After three years of anticipation, Netflix has finally announced the release date for Stranger Things season 5 and confirmed the timeline of the final season.

Stranger Things became a worldwide phenomenon when it was released in 2016. The show was loved thanks to the compelling sci-fi premise and due to its setting and nostalgia for the 80s. So far, the Stranger Things timeline has covered the three years of the 1980s. But when exactly will the final season be set and how much time will it cover? Let’s break it down.

• Season 1 took place in the fall of 1983, as it began with Will Byers’ disappearance on November 6.

• Season 2 picked up in the fall of 1984 and ended around Christmas.

• Season 3 covered the summer of 1985 and ended after a short time jump.

• Season 4 jumped to spring 1986 and covered a few days only.

Stranger Things Season 5 Timeline Explained

According to Netflix’s official synopsis, season 5 will take place in the fall of 1987. This means that there will be a time jump of roughly a year and a half after the events of season 4. Interestingly, the final season also takes place exactly four years after the first episode of season 1.

Warning: Spoilers ahead as it contains leaked plot details from Stranger Things 5.

The storyline will likely stretch from the fall of 1987 through the holiday season, as revealed by set images. This aligns with recent rumors that Stranger Things 5: Volume 2 and Volume 3 will release on December 25 and December 31, respectively.

According to the leaks, Stranger Things 5 is also expected to have time jumps. The season 5 finale will feature a graduation scene of the kids from Hawkins High School. That would mean another time jump of another year, as the younger teens will graduate in May 1989.

There is also speculation about a final jump to New Year’s Eve of 1989. It would be a symbolic way to mark the end of the decade and the beginning of a new era for the characters as they bid farewell to the 1980s forever.

The final season will have the longest gap between seasons in Stranger Things’ history.

Stranger Things Timeline Overview

*Note: Timeline details for Season 5 are based on official sources and leaks. It may be subject to change.