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‘Stranger Things’ fans think there’s a hidden Snyder Cut, but here’s the truth behind the rumor

‘Stranger Things’ Snyder Cut rumor reflects fan disappointment rather than missing footage, with cast members shutting down the theory

When a show as good as 'Stranger Things' hits the television, it is difficult to part ways. However, with the journey coming to an end after a major showdown between Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) and the Party, rumors are spreading like wildfire about a secret "Snyder cut," which is said to be bigger, better, and hidden from the world. It is essential to distinguish between fans' wishful thinking and reality. Here's what you need to know before setting your alarms and hitting refresh on your streaming device, trying to catch a brand-new episode.

With many fans eagerly anticipating a new episode, it is crucial to determine the origin of the idea. Back in December, when the show released the final volume of its fifth season, many fans were not satisfied with the way the character arcs or tonal beats concluded, thus sparking whispers that Episode 8 might not be the final episode. The whispers grew and evolved into serious discussions, with fans wanting a "Snyder Cut" similar to the one for Justice League, which had been released years ago. Here's the truth: the comparison to Justice League is misguided. The reason why 'Stranger Things' will not have a Snyder Cut is that the show has had the same director. Furthermore, Randy Havens, who plays Mr. Clarke, addressed the rumors, clearly stating, "There is no Snyder cut of the show, please don’t believe everything some random a tells you on the internet."

It is uncommon for actors to come out and address situations; however, when the show faced a backlash as significant as receiving over 280,000 fans' petitions to release the unseen footage, Havens had to speak out. The fans had their arguments ready, citing that the character moments and storylines were incomplete or missing. However, even if the petition received over a million signatures, it is not proof of unseen material, just unsatisfied expectations. But it does make you wonder what these inconsistencies could be? For starters, numerous Easter eggs and coincidences suggest something is not quite right.

One such example is Vecna's familiar pose after he possesses characters like Billy Hargrove (Dacre Montgomery). Usually, he sits or stands with his hands crossed; however, in the season finale, every single person in the graduation scene had their hands crossed in the same way as Vecna. Others also noticed the change in the prop dial pointer at the base of the transmission tower of the WSQK radio station. The color of the dial changed from gray in the first episode to red in the fifth episode, potentially signifying that the characters are in Vecna's mind. The fans connected the change in color to when Holly Wheeler (Nell Fisher) and Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink) realized that part of the merry-go-round was actually a different color, allowing them to escape.

While we feel sad for bursting your bubble, we do have some good news. Even though there is no episode 9, the show will release a special behind-the-scenes episode titled “Stranger Things: One Last Adventure” on January 12. It is not a new episode, but it will show how the fifth season was made, featuring final script readings and more.