The Stranger Things 5 finale episode came out on New Years Eve, and with lots of anticipation for the ending, people have spent their childhood brainstorming and theorizing. People have mixed emotions on the ending whether it comes to plot holes, Byler vs. Mileven, and the controversy of the ambiguous ending of our beloved character 011. The interviews that fueled so many competing controversial theories from fans.

Fan Theories and Opinions:

Conformity Gate Theory:
The finale episode had a fake ending and a secret episode. Much of the evidence includes switches changing color, people holding blank posters, sitting in a strange way that aligns with the main villains key pose, and other ideas such as clocks being at certain times and many other little details that the fans could notice. EntertainmentWeekly.com

“Fake Ending” Theory: 

Vecna actually did possess Will Byers successfully, because of many plot holes and changes that correspond with Vecna’s limited knowledge of Hawkins. For example, Vickie disappeared in the 18 month time jump, Vecna didn’t know who she was, there were also color changes and names being slightly different, leading to this suspicion. 

Of course, people in Leonardtown high were wondering about the stranger things that we’re happening in the show. Here are a few theories and comments from students and staff!

Corrine Peter (10) “The conformity gate theory is kinda crazy and I don’t know why people hated the finale, I thought it was nice to see a happy ending.”

Olivia Caton (10) “I overall enjoyed the Stranger Things Finale. Me personally, I think that Mike’s story about 011 living was fiction. There is no way that 008 lived through getting shot and having the building she was in blown up and still had enough energy to be able to hide el.”

Mr. Neumeister (Staff) “They did their peak performance in season 1, and I wasn’t disappointed in the ending, but they could have done better. They missed some of the elements it needed to really hit a homerun.”

Gatlin (9) “I was very upset. More people should have died.”

The Stranger Things finale concluded this series which has shaped so many people’s childhoods. The culture and the fanbase surrounding this show will always remain and the shift from awaiting new episodes, digging into every detail to formulate crazy theories, to Stranger Things just becoming a show to binge watch now and notice things that you didn’t see before.