Episode 9 of Stranger Things Season 5 Explained & The Conformity Gate Theory

Over the past few days, new deleted scenes and fresh behind-the-scenes details from the Stranger Things Season 5 finale have started circulating—and naturally, the fandom has gone into full detective mode.

The Duffer Brothers recently sat down for another extensive interview, and while they didn’t explicitly spell everything out, they revealed far more than they probably realized. Between alternate plans for Eleven’s ending, hints at the true canon conclusion, and the now-infamous Conformity Gate Theory, there’s a lot to unpack here.

And honestly? I think the Duffers either accidentally—or very intentionally—gave away the real ending during that interview.

Let’s break it all down.

The Conformity Gate Theory: Why Fans Aren’t Surprised

If you’ve lived through major series finales like Lost or Game of Thrones Season 8, this will feel extremely familiar.

Whenever a massive show ends, especially one that’s been around this long, fan theories explode. Alternate endings. Missing footage. Unreleased episodes. Secret retcons. It happens every single time—especially when a chunk of the fandom walks away unsatisfied.

So when Conformity Gate theories started popping up after the Stranger Things finale, I wasn’t surprised at all. This is standard fandom behavior.

And just wait—when Avengers: Secret Wars comes out? Same thing. Exact same cycle.

Naturally, all of this starts with the biggest question of all:

What really happened to Eleven?

The Leaked Eleven Footage: What It Does (and Doesn’t) Prove

Recently, behind-the-scenes footage surfaced showing Eleven jumping out of the back of a truck and running toward a store. Netflix hasn’t taken it down—which is interesting, because they’ve been extremely aggressive about removing leaks in the past.

That alone tells us something.

At this point, Netflix seems completely fine with behind-the-scenes material being public. Cast members, crew, and even the Duffers themselves have been posting BTS photos and videos nonstop.

But here’s the important part:

This footage does not automatically confirm Eleven survived.

Context matters.

This scene was almost certainly filmed for the epilogue, specifically the moment when Mike is narrating what happened while the kids are playing Dungeons & Dragons. The Iceland sequence—with the three waterfalls—was always meant to exist in some form.

So yes, Eleven running off-screen doesn’t mean she was always meant to survive.

But… other evidence leans much harder in that direction.

The Duffer Brothers’ Interview: The Truth Hidden in Plain Sight

Separate from the leaked footage, the Duffers released a much longer interview where they went deep into their thought process behind Eleven’s ending—and whether she actually lived or died.

The tone of that conversation is extremely important.

It wasn’t somber. It wasn’t tragic.

It was hopeful.

They revealed that their original ending was far less ambiguous. In that version, Eleven survives, reunites with Mike, and everyone ends the series together—alive, safe, and happy.

The problem?

They said it just didn’t work.

On the page, emotionally, structurally—it felt too neat. Too saccharine. So they pivoted.

The Spielberg Influence: Why E.T. Holds the Key

This is where things get really interesting.

The Duffers explained that they wanted an ending more in line with Steven Spielberg’s E.T., which they consider one of the most perfect movie endings ever made.

And that makes total sense.

From the very beginning, Stranger Things has been a love letter to Spielberg:

• Kids on bikes
• Government conspiracies
• A supernatural friend everyone is trying to save

Mike’s group is essentially Elliot’s gang.

How E.T. Ends (Spoilers, Obviously)

At the end of E.T., Elliot says goodbye as E.T. leaves Earth. Later, Elliot goes outside and uses the same radio they built earlier in the film—hoping to contact E.T. again.

The movie ends with the idea that he will succeed someday.

But you never see it.

That’s the key.

Eleven’s Ending Mirrors E.T.’s Ending Almost Exactly

The Duffers wanted that same emotional note for Eleven.

Not “here she is, everything’s fine.”

But: hope.

The implication is clear—Mike will be able to reach Eleven again someday. And for that to be possible, she has to be alive.

You even see visual confirmation:

• Mike still has Eleven’s photo, now moved next to his bed
• His room is filled with callbacks to earlier seasons
• And yes—there’s an E.T. figure visible on his board

That is not accidental.

The Canon Ending Secret: Why Millie Bobby Brown Knows

During the interview, the Duffers revealed something wild:

Millie Bobby Brown is one of the only people who knows the true canon ending.

They literally stopped the interview to text her mid-conversation—reminding her not to say anything.

And the vibe?

They were smiling. Laughing. Clearly enjoying the secrecy.

If Eleven had definitively died, there would be no reason for this level of playful mystery. They would just say it.

The secrecy only works if the truth reinforces hope.

Why the Duffers Refuse to Confirm Eleven’s Survival

The Duffers have been very clear about one thing:

They didn’t want to destroy the Spielberg-style ending by spelling everything out.

If they came out immediately and said, “Yes, Eleven survived,” it would undercut the emotional weight of the finale. The entire point is uncertainty—with hope baked in.

That’s also why fans started posting:

“Do you believe?”

Because belief is the ending.

Conformity Gate Theory Explained (The Speedrun Version)

So what about the rumored secret Episode 9?

Here’s why fans believed it:

• A mysterious Netflix social media post tied to January 7
• Odd episode cataloging in Netflix’s backend system
• Search results suggesting a hidden episode
• Notifications sent to users after they’d already watched the finale

All signs pointed to a surprise drop.

But here’s the reality.

The “Secret Episode” Is a Documentary, Not Episode 9

Netflix has officially announced what’s coming next—and it’s not a canonical continuation.

It’s a behind-the-scenes documentary about Season 5:

• Deleted scenes
• Unfilmed concepts
• Alternate ideas
• Whiteboard plans that never made it into the final cut

This is the same thing HBO did after Game of Thrones Season 8.

The documentary drops January 13.

That’s it.

Why Season 5 Feels Different (And Why That Matters)

A lot of planned moments didn’t make it into the finale.

Actors have openly said their characters were supposed to have bigger arcs. Even Patty Newby’s actress mentioned her role being reduced.

Why?

• Multiple industry strikes
• Massive production delays
• Netflix giving the Duffers full control
• Shawn Levy being busy filming Deadpool & Wolverine

Season 5 was the first time the Duffers were truly on their own.

That matters.

The Big Takeaway: Eleven Survived—and That’s the Point

So here’s where I land:

• Eleven is meant to have survived
• The ending is intentionally ambiguous
• The E.T. parallel is not subtle—it’s deliberate
• There is no secret Episode 9
• The only “extra episode” is a documentary

Mike will find her someday.

We just don’t know when—or how.

And that mystery is the ending.

Final Thoughts: The Story Isn’t Over Forever

If you’re unhappy with how things ended, remember this:

Hollywood loves reunions.

Ten years. Twenty years. One final chapter.

Just look at Harry Potter.

Nothing is ever truly over.

Drop your theories, Easter eggs, and details I might’ve missed in the comments.

If the documentary reveals anything wild—deleted endings, major scenes—I’ll cover it next.