‘Stranger Things 3’: How Much Time Has Passed Since Season 2?
The first trailer for Stranger Things 3 is finally here. Things are definitely changing for the gang in Hawkins, Indiana, as they experience growing pains of the natural and supernatural variety. The show commonly skips a bit of time between seasons, and this one is no exception. Here’s what we know about the third season of Stranger Things, including how much time has passed and where the characters are now.
From Season 1 to Season 2, we jump forward in time
The first Season of Stranger Things took place in late 1983. The season finale, “Chapter Eight: The Upside Down,” jumped forward a month, but altogether, not a lot of time passed during the eight-episode season.
The second season picks up in October 1984. They celebrate Halloween, and a little bit of time passes before “Chapter Nine: The Gate,” which ends the season with the snowball.
Season 3 takes place in Summer 1985
The Duffer brothers previously said that the third season would take place during the summer of 1985. This is obvious in the trailer, which is filled with scenes at a pool, an ice cream shop, a carnival, and plenty more time spent outdoors. There won’t be any school scene getting in the way of the action this time around, leaving more opportunities for the focus on growing up (and, of course, fighting monsters from the Upside Down).
How old are Eleven and the rest of the kids?
There’s nothing subtle about the way the trailer acknowledges that they’re growing up, with Mike saying, “We’re not kids anymore!” The song “Teenage Wasteland” by The Who plays, in case you didn’t get the point — all of the characters are, definitely teenagers now.
At the start of the series, the kids are in seventh grade, and they’re either 11 or 12 years old. Given the timeline, we can assume now that they’re either 13 or 14, depending on when during the year their birthdays fall. This is punctuated by the girls dressing up and listening to music, and the emphasis on the couples that have formed (Will and Eleven are seen together, as are Max and Lucas).
How old are Nancy, Steve, and Jonathan now?
Though we never see them spend a lot of time in the classroom, small details have taught us that Steve is a grade older than Nancy (and, presumably, Jonathan). Steve mentions that he could stay in Hawkins instead of going to college in the beginning of Season 2, which would point to that being the fall of his senior year.
So in Summer 1985, he would have graduated from high school. Now working at the ice cream shop with Robin (played by Maya Hawke, Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke’s daughter), he is still hanging around with Dustin, so it seems like they’ll be focusing on his journey into adulthood a little as well.
This would make Nancy and Jonathan around 17, and headed into their senior year of high school. They’re seen briefly sitting in the waiting room of the town newspaper’s office in their best attire, which could mean they’re interning there for the summer. Or maybe even something more interesting is happening, like an interview.
Will it be the final season?
Fortunately for fans of the series, this isn’t the end of things in Hawkins. There will be at least one more season of Stranger Things. However, that will likely be the last one, as the Duffer Brothers only conceived of a four-part series. For now, there’s a lot to be excited about when Stranger Things 3 premieres on Netflix on July 4, 2019.
