A massive online hoax surrounding the final season of the hit series 'Stranger Things' caused such a frenzy that it temporarily crashed the global streaming giant Netflix. The incident, which unfolded on January 7, was fueled by widespread fan disappointment with the show's conclusion and a desperate hope for an alternate ending.
The Viral 'Conformity Gate' Theory That Broke The Internet
In the wake of the Season 5 finale titled 'The Rightside Up', which premiered on New Year's Eve, a compelling fan theory went viral. Dubbed 'Conformity Gate', it suggested that the finale was a fake ending orchestrated by the show's villain, Vecna, to mind-control the audience. The theory claimed that the characters were still trapped and that a secret ninth episode would be released on January 7 to reveal the true conclusion.
This speculation spread like wildfire across social media platforms, capturing the imagination of millions of fans globally. The anticipation reached such a peak that on the supposed release date, a massive surge of users flooded Netflix to search for the non-existent episode, overwhelming the platform's servers and causing access issues for many.
Netflix and Fans React to the Hoax
Netflix quietly but firmly shut down the rumours. Without directly addressing the theory, the platform's official social media accounts posted a clear message: "ALL EPISODES OF STRANGER THINGS ARE NOW PLAYING." Series creators Matt and Ross Duffer have also not commented on the hoax.
The confirmation that Episode 9 was a myth sparked a wave of hilarious and bitter reactions online. Fans flooded Twitter and Instagram with memes and jokes, expressing their collective letdown. One user wrote, "LMFAO Netflix crashing and Episode 9 doesn’t even exist," while another commented, "At least we went crazy together. #ConformityGate."
Many saw the hoax as a direct indictment of the finale's quality. A fan tweeted, "This theory was great either way, because now its gonna haunt the duffer brothers knowing their finale was so bad we had to theorise and crash netflix for an alternate ending that didnt exist." Several drew parallels to the widely panned finale of 'Game of Thrones', criticizing the 'Stranger Things' ending for leaving questions unanswered and featuring an underwhelming final battle scene.
Record Viewership Amidst The Backlash
Despite the online backlash and the hoax, 'Stranger Things' Season 5 has been a monumental viewership success for Netflix. The season delivered the platform its biggest New Year’s Day viewership ever. In the week of December 29 alone, it racked up an estimated 31.5 million views.
Overall, the season has now amassed a staggering 105.7 million views, securing its place at number nine on the list of the most-watched English-language series of all time on Netflix. This demonstrates the show's immense popularity, even as its conclusion divided the fanbase and inspired an unprecedented online conspiracy.
The 'Conformity Gate' episode, while fictional, highlighted the passionate and deeply engaged global fan community 'Stranger Things' has built. It also underscored how audience expectations in the streaming era can manifest in unpredictable and powerful ways, even temporarily disrupting a tech behemoth like Netflix.
