After the season finale of “Stranger Things,” fans were disappointed because the ending of the finale was not certain, which led a few to theorize about another secret episode. Many fans were left wondering if there would be an extra episode due to possible plot holes.

Fans theorized that the secret final episode called the Conformity Gate would be released on Jan. 7, which would either confirm or deny Mike’s story about Eleven. The most popular plot being theorized was that all the main characters were stuck in Vecna’s mind, and he had not been killed after all.

“The finale was underwhelming, but parts of it were good. It would have been better and made more sense if they had done nine episodes so that the eighth [episode] could focus on defeating Vecna, as his death felt rushed, and the ninth could focus on the epilogue,” senior Mars Pierson said.

While Pierson said it would have made sense for an extra episode, they did not believe in it. Similar to Pierson, sophomore Maddy Turner did not believe there would be an extra episode because the ending had an opportunity for the audience to decide whether or not they believed in Mike’s theory and there wasn’t a lot of advertising for a new episode.

“I do not think that there will be another episode, mainly because there is so much marketing around Volume 2 and the eighth episode,” Turner said. “The Duffers have said on multiple occasions that they’ve always wanted the series to resolve to a coming-of-age story.”

Turner said that because the Duffer Brothers have known what they wanted for the ending and publicly announced that, it is very unlikely for the Conformity Gate episode to happen. According to The Guardian, because of the destruction of the Upside Down and the Abyss, Hawkins has changed a lot, and the characters evolved too.

“Hawkins ‘feels different [which is]’ hardly surprising, as it’s no longer full of murderous monsters, cracks in the earth, and a psychopath made both of tree roots,” The Guardian said.

The Guardian said that although people would think the characters would be permanently scared, they seem to have forgotten about the events of the past years. Similarly, Pierson believed that the Upside Down wasn’t as strong throughout the season finale because of the disappearance of the monsters.

Pierson said the monsters from the Upside Down and Abyss could have played a vital role in helping Vecna survive. Turner said she felt the endings the Duffer Brothers wrote for the characters were too simple and predictable, amounting to an overall mediocre final season.

“The final season started strong and had good moments, but in the end, it felt like everything finished off in the easiest way out,” Turner said.