The fourth season of Stranger Things ended with the most devastating events the show has ever seen. The villain, Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower), achieved his plan by killing Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink), which opened four huge gateways in Hawkins, Indiana. These gates met in the center of town, creating a massive portal that allowed the dangerous world of the Upside Down to start invading our world. The season ended with a dark image of the heroes watching as red lightning filled the sky and plants began to wither, hinting at a difficult battle ahead. However, when Netflix started promoting the fifth season, it became clear the story wouldn’t pick up right after those events. Now that the first part of Stranger Things 5 is out, we know exactly how much time has passed.
Warning: Spoilers below for Stranger Things 5, Volume 1
After the devastating events, the U.S. military took complete control of Hawkins. They sealed the four main gateways with huge metal plates and built a large base, called the Military Access Control Zone (MAC-Z), around the biggest portal to the Upside Down. The town was completely fenced off and quarantined, effectively trapping everyone inside. Even with this strict military rule, a sort of normal life has begun to emerge. The teenagers still go to school, dealing with typical high school problems while living in a town under siege. This situation has created a world constantly facing a hidden, chilling conflict with the Upside Down.
How Does Season 5 of Stranger Things Fit in the Timeline?
The first episode of Stranger Things 5 clearly establishes when it takes place within the show’s timeline. It begins on November 3rd, 1987, and a conversation with Robin Buckley reveals that over a year has passed since the events of the previous season. To clarify, the main storyline of Stranger Things 4 unfolded over a single week in March 1986, culminating in the battle with Vecna on March 27th, 1986, and a brief follow-up scene taking place two days later on March 29th.
The gap between the fourth and fifth seasons is about a year and eight months, which matches the 500-plus days of quarantine shown in the new season. This time jump lets the story skip over the initial chaos of the invasion and focus on how living through a long-term, interdimensional war has affected people and society. We see Hawkins and its heroes changed by a prolonged struggle, with new challenges and higher stakes as they face Vecna in a final showdown.
The first part of Stranger Things season 5 is now available on Netflix. The second part will be released on December 25th, and the very last episode will stream on December 31st.
What do you think about the time jump in Stranger Things 5, and how will it change the story for the final season? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!
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2025-11-27 04:10