Stranger Things Season 5 Should Enter A New Decade (2024)

For a while now, fans have heard that Stranger Things season 5 could have a time jump, and fans have mixed feelings about this idea. On one hand, it makes sense that the popular Netflix series would age the characters up since there will be a large gap between season 4, which aired in the summer of 2022, and season 5, which will air in 2025. However, on the other hand, if too much time has passed, that could change the story too much.

While fans debate which Stranger Things characters could survive, they're going to be curious about what decade Stranger Things season 5 should be set in until they get the chance to see the new episodes. There's one decade that would be a great choice and would get viewers even more excited for the final season.

Stranger Things Season 5 Should Be Set In The 1990s

If Stranger Things season 5 is set in the 1990s, it will provide a complete ending for the story and also feel like the next natural step. Season 1 takes place in November 1983, season 2 in fall 1984, season 3 in summer 1985, and season 4 in March 1986. If there is a time jump of four years and season 5 takes place in 1990, that wouldn't feel too jarring and would allow the show to say goodbye to its beloved characters properly.

Since Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and her friends are 15 in Stranger Things season 4, they would be 19 if Stranger Things season 5 takes place in 1990. While it would feel a little alarming to skip over the rest of their high school years, it would be fun to see them in college. It's possible that the characters could return to Hawkins for a school break and realize that the threat of Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) isn't over. Or perhaps there is a time that they have always planned to come back because, as the Stranger Things season 4 ending suggested, a battle is approaching.

A '90s setting for Stranger Things season 5 would also make the main characters even more prepared for battle because they've grown up and become more confident. While the ending might not be perfectly satisfying because series finales are tricky, this would go a long way toward ensuring that the show can wrap up the way that fans want. A big homecoming in Hawkins would prove that the kids aren't kids anymore and they're willing to take big risks and look danger right in the face. Since the actors look much older than they did back in season 1, this is necessary.

It would also be smart to move into the 1990s since otherwise, another season set in the 1980s could feel dull and stale. Stranger Things season 5 needs to feel thrilling, unforgettable, and different from what fans have seen before. A new decade could infuse some excitement into the final episodes.

Most of all, setting Stranger Things season 5 four years in the future in 1990 would also create some opportunity for drama within the main relationships. Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder) and Jim Hopper (David Harbour) are hopefully married, or at least fully committed to each other, and fans hope Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard) and Eleven are still a couple. But season 5 could cause some conflict in these relationships before what is hopefully a happy conclusion. After Hopper's Stranger Things season 4 storyline, it would be tough to see him dealing with more heartbreak, but fans can tell it's going to happen.

How Stranger Things Used Its 1980s Setting In Seasons 1-4

Stranger Things seasons 1, 2, 3, and 4 do a great job of depicting the 1980s. The main characters are fully immersed in 1980s pop culture, which makes sense since teenagers always become attached to the movies, music, and TV shows of their time. Some of the best nods to '80s culture are when Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink) listens to "Running Up That Hill" by Kate Bush and Steve Wheeler (Joe Keery) talks about Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

The Stranger Things characters also love playing Dungeons & Dragons, which was very popular in the 1980s. The show also makes sure to include the worry that adults had over it. According to BBC.com, some groups were convinced it was a terrible idea for young people to play the role-playing game.

In season 4, Steve and Robin (Maya Hawke) work at Family Video, which is very '80s since renting movies was a big part of people's weekend routines. There's also a cardboard cutout of Nightmare on Elm Street villain Freddy Krueger, which is a fun and memorable detail.