Warning: This article contains spoilers for Stranger Things season 4
Stranger Things production designer Chris Trujillo has confirmed how time works in the Upside Down. As promised by its cast and creators The Duffers Brothers in the lead up to its release, Stranger Things season 4 has proved the show's most horror-fuelled installment yet. After the Battle of Starcourt Mall in season 3 saw the defeat of the Mind Flayer, the Upside Down has now revealed its major villain in Vecna, a terrifying creature who preys on his victims' past trauma and kills them from his lair in the alternate world hidden beneath Hawkins. While Stranger Things season 4 saw the original Hawkins gang split up across the country, Steve, Nancy, Robin and Eddie become stuck in the Upside Down attempting to find Vecna.
The last episode of Stranger Things season 4, part 1, "The Massacre at Hawkins Lab," saw Vecna explain his origins to Nancy after she was trapped in his lair. Finally bringing the Hawkins gang and Eleven's season 4 story together, Vecna was revealed to be both One and the son of Victor Creel, transformed into the horrifying villain after Eleven learned of his true motivations and banished him to this dark version of Hawkins. However, just before this shocking twist, Nancy and the others find themselves exploring the Upside Down, only for Nancy to realize that this version of her bedroom appears stuck in 1983, rather than their current 1986. While there have long been theories about the Upside Down's timeline, this seemingly confirmed that the world exists in a seperate time to real-world Hawkins.
In a new video, Trujillo confirmed that this is indeed the case. As part of a featurette spotlighting Stranger Things' production, the designer explained that the Upside Down is "frozen" in 1983, several years after Eleven exiled One/Vecna to its clutches. As a result, the Upside Down is entirely styled with elements from season 1, following Eleven's escape from Hawkins Lab. Read his full comments below:
"The moment that the Upside Down was quote-unquote “created” inadvertently by Eleven, the set dressing and the world of the Upside Down is frozen in that moment. So like when we’re in Nancy’s room, we’ll discover in the Upside Down that Nancy’s room is as it was season 1 when we first were introduced to it."
Aside from confirming the "frozen" timeline that Stranger Things season 4 only briefly addressed, Trujillo's comments about Eleven "creating" the Upside Down are interesting, though he doesn't outright say that this was the case. Star Millie Bobby Brown herself has been careful to confirm this in the past, saying that Eleven merely opened the gate to the world, which already existed. Given this, the Upside Down's exact origins are still a mystery, including how it transformed One into Vecna but doesn't affect its Hawkins victims in the same way. What's more, Trujillo's comments are also fascinating given that the Upside Down is frozen in 1983, but Eleven's battle with One occurred in 1979, suggesting Stranger Things season 1's setting holds some so-far unknown significance.
Stranger Things season 4, part 2 is just days away from release on July 1. While its trailer has teased a final epic showdown between Eleven and Vecna, Nancy and Steve were also both shown back in the real Hawkins, confirming they escape Vecna's clutches. Going into the final Stranger Things season 4 episodes, the significance of the Upside Down's timeline remains to be seen. However, the fact that the world is stuck in 1983 seems to point to Eleven's crucial role. Whether or not the Upside Down existed prior to Stranger Things season 1's timeline, Eleven's newly-renewed powers are likely the only thing capable of destroying it forever.
Source: Stranger Things/YouTube