In the season 3 finale, the team successfully destroyed the Mind Flayer and the secret Russian laboratory attempting to access the Upside Down beneath the Starcourt Mall, resulting in the supposed death of Hopper. A group of young friends attempt to defeat the supernatural horrors that haunt their town and uncover the government secrets that have allowed atrocities to take place in a fictional town in the 1980's.
As season 3 was set during the July 4th celebrations, this indicates that season 4 takes place in early 1986, a year which saw a number of notable historical and pop-cultural events, such as the Chernobyl disaster and the release of James Cameron's Aliens. It seems that it has been a good half-year since the characters defeated the Mind Flayer and lost Hopper, as reported in Variety. Audiences will see the charactersstruggling with the aftermath of their experiences, at later-stages in their grief, rather than dealing with the immediate emotional ramifications. This is the shortest gap between seasons in the history of the show, with seasons 1 and 2 set nearly a year apart, and season 3 taking place nine months after season 2.
In this most vulnerable time, a new and horrifying supernatural threat surfaces, presenting a gruesome mystery that, if solved, might finally put an end to the horrors of the Upside Down. Devotees may wonder if the emotional well-being of the characters will have been affected by this six months, compared to when they last saw them at the end of season 3. Aided by mother Joyce Byers and chief of police Jim Hopper, each season follows the characters as they fend off a demonic presence that has entered their reality from the alternate dimension known as the "Upside Down." The implied setting of Spring 1986 will lead to speculation as to what pop-culture references the series will make, having previously cited Ghostbusters and Back to the Future. Our group of friends are separated for the first time because of the aftermath, and navigating high school hasn't made things any easier.
With the season 4 premiere rapidly approaching, marketing for Stranger Things has been ramping up, with new images and trailers generating much excitement within the fanbase.
It has been six months since the Battle of Starcourt, which brought terror and destruction to the town. Since the premiere of the first season of the show, it has achieved worldwide critical acclaim and has broken several viewership records. The fourth season of the show will be the longest to date and will be released in two volumes. Hopper was found to be alive, having been transported to a Russian prison camp.
The fourth season of the hit drama was delayed due to the Pandemic. Fans won't have to wait long to find out when the first volume of the fourth season of the show is released on May 27.