"As laid out by @67gatee on TikTok, Conformity Gate refers to the theory that there's something intentionally "wrong" or amiss in the finale. The user noted curious elements like the graduation crowd breaking the fourth wall and doing Henry Creel's hands-crossed pose, or characters "societally conforming" to look like what they once feared: with Nancy's new hair looking quite reminiscent of her mom, and Mike's glasses and hair echoing his dad."
"The theory posits that all of these subtle clues might be part of an illusion - a vision cast by Vecna to make it look like the characters had a happy ending while they're really still in his control. As the user pointed out, Max's remarks during the final Dungeons & Dragons game could lampshade the show's neatly wrapped conclusion: "Comfort and happiness? Could you be more trite?""
"Many viewers have since contributed their own findings to the so-called Conformity Gate, like Whatzit? board games (an apparent nod to Vecna) in the background of the finale. One user also observed that earlier in Season 5, Derek plays a video game called Ghosts 'n Goblins, which, they pointed out, ends with the reveal that winning the game was just an illusion and you have to beat it all over again."
Conformity Gate names a theory that the Stranger Things finale's apparent happy ending is actually an illusion cast by Vecna. Observed clues include the graduation crowd breaking the fourth wall and mimicking Henry Creel's pose, characters adopting appearances resembling people they once feared, and visual Easter eggs such as Whatzit? board games in the finale background. References to games like Ghosts 'n Goblins and Max's Dungeons & Dragons line about comfort and happiness are cited as thematic signals that victory might be false. The theory spread widely online and sparked speculation that a bonus episode could reveal a different ending.
Read at Bustle
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