Is It True? - Stranger Things: The Conformity Gate Theory

 NOTE!: THERE WILL BE SPOILERS FOR SEASON 5 AKA THE FINAL SEASON OF STRANGER THINGS! IF YOU HAVEN'T WATCHED THAT SEASON YET, LEAVE NOW!

I didn't make this awesome pic. I don't know who made this but whoever the artist is go support him or her.

So it's been awhile since I've done one of these fan theory post. So what better way to welcome this segment back then to tackle a more recent fan theory.

What is Stranger Things?

Stranger Things is a TV series created by the Duffer Brothers for the streaming service Netflix. The series debuted on July 15th, 2016 and was a huge hit for Netflix. It would not only go on to have five seasons, but also spawn huge amounts of merchandise and an even bigger fan base. The show only recently ended on Dec 31st, 2025 with an episode total of forty-two.

The story for the series is on November 6th, 1983, a boy named Will Byers went missing after hanging out with his friends Mike, Dustin, and Lucas. His friends soon realize Will's disappearance wasn't ordinary and was linked to another world called the Upside Down which in inhabited by creatures they named the Demogorgons. Along the way the boys meet a girl with telekinetic powers who they named Eleven or El for short.

As the story went our characters grew and Team Hawkins not only consisted of Mike, Will, Lucas, and Dustin. But would also include Will's brother Jonathan, his mother Joyce, Chief Jim Hopper, Mike's sister Nancy, and former bully turned ally Steve, along with other characters such as Max & Robin. We would also learn more about the Upside Down with the biggest reveal being a villain who lives in there named Henry Creel or as he's also known as, Vecna. Who's big plan is to merge our world with the Upside Down. Thankfully our heroes were able to stop, but sadly it came at Eleven's life.

The Theory

So what is the Conformity Gate theory?

It goes like this. Our heroes successfully stopped Vecna and his plans to merge the worlds together. But before our heroes can celebrate they were captured by a military group lead by Dr. Kay who plans to take Eleven's blood and make more children like her. But Eleven puts a stop to her plan by sacrificing herself by dying and closing the Upside Down in the process. The day is won but sadly Team Hawkins lost no only team member, but a friend, girlfriend, and daughter.

Eighteen months go by and Mike, Will, Lucas, Dustin, and Max graduate high school and have one last Dungeons & Dragons campaign. Steve, Nancy, Jonathan, and Robin get jobs they love and agree to stay in touch. And finally Joyce and Jim Hopper get engaged and plan to Montauk, New York since Jim got an offer for a high paying job as chief of police.

So what's the theory? Well the theory is the ending we saw in the fifth season's final episode/series finale was a lie. In actuality this is Vecna's doing. Sometime during the final battle he trapped our heroes in this false illusion in where they won and got to live peaceful lives.

And the "conformity" in Conformity Gate stems from the fact that fans believe the characters are forced into normal lives what with the whole thing about graduating, relationships, etc.

Is The Theory Believable?

Now for any of you that continued to follow Stranger Things after the series finale then you already know the answer. But for any of that haven't I'm here to say NO. The theory doesn't hold up. Mainly because I've got three things that go against it.

1) When Did Vecna Find the Time?

Throughout this season Vecna was focusing on kidnapping kids, convincing said kids he was gonna help him save the world even though he's lying, fitting with Team Hawkins and finding ways to get the team off his back. So with all of this going on, where would Vecna/Henry have found the opportunity to make this false reality? It definitely wasn't during the final battle because then he's gotta focus on fighting Eleven in their big telekinetic battle.

2) Will's Hive-Mind Connection.

Basically Will has mental link to Vecna and can see what he's planning. This has been a consistent story aspect since season two. Whenever there's something that's going to put Hawkins in jeopardy Will gets a neck tingle. And in the final season not only was he able to follow what Vecna was up to, but also caused physical pain to him.

If Vecna had any backup plan, in this case a false happy ending, then Will would've been the first to pick up on it. Sure some say Will got cut-off or overridden but that's a stretch.

I know people are giving the Duffer Bros. crap for their writing when it comes to this season, but I'm pretty sure even they would've written one last neck tingle for Will.

3) Eleven's Fate.

I know throughout this post I was writing like Eleven is dead dead, but her fate is much more ambiguous. In the final standoff with Dr. Kay and the eighteen months epilogue it's left for debate if she died or faked her death.

So with that info I feel like this is another thing that goes against the theory. Because in my mind, if I'm a villain especially one with Vecna's abilities, why would I put such a bittersweet moment when I want my enemies to believe they've won? I think giving this massive emotional wound you do more harm to Vecna then good.

I have seen defenders say something of the lines of "This is Vecna's cruelty. He's making them accept a bittersweet win to break them". But that goes against the whole theory. Vecna wants them to believe they won so they'll be off his back. So if he causes them more pain then next thing he knows he's got to fight these guys all over again.

So yeah, this theory doesn't hold up. Fans were expecting something to happen like a secret ninth episode on January 7th, because of Orthodox Christmas tying to holiday release patterns but nothing happened. They only thing left is the season 5 documentary titled One Last Adventure, the animated spin-off Stranger Things: Tales from '85, and another live-action spin-off with a whole new set of characters and stories.

So that's gonna do it for now. Due come back on Thursday, Jan 15th, for a brand new VS. For that one it's all about which version of Assault on Precinct 13 is the best. Until then, enjoy the rest of your day.