Stranger Things may have concluded its saga in 2025, but a portion of the Brazilian and global fandom refuses to accept the end. Meanwhile, in January 2026, a theory called #ConformityGate gained traction on social media. It claims that the last episode, released on December 31st, was not real, but rather an illusion created by Vecna. Therefore, the most convinced fans bet the equivalent of over R$ 30 million on a betting platform on the existence of a surprise final episode, initially predicted for January 7th. However, as the date passed without event, they already have a new prediction: January 12th.
The thesis arose from details noticed in the last chapter, such as the strange orange color of the graduation gowns and the disappearance of the character Vickie. Thus, even with Netflix officially stating that all episodes are already available, conspiracy theorists remain steadfast. They believe the true ending is yet to come, connecting clues to a post on the platform about the future. The persistence of the fans has turned a simple ending into one of the biggest streaming mysteries at the start of this year.
Where the new date comes from and the future of the franchise
The new date, January 12th, was not chosen at random. It coincides with the release of the documentary “One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5”. Furthermore, fans found symbolic justifications, such as the number 12 representing Vecna’s victims. In other words, they see synchronicity where others see only coincidence. A user on X even argued that the secret episode is “the true ending,” but that the characters will never escape conformity on screen, blaming the character Mike for having “accepted defeat.”
Despite this controversy, the Stranger Things universe is far from over. Netflix has already confirmed a live-action spin-off in early development, which will bring new characters and a different city, albeit connected to the original story. With a release forecast for the coming years, the animated series “Stranger Things: Tales From ’85” will also expand the lore. Therefore, even if the secret episode never exists, Brazilian fans have plenty of content ahead to ease their longing for Hawkins and the Upside Down.
