It has been a week since Netflix dropped the Stranger Things finale, but many fans still can’t get over how things ended for Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower), Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), and the rest of the Hawkins heroes.
This even gave rise to the “Conformity Gate” theory, which suggests that the finale actually depicts a false reality where the characters have been pacified rather than saved, and that the Duffer Brothers may release a “true final episode” that will conclude all storylines on January 7.
Netflix has already debunked this claim, updating the bios on all official Stranger Things social media accounts to read: “ALL EPISODES OF STRANGER THINGS ARE NOW PLAYING” – yes, in all caps for emphasis.
However, a Stranger Things documentary exploring the final season is still set to be released. So, could this be the secret finale fans have been waiting for?
Is One Last Adventure the True Finale of Stranger Things?
Enough with the Conformity Gate theory; there’s a new idea connecting the Stranger Things finale to the upcoming documentary, One Last Adventure.
Some fans believe that a secret continuation is hidden in this doc, and it may even serve as an unofficial “Episode 9” that officially concludes Netflix’s flagship series.
But how could this happen? Considering creators Ross and Matt Duffer often draw inspiration from ’80s and early ’90s pop culture, fans have been quick to notice parallels between One Last Adventure and Wes Craven’s 1994 meta-supernatural slasher film New Nightmare.
New Nightmare is the seventh film in The Nightmare on Elm Street franchise, and like One Last Adventure, it was presented as a documentary.
It follows and interviews the franchise’s original cast, including Robert Englund as Freddy Krueger. As the documentary unfolds, Craven reveals that Freddy is a demonic entity trapped within the six films.
Since the sixth movie, Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare, saw Freddy’s death and the series seemingly concluded, the iconic, disfigured child-killer turned dream-stalking demon is released and begins hunting the cast and crew – making the story very meta.
Now, while Freddy and Vecna share similarities in their severe facial disfigurement, it’s also interesting to note that Englund actually played Henry Creel’s father in the Stranger Things universe.
Add to that the number seven that appeared on the dice at the end of the Stranger Things finale. Fans suggest it might not point to January 7 at all, but rather to the seventh Nightmare on Elm Street film.
Just as New Nightmare is a meta “movie within a movie,” and the Stranger Things spinoff is a “play within a play,” One Last Adventure could serve as a fourth-wall–breaking extension of the show – much like Craven did to conclude his series.
However, fans are advised to take this theory with a grain of salt, as nothing has been confirmed.
What is Stranger Things: One Last Adventure About?
Stranger Things: One Last Adventure will reveal how the epic fifth and final season came together, giving viewers an inside look at the work the cast and crew put into the series’ last installment.
“A decade after rewiring pop culture, Stranger Things returns for its final chapter,” the synopsis reads. “One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things Season 5 is a sweeping behind-the-scenes chronicle that follows the cast, creators, and crew as they bring the final season to life – and say goodbye to the show that changed them forever.”
This documentary is marketed as a reflection on production choices and cast experiences, but who knows – it might also unveil the definitive Stranger Things ending that fans have been waiting for.
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