The showrunners of the popular Netflix show Stranger Things have confirmed that the upcoming final season of the show will feature a time jump. The revelation led many to speculate that Season 5 might advance to events following Vecna’s invasion of Hawkins and the opening of portals to the Upside Down.
However, there’s also a compelling fan theory suggesting that the time jump could actually move the story backward to a specific moment in Season 1. Despite this intriguing possibility, there are several potential issues that could arise with such a plot development.
Stranger Things Season 5 Fan Theory Suggests Time Jump Could Go Backwards
As Season 5 of Stranger Things enters production and glimpses from behind the scenes emerge, discussions have intensified about a potential time leap into the future following Vecna’s invasion of Hawkins.
However, one Reddit theory suggests that the show may instead revisit the past, specifically the moment of Will Byers’ (Noah Schnapp) disappearance in Season 1. Will’s disappearance was the catalyst for the series, leading to the revelation of the Upside Down and its sinister inhabitants.
While he was rescued by Joyce and Jim a week later, his time in the alternate dimension left a lasting impact, evidenced by his enduring connection to the Mind Flayer throughout the series.
The theory asserts that the final season might take the characters back to the day Will went missing, potentially to alter or prevent the events that set the series in motion.
The speculation is supported by recurring motifs like the grandfather clock seen by Vecna’s victims and a conversation between Nancy and Steve in Season 4, where he tells Nancy that he used to crawl backward as a toddler.
His remark, “Always in reverse, you know,” is taken as a hint at a time travel plot, particularly given that the first episode of Season 5 is titled, The Crawl.
While the details remain scarce, there is also a possibility that the time travel could explore Will’s experience in the Upside Down along with how he managed to survive a week in the dimension and why the Demogorgon spared him while killing others.
Going Back in Time Poses Several Challenges for Stranger Things Finale
While moving into the future might be more practical for the showrunners due to the aging cast, this approach has its drawbacks. Season 4 concluded with Vecna’s invasion and a massive earthquake hitting Hawkins.
Skipping ahead could leave significant issues unaddressed Season 4 ended right after Vecna’s invasion with a massive earthquake hitting Hawkins, and skipping months or even weeks ahead would leave many important things about Hawkins and its residents.
A time jump into the past seems more plausible, but it also presents challenges, especially in terms of portraying younger versions of the characters. The Reddit theory also suggests the use of de-aging technology, similar to that used for Millie Bobby Brown’s character Eleven in Season 4.
However, there are also specualtions that scenes set in the future may have already been filmed. Additionally, there are many questions about why and how the group would choose to travel back in time.
One of the challenges is how the showrunners will recreate the original magic, as capturing the same nostalgia and impact as Season 1 would be difficult.
With all the specualtions and theories surrounding the final season, it’s hard to it’s difficult to predict where the story will ultimately lead. However, given the show’s reputation for surprises, the series finale is likely to feature something huge in its final chapter.
Stranger Things is available to watch on Netflix.
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