Hello, Movie Mavens! Welcome back to the B Movies Blog. Today, we’re popping Stranger Things into the ol’ VCR.
If you’re anything like me, you’re probably still in disbelief that Stranger Things is actually over.*
*Don’t worry, we’re gonna touch on Conformity Gate.
Over the course of 9 years, 42 episodes, and the bulk of my 20s, we watched Hawkins, Indiana, act as a supernatural mecca that a group of ragtag kids sacrificed their childhood to protect.
To really put things in perspective, over the course of the show’s run, I started my career, had the biggest two heartbreaks of my life, founded this here blog, and lost KP.
That’s how much life was lived over the course of this show’s run.
Not to mention all of the nightmares we’ve endured over the past decade.
But, I digress.
Now, I’m going to say a few things here, and I want to remind all of you from the top that I love this show.
I even have a Stranger Things tattoo and gallery wall in my kitchen.
BUT, we need to talk about a couple of things, mainly the finale.
Remember, this is all my opinion, and just because I like something doesn’t make it good, and just because I don’t like something doesn’t make it bad.
Okay, so here’s the deal: I didn’t hate the finale.
Do I think it was safe? Yes, but I was satisfied.
Plus, as many of you know, I think Purple Rain is one of the best albums of all time, so I was downright giddy that they used it for two different needle drops.
Also, what happened needed to happen because it was the only option that allowed everyone to move on.
(I’m trying to avoid spoilers where I can)
I even ugly cried in two different scenes.
I think the issue some people are having is that we’ve romanticized Stranger Things into something it isn’t.
Stranger Things was never meant to be groundbreaking television; it’s meant to be an homage to movies of the 80s a lot of us grew up watching.
With how much time has passed between seasons, it’s easy for our perception of the show to change.
Don’t get me wrong. Some seasons (and episodes) are stronger than others, but I’ve always seen Stranger Things as, to quote Smosh, Kids on Bikes content.
I also think that It: Welcome to Derry isn’t helping its case.
Welcome to Derry is one of the best horror shows I’ve seen in a hot minute, and it’s also not afraid to take some of the big swings that the Duffer Brothers won’t.
What it boils down to is we had an arguably better Kids on Bikes show dovetailing into Stranger Things, and I think it’s hard not to compare them.
You’re absolutely allowed to be disappointed or dissatisfied, and I’m not here to say otherwise, but those are just a couple of theories I have around all of the internet discourse.
And speaking of the internet, we have to address Conformity Gate.
For those whose algorithm isn’t completely diluted like mine, Conformity Gate is the theory that the finale of Stranger Things isn’t actually the finale, and the real finale is set to drop tomorrow, January 7th.
The basis for this entire theory is that the epilogue is actually set in Mike’s mind, and Vecna wasn’t defeated in the nice and tidy way we were led to believe.
I’m going to try to keep the next couple of sentences as spoiler-free as possible, but if you want to play it safe, skip to the paragraph that starts with “Now.”
Since Mike is the only Wheeler untouched by Vecna, fans are convinced it’s finally Mike’s turn to succumb to his torture.
“Evidence” ranges from multiple background actors wearing Vecna’s glasses during graduation to Vickie’s character not seen or mentioned after the army base scene, and the final scene mirroring the end of The Truman Show, which shows Truman leaving his fabricated reality.
And, I gotta tell you, the evidence is honestly really compelling.
Y’all know I’m a sucker for theories and Easter eggs, so I’m eating this up.
However, one theory has become my favorite as of this morning.
Gregory Lawrence, aka greggfriedrice on Instagram, has thrown out a theory that the number 7 we’ve seen sprinkled throughout the season and other Stranger Things companion content doesn’t represent January 7th but rather the seventh film in the Nightmare on Elm Street series, New Nightmare.
While Netflix hasn’t confirmed the existence of a new episode, they HAVE announced a documentary dropping on January 12th called One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5.
Greggfriedrice’s theory is that Vecna is going to break out of the Stranger Things series, much like Freddy Krueger does in New Nightmare, making the documentary the actual finale.
And, I can’t get enough of this theory.
How cool would it be for us to get a meta send-off for a show comprised of pop culture reference after pop culture reference?
Now, do I necessarily believe this is the case?
No, I don’t.
But, with all of the horrible things going on in the world, I think it’s okay for us to have some fun here.
I think the Duffer Brothers are great about including fun little breadcrumbs, but I don’t necessarily think it means we’re getting another finale.
At best, I think we’ll get some sort of spinoff news or preview tomorrow.
But, I mean, Stranger Things have happened. 🤷
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