As Stranger Things Day (Nov. 6) comes to an end, conversations about Conformity Gate continue to make the rounds online, especially after the Weather Channel and Wheel of Fortune seemed to be joining in. For those who didn’t experience the online fanfare that was Conformity Gate: this fan theory began following the Stranger Things finale last New Year’s Eve and argued that this final episode was a fake-out and a real (and, for fans who championed the theory, better) finale was coming.
It had seemed like Conformity Gate was dead several months ago, especially as various stars of the show began to address it, often to poke a bit of fun at it. However, with Stranger Things Day coming and some curious posts from Ross Duffer and Millie Bobby Brown, the rumors were swirling once again. Adding to that excitement, and even making believers out of some doubters based on comments online, was a puzzle on Wheel of Fortune during last night’s show and a post from the Weather Channel.
The Weather Channel took to its official TikTok page yesterday with a video of a red sky that legitimately did look like something out of Stranger Things and included the caption, “Stranger things have happened.” The post also used the Stranger Things audio “Eulogy,” so the connection was intentional, although the caption explained that this was a weather phenomenon wherein the “sky turns red from cyclone as light reflects from the dust and storm clouds creating a dark red hue in the sky.”
That did not stop speculation in the comments, though, with several commenters writing, “I believe,” and various others making references to Vecna, Conformity Gate and other Stranger Things characters and story details. Even the Weather Channel joined in, with a comment reading, “Did anyone see Netflix’s recent post?!”
Also yesterday, one of the puzzles on Wheel of Fortune was “Stranger things have happened.” Granted, that is a legitimate saying that predates the show, but yet again, Stranger Things fans, especially Conformity Gate believers, were convinced that this was a sign of a new episode or some other major change to the Stranger Things ending.
Sadly, though, neither thing seems to be true. Earlier today, Netflix confirmed that Stranger Things is getting a prequel series titled Other Worlds, set before either Stranger Things or its first prequel, The First Shadow. Even so, there will no doubt be Conformity Gate believers who are still holding out hope that something, eventually, is coming.