Max floating in Stranger Things season 4

What Year Is ‘Stranger Things’ Season 4 Set In?

Are your nail bats ready for this new season?

Cue the iconic theme, get your nail bats ready, and turn on those walkies because Stranger Things is back! It’s been 3 long years since season 3 (which isn’t my favorite season, but that doesn’t matter) and this season is said to be much darker. Judging by the sneak peeks, spoilers, and trailers, shit is about to get real (again). With the Upside Down, introduction of new villains and monsters, and plenty of personal drama, it’s sure to be a wild season.

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Last season left characters heartbroken, lost, and wondering what the future holds—perfectly nailing how trauma has its individual impact on people’s lives. On top of the kids and the adults reeling from their summer from hell, the main friend group must grapple with Will (Noah Schnapp), Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) moving away from Hawkins. Of course, in season 4 they are coming back and just in time for the new chaos that’s unfolding. There’s definitely a bit of a gap between the last season and this, leading some to ask, what year is season 4 set in? 

With this new season being 6 months after the big battle at Starcourt mall, it’s now 1986 in the Stranger Things universe. According to the internet, Burger King introduced chicken nuggets to their menu that year. Bops like “Mad About You” by Belinda Carlisle, “On My Own” by Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald, and others came out in ‘86 as well. As I’m writing this, Stranger Things season 4 Vol. 1 is days away. Which is very exciting but remember: don’t be an ass and be sure to tag your spoilers!

(featured image: Netflix)


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Vanessa Maki
Vanessa Maki (she/her) is a queer Blerd and contributing writer for The Mary Sue. She first started writing for digital magazines in 2018 and her articles have appeared in Pink Advocate (defunct), The Gay Gaze (defunct), Dread Central and more. She primarily writes about movies, TV, and anime. Efforts to make her stop loving complex/villainous characters or horror as a genre will be futile.