The kids gathered together playing Dungeons & Dragons in the finale of Stranger Things.
Stranger Things had a highly promoted series finale on New Year's Eve, with the episode even being released in movie theaters, yet some fans are not thrilled with the show's conclusion — so much so that in the week following the finale, the conversation shifted to center around something called "Conformity Gate.
" This fan theory suggested there would be a second, secret finale released a week after Episode 8 to provide a different ending for the show. Unsurprisingly, January 7 came and went without this alleged Episode 9. While this may sound like an extreme reaction to Stranger Things' ending, the hit Netflix series isn't the first show to inspire such wishful thinking in fans. In fact, nine years ago, fans of Sherlock had almost the exact same theory. Inspired by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's classic literary character, the BBC's Sherlock offered compelling mysteries for four seasons, but may have taught its fans to look for the improbable a little too well. Like with Stranger Things, a general dislike for the series finale led to the belief that there would be a secret fourth episode that had not been widely advertised. For those who wanted it so badly, the evidence all seemed to line up, despite the episode never being released. No wonder Conformity Gate feels like a strange sort of fandom déjà vu. Why Did 'Sherlock' Fans Believe in a Secret Episode? As exciting as an unexpected continuation may be, fans don't convince themselves of this for no reason, and much like with Stranger Things, a subset of Sherlock fans were unhappy with the ending they were given. After four seasons following Sherlock Holmes and John Watson , the 2010 mystery series was in dire need of surprising storylines. After all, Sherlock had faked his own death in the Season 2 finale, and how do you top that? Season 4's third episode,"The Final Problem," pits Sherlock against his own sister, Eurus , whom Sherlock was previously unaware of. A genius in her own right, Eurus displayed violent tendencies throughout her youth, resulting in her being sent away from her family to a psychiatric prison. With this setup, Eurus leads Sherlock, John, and Mycroft on a chase, forcing her brothers to undergo dangerous tests as Sherlock must confront the painful memories he has buried. In the end, Sherlock stops Eurus by offering her the brotherly love she'd never had, allowing things to return to normal. The Eurus plot was not well-received, and fans seemed to agree that the secret sister angle was too soap opera-esque for Sherlock. Certainly,"The Final Problem" itself received most of the hate, but the entire fourth season came under fire as fans argued that it tried to do too much and didn't particularly deliver. Between setting up Eurus for the final episode, exploring Mary's past and the fallout of her death, and giving Sherlock new cases to work, the first two episodes have a lot going on, making them somewhat convoluted. Due to the underwhelming nature of the final season, it shouldn't be a surprise that fans wanted more, yet it is impressive how determinedly they held on to hope.Posts By Ryan Heffernan 'Sherlock' Fans Believed Another Episode Would Be Released Sherlock's seasons were admittedly short, even by today's standards, but fans started to speculate after the last installment, gathering evidence of a new episode. According to theories,"The Final Problem" would be revealed to be a dream, making the episode's events irrelevant. Episode 2 ends with Eurus revealing herself and shooting John, which turns out to be only a tranquilizer in the finale, but fans wanted to go back to that moment and discover that"The Final Problem" had all been playing out in John's mind while he was comatose. With this concept, Sherlock's secret fourth episode is much like what believers in"Conformity Gate" convinced themselves would happen, yet in both cases, it was a far-fetched hope to begin with. Admittedly, this would have been a shocking twist, but the evidence was circumstantial, at best. The most solid clue that fans pointed to is from Episode 2 when Culverton Smith says, "everyone always gives up after three." This would be suspicious if it were not such an ordinary statement for Sherlock, and little else within the show seemed to support the idea that there was a deeper meaning to this line. Much of the other evidence had to do with the series taking over Sherlock's timeslot, Apple Tree Yard. Some of the new show's cast had names similar to characters in Sherlock, and there seemed to be a lack of marketing around the series, as well as some inconsistent information online about the number of episodes it would have. These small details inspired the belief that the show was being used to cover a secret episode in the BBC's schedule, and the beloved detective would return to screens at this time. But sometimes, there is no hidden meaning, and Apple Tree Yard premiered as scheduled, having nothing to do with Sherlock. These Secret Episode Theories Reflect Fans' Deep Attachment to Their Favorite Shows Much like Stranger Things, Sherlock didn't offer the miraculous continuation that fans predicted, though many tuned in to Apple Tree Yard's premiere in hopes of Cumberbatch's Sherlock turning up. Not only did Season 4 only have the promised three episodes, but the status of a fifth season is still in limbo, making"The Final Problem" the last episode for now, whether fans like it or not. Though rumors of Sherlock returning often surface, it seems increasingly unlikely. However, one thing is for sure: contrary to what fans may want to believe, if there is ever more Sherlock, it will undoubtedly be highly publicized. Subscribe to our newsletter for fandom theory deep-dives Get inside the conversation: subscribe to our newsletter for clear, thoughtful coverage of fan theories, reactions, and how audiences reshape endings. Perfect for readers who want smart context on TV fandoms and storytelling trends. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. The idea of a secret episode is a testament to the dedication of both Sherlock and Stranger Things fans, who crafted detailed theories to support their hopes. While Sherlock fans never did earn another episode, Stranger Things fans can look forward to spin-offs. Perhaps one day, a TV show will add fuel to the fire by actually pulling off a secret finale, but despite the unwavering belief of their fanbase, neither Sherlock nor Stranger Things was the one to do so. Sherlock Like Follow Followed Release Date 2010 - 2017-00-00 Network BBC Showrunner Steven Moffat Directors Steven Moffat Writers Steven Moffat, Steve Thompson, Mark Gatiss Franchise Sherlock Holmes Cast See All
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