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'Stranger Things' Conformity Gate Theory Goes Viral On ...
Creators Matt and Ross Duffer and Netflix confirm no secret episode exists despite viral fan theory gaining nearly 400,000 petition signatures, with all episodes currently available.
- On Jan. 7, 2026, Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer, and Netflix denied the secret ninth episode claims, with Matt Duffer saying, `Obviously, that's not a real thing`, and Netflix directing fans to official profiles showing all episodes.
- Because the finale was open-ended, Matt and Ross Duffer said they left it ambiguous for fans to interpret, while viewers noted cassette tapes, Wheelers' basement doorknob, and graduation gowns as anomalies.
- Across TikTok and Reddit, the Conformity Gate theory gained steam after a TikTok clip showed Randy Havens as Mr. Clarke before a clock set to 1:07, while fan tools like a Google doc and a Change.org petition with more than 390,000 signatures circulated widely.
- Rejecting calls to alter the ending, the Duffers said they won't revisit Stranger Things characters, while Netflix will premiere One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5 on Jan. 12.
- With spinoffs and an animated series planned, fans compared their push to the Snyder cut, keeping the franchise alive beyond the finale and fueling the Conformity Gate fan theory.
Insights by Ground AI
16 Articles
16 Articles
Coverage Details
Total News Sources16
Leaning Left6Leaning Right0Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution55% Left
Bias Distribution
- 55% of the sources lean Left
55% Left
L 55%
C 45%
Factuality
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