Stranger Things creators the Duffer brothers address the expected runtimes of season 5's episodes, after season 4 became the show's longest season yet. Earlier this summer, Stranger Things returned to Netflix via a unique release schedule that saw season 4's episodes drop across two volumes. The highly anticipated arrival of Stranger Things season 4 came after the show experienced a brief hiatus following the COVID-19 pandemic, with many delighted to finally see Eleven and the gang return to screens.
Prior to season 4's release, the Duffer brothers teased that Stranger Things was set to bring its darkest episodes yet, with the show having certainly delivered on this promise on all accounts. As audiences learned more and more about the dark secrets of Creel House, Stranger Things introduced season 4's big bad, Vecna, who proved to be a terrifying match for Eleven and her powers. Gripped by the impending doom that season 4 brought, audiences immersed themselves in almost 13 hours worth of runtime, with the finale clocking in at a feature-length 2 hours and 19 minutes - which has left many curious whether they should expect a super-sized season 5 as well.
The Duffer brothers recently sat down with THR to discuss all things Stranger Things following the enormous success of season 4. The duo discuss how season 5 is likely to be less "extreme" with regard to runtimes, with Matt Duffer sharing that they are interested in returning to the "simplicity of the structure" of Stranger Things season 1, which saw the show propelled to almost immediate success. The creator goes on to say that even though season 5 may be somewhat shorter than season 4, audiences can still expect a "pretty massive" finale. Check out the full quote below.
I don’t think the run times will be as extreme in season five. We’re trying to return to the simplicity of the structure in season one, with bigger scale and scope. Except for the finale, which I’m expecting will be pretty massive.
In the interview, the Duffer brothers also discuss how the runtimes of season 4 actually came as somewhat of a surprise to them, recalling how the scripts themselves were not actually that long. It was recently confirmed that Stranger Things season 5 has now officially entered its writing stages, with an exciting image having recently been shared from the Stranger Things writers room. Having spoken briefly about their plans for season 5 in the past, the Duffer brothers also previously discussed how they will resist the urge to introduce any new characters into season 5, as they want to focus on the show's core group for the final season.
Though many were satisfied with how the Duffers utilized Stranger Things season 4's impressive runtime, news that season 5 will likely run shorter is sure to spark some mixed reactions from fans. Perhaps the most interesting thing about their comments is that they are hoping to revert to season 1's ideas, and though they are referring here to the structure, it remains to be seen if any other elements will be implemented in order to create a true full-circle moment in this highly anticipated final season. With Stranger Things season 4 having left audiences in the midst of Vecna's destruction of Hawkins, there is still a considerable wait ahead for those desperate to learn what comes next.
Source: THR