Stranger Things Season 5 Episode 9 Gets New Update & Release Date As #ConformityGate Intensifies

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The final episode of Stranger Things, titled “Chapter Eight: The Rightside Up,” premiered on Netflix on December 31, 2025, but some fans aren’t sure it’s truly the end of the series. While the episode offered a satisfying thematic conclusion, Stranger Things 5, Volume 3, left some questions unanswered, specifically regarding Eleven’s fate. Many viewers are wondering if she is still alive, remembering that the first season ended with a similar ambiguity, which was later resolved by revealing Eleven had survived.

Another point of discussion is the Broadway play Stranger Things: The First Shadow, which the show didn’t fully integrate into its story. Because of many unresolved plot points and the open-ended finale, many fans think the Duffer Brothers are planning a true final episode and series conclusion for Stranger Things. There was even a prediction that Season 5, Episode 9 would release on January 7, 2025, but that date passed without any new episodes appearing on Netflix.

When Does Stranger Things Season 5, Episode 9 Release? (If It’s Real, That Is)

The final episode of Stranger Things Season 5, Episode 9, will now premiere on January 12, 2025, alongside the documentary One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5. However, it’s likely the rumors about a hidden episode – dubbed #ConformityGate – aren’t true. While unexpected things can happen, fans of the show Sherlock may recall a similar situation where a supposed fake-out finale ultimately led nowhere. It seems the Duffer Brothers probably didn’t intentionally delay the episode after fans started speculating.

As a huge fan of Stranger Things, I’ve noticed a lot of crazy theories floating around, and honestly, it kind of fits the show’s vibe – all the mystery and slow reveals. But sometimes, people really overanalyze things! It’s often as simple as it looks, even if you don’t love where the story goes. A lot of this whole ‘#ConformityGate’ situation seems to come from fans being let down by how certain storylines and relationships wrapped up in Season 5. There is some interesting stuff out there to support the theories, but I don’t think we should expect a big reveal. The only new Stranger Things episode coming on January 12th is actually a documentary about making Season 5 – One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5.

What Is #ConformityGate?

Currently, there’s no evidence from Netflix or the creators of the show to support the #ConformityGate theory. It’s essentially a fan idea suggesting that Vecna ultimately succeeded in the finale, and what viewers saw was a carefully constructed illusion. Proponents of this theory point to the orange graduation gowns as a symbol of imprisonment, and some unconfirmed reports claim the graduation scene was reshot with different colored robes. Additionally, several characters are shown posing with their hands in a way similar to Henry’s, fueling the speculation.

There’s also the fact that the number 7 was rolled, but this could just be a nod to the first episode of Stranger Things, a common practice in series finales. This detail was a major reason people predicted the final episode would be released on January 7th, so the date passing without a release is disappointing for that theory. If the ‘ConformityGate’ idea turns out to be true – meaning the episode was secretly released already – Stranger Things Season 5, Episode 9 would be a uniquely strange way to launch a finale, and it would probably break viewing records for Netflix. It would also give the show a chance to wrap up any remaining plot points and provide a more satisfying conclusion for viewers who weren’t happy with the previous finale, ‘The Rightside Up’.

Let’s be honest, a “Conformity Gate” storyline isn’t likely. Fans of Stranger Things would probably be happier if the show continued with a spin-off or sequel featuring the younger characters, moving the story into the 1990s.

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2026-01-08 20:35