Summary
- Eleven's longer hair in Stranger Things season 5 hints at a time jump of at least 1.5 years between seasons.
- The time jump in season 5 complicates the narrative but was necessary due to the aging cast playing younger characters.
- A time jump may mean Stranger Things season 5 will explore Vecna's influence on Hawkins in a psychic, rather than literal, way.
While Stranger Things season 4’s ending promised that the show’s final outing would be bigger and better than ever, and hopes are high for its return.
However, the show’s growth in popularity hasn’t been without its problems. As production on Stranger Things season 5 continues, the hype around the series always risks turning to backlash. Season 4 was well received, but season 3 received some criticism for its uneven tone. Meanwhile, the ever-increasing scope of the series and its in-demand cast means that each new season of Stranger Things takes more time to produce than the last. In the case of Stranger Things season 5, this has resulted in a three-year break between seasons. This makes a time jump both necessary and almost inevitable.
8 Things That Happen In Every Stranger Things Episode
While Stranger Things is well-known for its incredible plot twists, certain stories and character actions can be found in many episodes.
Eleven's Long Hair In Stranger Things Season 5 Means A Big Time Jump
The Time Eleven’s Hair Takes To Grow Offers Viewers A Clue
The length of her hair is a clear indicator that at least a year and a half has elapsed since viewers saw Eleven survey Hawkins from a hillside in the spring of 1986.
A recent behind-the-scenes video from Netflix saw the creators and cast of Stranger Things celebrate reaching the halfway point in the final outing’s production. This video gave one unexpected clue to the likelihood of the series staging a time jump between seasons 4 and 5. Eleven’s hair has grown notably between seasons 4 and 5, meaning viewers can expect that at least eighteen months have elapsed since the season 4 finale. Hair typically grows around 5–6 inches per year and Eleven’s head was clean-shaven when viewers last saw her in season 4’s ending.
As such, at least 1.5 years have ed since her final showdown with Vecna left Max in a coma and the town of Hawkins partially slipping into the Upside-Down. Millie Bobby Brown’s Stranger Things replacements make the decision to grow out Eleven’s hair understandable since she has not one, but two franchises that require her to wear her hair longer. However, within the universe of the series, the length of her hair is a clear indicator that at least a year and a half has elapsed since viewers saw Eleven survey Hawkins from a hillside in the spring of 1986.
What A Time Jump Means For Stranger Things Season 5
Season 5’s Time Jump Makes Season 4’s Hawkins Ending More Complicated
Although Stranger Things season 5’s time jump might be good news for Brown’s stylist, it does complicate matters for the show's continuity. Stranger Things season 4’s finale heavily implied Vecna’s malign influence was allowing the Upside-Down to somehow seep into Hawkins despite his temporary defeat. The grey dust that blew through the town after what was written off as an earthquake seemed like it could presage the arrival of Demogorgons, the Upside-Down’s monstrous giant bats, or even Vecna himself. However, a time jump makes this less likely since this would presumably lead to the town’s evacuation.
The Stranger Things season 5 time jump proves that Vecna’s influence over Hawkins must be more psychic and less literal than it appeared in the immediate aftermath of his fight with Eleven. It might be that the locals are gradually growing more hostile thanks to his evil, or he has begun to once again invade their minds as he did early on in season 4. Whatever the villain is up to, it can’t be as simple and straightforward as letting the denizens of the Upside-Down roam free above ground since the town then wouldn’t survive a time jump.
Why Stranger Things Season 5 Really Needs A Time Jump
The Cast’s Ages Mean That Season 5 Was Overdue A Time Jump
Although a time jump would complicate the show’s depiction of the Upside-Down considerably, this doesn’t mean that the series didn’t need one. On the contrary, Stranger Things season 5 always required a time jump thanks to the cast’s ages, as the twenty-somethings continuing to play young teenagers grew increasingly absurd. When Stranger Things season 1 began in 2016, Brown was 12 while her co-stars Finn Wolfhard and Caleb McLaughlin were both 14 years old. The cast played characters around their real-life age in a season set during 1983.
The age gap widened considerably with each ing season as only a year or so ed in-universe, but up to three years elapsed during production.
By 2022, Brown was 18 and both Wolfhard and McLaughlin were 20, but their characters were still only three years older in a season set during 1986. The age gap widened considerably with each ing season as only a year or so ed in-universe, but up to three years elapsed during production. By season 5, Brown, Wolfhard, and McLaughlin would be 20 and 22 respectively and playing 15-year-olds. This could stretch credulity too far, meaning Stranger Things season 5 may even add numerous time jumps to its storyline to ensure the cast doesn’t look comically out of place.
- Cast
- Noah Schnapp
- Writers
- Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer, Paul Dichter, Kate Trefry
- Seasons
- 5
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix
- Franchise
- Stranger Things
