Stranger Things' Conformity Gate theory has been one of the few things holding the fanbase together in the aftermath of Season 5's disappointing ending. A chunk of fans genuinely believe Stranger Things 5's ending was not the real series finale and that the Duffer Brothers have been holding back a secret 9th episode that'll resolve all unanswered questions, tie up loose ends, and bring character arcs to the conclusions fans have been hoping for.
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Conformity Gate has gotten so big, even the cast and crew of Stranger Things have heard of it. Unfortunately, but perhaps understandably, those who worked on Stranger Things for the better part of a decade aren't too thrilled with the theory. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Caleb McLaughlin, who played Lucas in Stranger Things, called out Conformity Gate for being 'dumb' and wants fans to understand the series is over and isn't coming back – secret episode or not.
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Caleb McLaughlin Wants Stranger Things Fans to Understand the Show is Over
In speaking with The Hollywood Report, McLaughlin said,
“At first, I thought the ‘Conformity Gate’ theory was dumb. I get that people want to live in this optimistic place of, ‘Oh, we want more Stranger Things,’ but I was like, ‘Guys, it’s over. It’s been ten years.' I think people missed the concept of what the show is when they were like, ‘Oh, there’s going to be more.’ No, that’s just Mike’s imagination. That’s who he’s always been, even in season one. It’s all just storytelling.”
While Caleb McLaughlin was not a writer on Stranger Things, the fact he's spoken so firm on Conformity Gate and has moved onto other projects makes it very clear there is no secret 9th episode.
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Conformity Gate Being Real Was Always a Long Shot
While there was reasonable evidence suggesting Conformity Gate might actually happen and that Stranger Things had a secret final episode hiding in plain sight, the fact of the matter is that this just isn't how television works. Producers don't hide series finales to build up hype or encourage fans to theorize, let alone seemingly write disappointing final episodes for the sole purpose of subverting expectations by giving a small sect of fans everything they'd been clamoring for.
Stranger things may have happened in the course of television history, but Stranger Things has been Netflix's flagship show for years. There was never a chance the streaming service was going to allow the Duffer Brothers to write, film, and hide a secret episode that would be released outside the final season's meticulous schedule. Netflix put a lot into marketing into Stranger Things Season 5 months in advance, and the idea of them keeping an entire episode secret just for fun defies all rational logic.
Caleb McLaughlin's words may be harsh, but frankly, he's probably just saying what everyone who worked on the show was thinking. Stranger Things is over, there is no Conformity Gate, and what you see is what you get. Stranger Things' final episode and season was disappointing for a multitude of reasons, but as Sherlock fans had to learn the hard way so many years ago, being disappointed in your favorite show's ending doesn't secretly mean there's a better finale just waiting to be released and make everyone happy. That's just not how TV works.
- Release Date
- 2016 - 2025-00-00
- Network
- Netflix
- Showrunner
- Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer
Cast
-
Millie Bobby BrownJane 'Eleven' Hopper -
Finn WolfhardMike Wheeler
WHERE TO WATCH
- Directors
- Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer, Andrew Stanton, Frank Darabont, Nimród Antal, Uta Briesewitz
- Writers
- Kate Trefry, Jessie Nickson-Lopez, Jessica Mecklenburg, Alison Tatlock
- Creator(s)
- Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer
