ConformityGate: Stranger Things gives answer on ‘fake ending’ theory and rumours of another episode on Netflix

After Stranger Things dropped its final episode fans haven’t stopped dissecting every detail, and some even think the story isn’t really over.

A major point of frustration was Eleven’s fate. While most of the main characters seemed headed toward hopeful futures, Eleven’s ending was left open to interpretation. Her apparent sacrifice appeared heroic, but the episode stopped short of confirming whether she actually died, leaving fans puzzled and unsatisfied.

That uncertainty has since sparked a viral theory online: what if the “final” episode we saw wasn’t actually the real ending? Many fans now believe the finale released on Netflix was a deliberate misdirect, with the actual conclusion still being held back as a secret episode.

The speculation only intensified when users noticed something strange on Netflix itself. Searching the phrase “fake ending” on the platform brings up just one title: Stranger Things. The coincidence has sent Reddit and X into overdrive, with fans wondering if Netflix is teasing them intentionally.

As speculation about a secret ninth episode spread under the viral ConformityGate theory, the official social media accounts for the hit Netflix series quietly updated their bios to now read: “ALL EPISODES OF STRANGER THINGS ARE NOW PLAYING.”

The change on TikTok and Instagram quickly caught fans’ attention, with many taking it as a subtle response to the rumours. Netflix has not issued an official statement.

EVIDENCE OF ‘FAKE ENDING’ THEORY HERE:

Meanwhile, Stranger Things star Noah Schnapp, who’s played Will Byers since season one, recently told The Hollywood Reporter that he believes the show ended exactly as it should.

“I remember crying a lot at the final table read. They had us read it for the first time all together and I just think it was perfect,” Schnapp said in an interview released on January 6.

He explained that creators Matt and Ross Duffer wrapped things up completely:

“They really left nothing more to be told.”

Reflecting on the end of his character’s journey, Schnapp added:

“Once I wrapped, I felt it was time to let Will go. Now I’ve really made peace with it, and especially sharing these final episodes with the fans, the fact that these stories have been told and the journeys are done.”

Although he admitted it was emotional to say goodbye, he said:

“I’ll take with me the lessons I’ve learned. I’m going to take the relationships with me forever, and I just hope this show can have a lasting, positive impact.”

The actor also told People Magazine that he wanted one detail tied up, Will’s longtime crush on Mike Wheeler, played by Finn Wolfhard.

“I did feel there was a little bit left unsaid with (episode 7). And I did actually speak to the Duffers, and they included a scene in the finale that wasn’t originally there to kind of close that story properly,” Schnapp said, explaining that the two characters ultimately agreed to remain friends.

“If something doesn’t work, or if something feels not right, you can speak to them, and they will work with you,” he added of the creators.

Of that final conversation, Schnapp said it felt “completely closed and satisfying.”

“I think the fans will be happy,” he said.

Stranger Things debuted on Netflix in 2016 and ran for five seasons.

The series finale landed on New Year’s Day, but discussions about its meaning and whether it might not be the end after all have kept the fandom alive into 2026.

While there’s a documentary about the making of the show being released on January 12.

For now, there’s one clear message on the show’s official pages: “ALL EPISODES... NOW PLAYING.”