Many fans wrapped up 2025 watching the series finale of Stranger Things (2016). After a nearly decade-long run, the hit Netflix original series came to an end. Considering the number of fans who have been with the show for the past 10 years and watched the cast grow up on screen, it’s understandable that expectations for the finale were exceedingly high. However, it depends on who you ask whether Stranger Things stuck the landing.
Some fans were satisfied with the emotional note the series ended on, while others weren’t satisfied with a few loose ends and felt the ending was generic. In fact, some viewers felt so dissatisfied with the finale that they began hoping for “Conformity Gate,” a secret final episode of Stranger Things meant to be the true finale. If you love the idea of fan theories fixing disappointing show and movie endings, use our guide to find the best fan theory endings that are better than the original.
Seinfeld (1989-1998) - The Characters Die In The End
Like Stranger Things, Seinfeld is a show that many audiences grew up with alongside its nearly decade-long run. The show captivated audiences by moving away from the standard sitcom format and tackling the mundanities of everyday life through shockingly unlikeable characters. However, fans and critics alike panned the finale’s bland mix of flashbacks and a humorless story. It was so bad that some viewers preferred the idea that everyone died in the end.
A Redditor suggests that the characters don’t avert a plane crash in the Seinfeld finale, but actually die in it. The transition to a quaint small town and the existence of an absurd “Good Samaritan” law signify their deaths. The brief deja vu moment Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld) and George (Larry David) share hints that their punishment in the afterlife is to relive the meaninglessness of their lives. It would be a dark but oddly fitting ending to Seinfeld.
Titanic (1997) - Jack Doesn’t Exist
Titanic is one of the most successful movies ever made. With its captivating historical premise, central romance, and story of a woman gaining her freedom, Titanic offers an epic, emotional journey. However, it’s not without its points of contention, especially the age-old debate about whether Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) could have also survived by floating on the debris with Rose (Kate Winslet). One popular fan theory effectively ends the debate by suggesting Jack couldn’t have also fit on the debris because he didn’t exist.
Given that no record of Jack’s existence on the Titanic could be found, fans speculated that he was a figment of Rose’s imagination, conjured to help her escape her terrible life. When Jack dies in the end, it’s because the illusion has fulfilled its purpose, and Rose is free. For viewers who enjoyed Rose’s journey most, the alternate ending adds a layer of sweetness and power.
Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone (2001) - Harry Imagined The Wizarding World
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone brought the Wizarding World to the big screen and dazzled audiences with its tale of magic. Some fans, though, see it as the dark beginning of a fantasy. For decades, the theory that the events of Harry Potter are all in Harry’s (Daniel Radcliffe) head has persisted. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone provides the most evidence for the theory by delving into the drudgery of Harry’s life and the Dursleys’ abuse.
Hence, fans speculated that Harry fantasizes about Hogwarts to escape his life. It would explain the precise timing of Hagrid’s (Robbie Coltrane) arrival, and how Harry is conveniently the “chosen one,” a Quidditch phenomenon, and lives in the House that routinely wins Dumbledore’s (Richard Harris) favor. While the fan theory isn’t appealing to those who love the idea of magic, it may be better for those seeking a more realistic story of mental health and trauma.
Sherlock (2010-2017) - Apple Tree Yard
Several years before Stranger Things Conformity Gate hit, viewers had an eerily similar version of the theory with Sherlock dubbed “Apple Tree Yard.” Sherlock’s contemporary take on Sherlock Holmes, with its perfect mix of eccentricity, mystery, and faithfulness to the source material, garnered an enormous, dedicated fanbase. However, some viewers were disappointed with the ending, either because they didn’t want it to end or because the show got a bit too ambitious and out there with its final storyline.
Hence, rumors of a secret fourth episode of Sherlock Season 4 swirled. When viewers noticed a new show slated for Sherlock’s usual time slot, Apple Tree Yard (2017), they became convinced it was the name of the secret fourth episode. However, Apple Tree Yard was, indeed, a real show, and the secret fourth episode of Sherlock never happened. With so much source material and potential left, though, “Apple Tree Yard” was a nice dream.
Stranger Things (2016-2026) - Conformity Gate
If you’re on social media, especially TikTok, chances are you’ve heard of Conformity Gate. Social media users began speculating that the Stranger Things finale, “Chapter Eight: The Rightside Up,” wasn’t the final episode. Viewers felt that the ending was just a little too perfect, like an illusion. Some anomalies, such as a few character absences, convinced fans that the ending was an illusion created by Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower).
When Netflix began teasing something big for January 7, viewers became convinced it was the release date of the final episode of Stranger Things Season 5. In reality, Netflix was teasing its 2026 slate of shows and movies, which does not include a new episode of Stranger Things. Alas, Conformity Gate is not real, but the idea of an illusion created to cover defeat will appeal to those of us who are uncomfortable with overly happy endings.
Fleabag (2016-2019) - Fleabag Isn’t Talking To The Audience
Fleabag is a heartfelt comedy about one woman’s attempts to navigate grief, love, and bitterness in London. There’s a realism to the show that allows it to resonate so well with audiences, connecting with us through its blunt and sometimes uncomfortable depiction of womanhood. However, one fan questioned if there was more to Fleabag’s (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) fourth-wall-breaking habits.
Redditor u/Hainted suggested that Fleabag isn’t talking to the audience in those moments, but to her friend Boo (Jenny Rainsford). Fleabag unintentionally caused Boo’s death by stealing her boyfriend; hence, Boo haunts Fleabag throughout the show, which is why Fleabag speaks to the audience so comfortably and realistically. It’s only when Fleabag truly understands Boo’s life and feelings that she can leave her behind in the finale, adding another layer of depth to her journey of self-discovery and turning a presumed TV quirk into something more profound.
Avengers: Endgame (2019) - Tony Stark Survived
Avengers: Endgame served as the grand finale of the MCU’s Infinity Saga, and, for the most part, its ending was well-received. While I thought Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) had a fitting ending, I didn’t like the sadness of him losing his life right when he was finally in a better place. Plus, the MCU is notorious for never having its characters actually die, so there must be a way Stark survived, too.
Several Redditors quickly offered fan theories that Stark, like in the comics, made an AI version of himself to live on in Avengers: Endgame. In the film, Stark appears as a hologram from a presumably pre-recorded message. However, fans have theorized it was actually the AI Stark, as evidenced by his turning toward his daughter, as if he knew where she was at that moment. It’s just plausible enough for us to hope that Stark didn’t really die.
Squid Game (2021-2025) - Baby Theory
While Squid Game didn’t have as long a run as Stranger Things, it was equivalent to the show in popularity. The show’s brutal survival-thriller premise and sharp critique of capitalism made it the most-watched show on Netflix. However, many fans were disappointed by the ambiguous and rushed ending. Similar to how they speculated about a secret episode of Stranger Things, fans began theorizing about a potential fourth season of Squid Game. One Redditor proposed that Season 4 sees the baby from Season 3 grow up, learn about her parents’ fate, and set about to stop the games once and for all.
The original ending of Squid Game hints that, although the games ended in South Korea, they are still expanding globally. Hence, a fourth season with the baby grown up and continuing Gi-Hun’s (Lee Jung-jae) legacy of ending the games worldwide would offer some resolution and satisfaction.
