Insane Theory Claims the Series Still Isn’t Finished

Spoilers for Stranger Things Season 5 are below!

Stranger Things has finally ended its nearly decade-long run on Netflix, bringing the beloved sci-fi series to an emotional, albeit divisive, conclusion. Or maybe that’s just what the Duffer brothers want to make audiences believe? There’s a new theory circulating among fans online that the fifth and final season of Stranger Things may not actually be over yet.

It would seem that the fifth season was jarring enough that some Stranger Things fans gathered evidence to try to figure out what happened. What some devoted viewers have begun piecing together is that the Duffer brothers may not have fumbled the finale as many believe. Instead, they could be playing 3D Chess, with one of the most insane twists in entertainment history on the way, and the evidence is quite compelling.

‘Stranger Things’ Season 5 Isn’t Over, Theory Explained

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One of the biggest criticisms throughout Season 5 was that many of the story elements felt disjointed, with some even accusing the Duffers of being terrible writers. Characters were getting details wrong, and even appearing to ignore substantial traits inherent throughout the series. While many wrote this off as a lackluster final season, hardcore Stranger Things fans believe it may all be on purpose. Most are notably pointing to Lucas’ line, “I don’t believe in coincidences,” to help the evidence all fall into place.

In the simplest terms, the theory posits that the small mistakes fans have noticed are part of a greater plan, with in_the_west_7 breaking it down on TikTok before the finale, which can be viewed here. Fans believe that Vecna is controlling the characters on the show, manipulating what they see, causing the incongruities, and that the final run of episodes is his altered version of events. The Duffer brothers have then used this as a bait-and-switch, either with longer episodes on the way, akin to the supposed longer runtimes that sparked a petition, or with a whole new episode to follow the finale that fills in the plot holes, revealing what Vecna has essentially kept hidden from the audience. That sounds like a wild swing, but jumping down the rabbit hole proves to be more convincing than one may assume.

It was the fans who continued digging after the Stranger Things finale that formed the basis for a theory for more episodes to come. TikTok sleuth, thecrownjulia, has since reexamined the last episode and is convinced the finale wasn’t the real finale, adding further details from the epilogue. Moments like Will talking about having milkshakes at Melvald’s are highly noted, as the characters only know it as a general store. However, it makes a bit more sense if the audience assumes Will is under Vecna’s control at that moment, with the details coming from Henry’s past. As seen in the Broadway play, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, when Henry was younger, Melvald’s was a diner that served milkshakes, pointing to the detail potentially being inserted on purpose.

Fans have noted several distinct elements, such as the final battle being far too easy, with no Demogorgons in sight, or that Hopper and Joyce never talk about Henry Creel. Some of the most compelling evidence stems from the character’s final moments, with fans wondering how Max graduated on time after her coma or the fact that Dustin was the valedictorian despite pulling up his report card to highlight the three Bs he got. Stranger Things investigator Icarus also picked the finale apart, backing up several claims and adding further details.

Other notable pieces of evidence point to Dustin changing the Hellfire Club logo on his shirt, which most assume he would never do, given that it was Eddie’s design, and vessel/boat imagery and Whatzit board games hidden in numerous scenes. Even Mike’s basement door has the handle on the wrong side in the Dungeons & Dragons game finale, versus earlier seasons, and the trees in the background look to be fall colors when the epilogue moments are set in spring/summer. It also looks like the engagement ring Hopper gave to Joyce is the same one that Jonathan had for Nancy.

If the theory proves valid, all those mistakes aren’t actually mistakes at all. They are hidden details hinting at Vecna’s control of the characters and the audience, which would gain more clarity when the Duffer brothers supposedly release the rest of Season 5, revealing the cut scenes that Vecna hid from the viewers. Some fans are even positing that the new, longer episodes or a ninth episode could grace fans in mere days, explaining away all the weird little incongruities.

Is There More ‘Stranger Things’ Season 5 on the Way?

If the Duffer brothers somehow crafted a final season they could cut apart and release in two manipulated chunks, it would be one of the most incredible twists any creator has ever pulled off. Stranger Things would become a meta property, with the show breaking the 4th wall and duping the audience on a scale no one has ever seen. It would also make the Duffers geniuses, and if any show had the clout to pull it off, it would be Stranger Things.

However, the theory seems unlikely to be true. The finale of Stranger Things cleaned up at the box office, grossing a reported $25 million from paying audiences in its single night of release. It doesn’t seem like another episode, or batch of re-edited ones, would be released without promotion or fanfare, as it would clearly conflict with financials. Furthermore, it risks alienating the fans who enjoyed the last season and the finale as it is, making a grand change after it aired a potential betrayal. The Duffers have also addressed many plot holes fans brought up since the show ended, hinting they don’t have further plans.

The problem with the theory is that it has two extremes: either the Duffer brothers are geniuses, or the final season and finale were so bad that fans have had to convince themselves there is a greater plan. While a secret new Season 5 finale would be something to behold, it’s more likely that Stranger Things merely disappointed many fans on the way out.