”
There have certainly been some disappointing TV series finales over the years and, unfortunately, Stranger Things’ wasn’t great in many people's eyes. Even with the supersized episode, it just wasn’t enough. Of course, it wasn't all bad, as most of the characters did get happy endings. If you're like me, though, you may have simply been pining for a little more closure in some respects.
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For now, people may want to give up on #ConformityGate, especially since it's pretty evident at this point that nothing is going to come of it. Much of the cast is busy, whether it be professionally or personally. And, on a more practical and obvious note, Stranger Things wrapped filming over a year ago, so the cast and crew have said all of their goodbyes already. So it may just be best to accept what is and move forward.
With that, fans can decide for themselves if another episode is truly necessary by watching all of Stranger Things with a Netflix subscription.