Is there going to be another ‘final’ episode of Stranger Things?

Stranger Things has come to an end after five series – but a “mystery” extra episode has been teased by various accounts on social media.

The final series of the popular sci-fi drama, set in the 1980s, had eight episodes. After a dramatic finale, it concluded with an epilogue, which showed what life was like for the characters 18 months later.

However, a fan theory, referred to as “Conformity Gate”, suggests that the epilogue was just an illusion by Vecna, the show’s main villain, and all will be revealed in episode nine. If you believe the posts, it is due to be released on 7 January.

Other Side of the Story has looked at how the Stranger Things 'second finale' theory has spread and separated the facts from the fiction.

When did Stranger Things end?

The final eight episodes of Stranger Things were released in three parts, with the first on 27 November 2025 in the UK, the second on Boxing Day and the feature length finale on New Year's Day.

The show has been a big hit for Netflix and has a passionate fan base, so releasing it in this way kept the conversation going for longer and built a real sense of anticipation over Christmas.

Viewers had a long wait to see the final outing of Mike, Dustin, Lucas, Eleven and co. The dramatic finale of season four aired way back in the summer of 2022.

What have social media posts said about another 'final' episode of Stranger Things?

A number of Facebook pages have shared posts about another episode of Stranger Things coming to Netflix. Netflix Updates, which has 983,000 followers, shared a poster on 5 January showing the words “Episode of Stranger Things will release on January 7”.

The post accompanying the image refers to a “massive theory going around that Episode 8 wasn’t actually the finale and a secret Episode 9 is still coming”. It has been shared 5,700 times, with more than 10,000 comments - although plenty of these were from people who didn’t believe it would happen, with many adding their own humorous ideas for another episode.

One commenter suggested: “Vecna’s wife wakes up and finds him in the shower and realises it was all a dream”. This is a reference to the 1980s US television series Dallas, which killed off popular character Bobby Ewing only for him to return a year later. The episodes after his death were explained away as a dream.

The theory has also spread on TikTok, along with AI-generated videos that show Mike and Eleven reuniting in Iceland.

Is there really another final episode of Stranger Things?

While Netflix hasn’t commented on the episode nine claims, there is currently no evidence to support that it exists. Creators Ross and Matt Duffer have said the finale is about the characters saying goodbye to their childhood and moving into adulthood.

The only official Stranger Things announcement from Netflix so far has been about a documentary that follows the production of season five. One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5 is due to be released on 12 January.

Why are social media posts saying there's a new episode of Stranger Things?

Although it isn’t clear why the news about a new episode was posted, Stranger Things interest is high after the excitement of the finale.

People may want new things to read on a pop culture craze and it can lead to these posts quickly becoming viral, especially after they’re posted on platforms with large audiences.

Since the finale, Stranger Things fans have been sharing their theories on social media for fun – so the creators of some posts about a new episode may genuinely have believed they were true after reading others along the same lines, which makes this an example of misinformation. Others have stressed in text accompanying the posts that it's only a fan theory.

Even when people don’t believe it’s true their comments may have contributed to the posts becoming more visible and then going viral. Check out this Other Side of the Story guide to how fake news can spread.

How does fake news spread?

It’s always a good idea to look at the original source before you decide to share a story and make sure you apply critical thinking. Think about where the news has been posted and check the website and social media platforms of any reputable outlets linked to the news - in the case of Stranger Things, look at Netflix to see if there has been any official announcement to confirm what you are reading.

Be aware of clickbait and misleading headlines which entice you into reading content that might not be completely accurate.

Even joke comments from fans who know something isn’t real can add to the spread of fake news. It can become viral quickly if it is about something that excites the reader as they are more likely to share it with family and friends, who in turn share it with others.

There's currently no official news of any new Stranger Things episode – and that can only come from a source as trustworthy as Will’s mum Joyce.