It’s official, the Stranger Things Season 4 premiere date doesn’t need any further decoding as Netflix has finally announced that our favorite fantasy series will not only be making its comeback, but it’s returning in two parts. That’s right—the “dates” in this headline isn’t a typo. The new season will return in two volumes, the first on May 27 and the second on July 1.
The official synopsis reads: “It’s been six months since the Battle of Starcourt, which brought terror and destruction to Hawkins. Struggling with the aftermath, our group of friends are separated for the first time – and navigating the complexities of high school hasn’t made things any easier. In this most vulnerable time, a new and horrifying supernatural threat surfaces, presenting a gruesome mystery that, if solved, might finally put an end to the horrors of the Upside Down.”
Stranger Things Season 4 will not only be returning in two parts, but the Duffer Brothers finally gave us (or maybe me, rather) the one thing I’ve been hoping for—an end date in sight. In an official letter released on Twitter: they state that Season 4 will be the penultimate to the epic Season 5 conclusion. We have two more years left in Hawkins, and that’s okay.
While I adore every bit of this show and these characters, quality over quantity will always be preferable. An endgame means that writers won’t carry on drama for the sake of drama, characters won’t be put through unnecessary wringers, and the series could end with a cohesive beginning, middle, and end. Shows with specific premises like Stranger Things shouldn’t be dragged on further—it’d get tiring to consistently find ourselves in the Upside Down with no way out, and it’d frankly wear us down. It’d also leave the fans with trust issues frequently worried about what could happen to their favorite characters. Knowing that Season 5 will be the final season is the kind of hope we could all use.
In addition to the Stranger Things Season 4 premiere day announcements, Netflix gave us four new posters with the key locations we’ll likely find ourselves in—California, Creel House, The Lab, and Russia.
We know the group takes a trip to California to visit Eleven and Will because of the teaser clip released during Netflix‘s Tudum event, but what exactly does it mean? Spring Break needs to get here soon. After 105 days, a Mike and Eleven reunion is all we’ll need.
While I’m personally a little (very) nervous about what could happen in the Creel House, especially with the teaser and how terrifying it looks, it might be made easier if Steve Harrington is still playing the role of mom/ultimate baby-sitter.
But right there with the Creel House’s terrifying potential is The Lab, where it’s easy to presume we’ll get to know a bit more about Eleven, which will be fantastic. Still, the tick-tocks are already terrifying, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who isn’t looking forward to seeing more of Papa’s abusive behavior.
And finally, how on earth are we going to get Hopper back from Russia? When is this going to happen? Something tells me we won’t be getting a reunion between Hopper and Joyce until Volume 2, and that alone will be sheer torture.
Let the countdown for Stranger Things Season 4 begin now that we actually have a date and all the confirmation we need for what will likely be the event of the late Spring and peak Summer.
We’re ready. Are you? Let us know all your Stranger Things Season 4 thoughts in the comments below.