Fans are notoriously hard to satisfy, and those of “Stranger Things,” which wrapped up on New Year’s Eve 2025, are showcasing their discontent in a unique manner: by choosing to believe that the series hasn’t truly concluded. Supporters of the “Conformity Gate” theory anticipate a real finale to air on January 7, coinciding with Orthodox Christmas. This speculation is fueled by a Netflix promotional clip that points to the same date, given that the entirety of Season 5 was released during the festive season.

The theory gaining traction suggests that Vecna, portrayed by Jamie Campbell Bower, emerged victorious over Eleven, played by Millie Bobby Brown, and the rest of the Hawkins crew. Allegedly, the ending of each key character is merely an illusion crafted by Vecna’s cunning. Observant fans have noted subtle hints in “The Rightside Up,” such as the peculiar hand placements during the graduation scene, overlooked characters, and the shifting hues of dials and levers at WSQK, which Holly Wheeler (Nell Fisher) noticed while inside Vecna’s mind. These clues suggest everyone has succumbed to Vecna’s vision, hence the name “Conformity Gate.” Whether or not anything unfolds on January 7, it’s befitting that “Stranger Things” has inspired such an elaborate theory rooted in minute details.

Despite some moments in the “Stranger Things” finale that fans found questionable, there appears to be no deception involved. The show’s creators, the Duffer Brothers, have debunked at least part of the Conformity Gate theory, clarifying that Vecna can no longer access his victims. Matt Duffer shared with Entertainment Weekly, “Whatever exists in the Abyss, the connection has been severed. There’s no longer a bridge to Hawkins.”

While there are plenty of dumb moments too hard to ignore in the “Stranger Things” finale, there doesn’t seem to be any chicanery involved. Co-creators the Duffer Brothers have blown a hole in at least part of Conformity Gate, explaining there’s no way Vecna can reach his victims anymore. “Whatever’s up there in the Abyss, they’ve severed the bridge. There is no connection anymore. There’s no way of anything in the Abyss from reaching Hawkins again,” Matt Duffer told Entertainment Weekly. 

That pretty much nullifies the notion of Vecna winning, or still being able to manipulate the kids and their families. You could say that he wins at some point during the battle and his death is a lie, but that would involve a whole lot of coincidences coming to fruition. The hope has been spurred on by two different fan shippings — those who want El and Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard) to get together and those who want Mike to be with Will Byers (Noah Schnapp). It looks like both parties are going to end up disappointed in the end. But fans of the show have much more to look forward to, with two spin-offs coming soon and a documentary called “One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5” dropping on January 12.