A strange and fast-moving theory has taken hold online, and it’s sending parts of the Stranger Things fandom into a frenzy.According to growing speculation, Netflix may have removed nearly an entire volume from Season 5 before it ever reached viewers. What started as frustration over pacing has now evolved into a full-blown conspiracy, complete with petitions, alleged runtime discrepancies, and comparisons to one of pop culture’s most infamous fan campaigns.At the center of it all is Volume 2 of Season 5, which premiered over Christmas and immediately sparked backlash. Fans didn’t just dislike it. Many felt something was fundamentally missing.Credit: NetflixWhy Fans Think Something Was CutThe complaints started almost immediately after Volume 2 dropped. Viewers described the episodes as rushed, disjointed, and emotionally uneven. Character arcs seemed to jump ahead without explanation. Plot threads appeared to resolve themselves offscreen. For a show known for careful buildup and long-form storytelling, the shift felt jarring.That discomfort led fans to start digging. Online sleuths began circulating claims that early episode runtimes were far longer than what ultimately aired. Some alleged that episodes were once listed at nearly two hours each, with rumors stretching as far as a three-hour finale. The implication was clear: Netflix must have cut massive chunks of footage.Those claims quickly spread across social media platforms, fan forums, and comment sections, giving rise to the idea that an entire volume—or at least a substantial portion of one—had been removed entirely.The “Release the Season 5 Cut” MovementOnce the idea caught fire, it didn’t take long for it to organize. A petition calling for Netflix to release the “unseen” Season 5 footage gained hundreds of thousands of signatures. Supporters argue that the missing material would restore coherence to the story, repair character motivations, and address dangling plotlines that Volume 2 left unresolved.Some fans even drew direct parallels to the Snyder Cut campaign, suggesting that Stranger Things was suffering from a similar behind-the-scenes situation. In that narrative, Netflix either interfered late in production or made sweeping editorial decisions that altered the creators’ original vision.For many viewers, believing in a lost volume almost feels comforting. It offers an explanation for disappointment that doesn’t involve accepting that the final season may simply not have landed the way they hoped.What the Evidence Actually ShowsDespite how convincing the theory may feel, there’s no factual basis for the claim that Netflix removed an entire volume of Season 5. The alleged extended runtimes appear to have originated from unreliable sources, including editable databases that frequently contain placeholder or speculative information.The show’s creators have also addressed the runtime rumors, stating that the extremely long episode lengths circulating online were not accurate. In reality, most Season 5 episodes fall close to an hour, with one extended finale planned to run just over two hours—hardly evidence of hours upon hours of missing footage.Additionally, the appearance of unseen scenes in trailers or behind-the-scenes material isn’t unusual. Television and film productions regularly shoot content that never makes it into the final cut. Trailers often include alternate takes, trimmed scenes, or moments designed purely for promotional purposes.In other words, missing shots don’t automatically point to a hidden volume.Credit: NetflixWhy the Theory Keeps Growing AnywaySo if the evidence doesn’t hold up, why does the theory keep spreading?Because the emotional reaction is real. Many fans genuinely feel let down by Volume 2, particularly when compared to earlier seasons that balanced character development with supernatural stakes. When a story feels unsatisfying, it’s natural to look for an external reason—especially one that suggests the “real” version of the story still exists somewhere.There’s also a specific subset of the fandom that believes certain relationships or storylines were deliberately scaled back or removed. That belief has added fuel to the speculation, even as creators and cast members continue to deny it.No matter how you look at it, it does feel like Season 5 has been different than other seasons. Without getting into spoilers, character interactions often feel less organic in many cases.What This Means for the Final Episode of Stranger ThingsWith one major episode still to come, the situation remains tense. Some viewers are holding out hope that the finale will retroactively smooth over the rough edges of Volume 2. Others worry that no amount of runtime can undo what they see as structural problems.What’s clear is that Netflix has not confirmed the removal of an entire volume, nor is there credible reporting to support that claim. The idea of a secret, dramatically longer Season 5 may be compelling—but for now, it appears to be more wishful thinking than reality.Whether the finale changes the conversation or deepens the divide, one thing is certain: Stranger Things is ending with as much debate offscreen as it delivers drama onscreen.The post Report: Netflix Removes Entire Volume From ‘Stranger Things 5’ Amid Backlash appeared first on Inside the Magic.