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The Upside Down might serve as the most crucial setting in Stranger Things Season 4. However, it’s one that audiences know the least about. During weeks before the new season premiered, SFX Magazine implied Eleven created the alternate dimension. Fans later learned that was incorrect. Those hoping for an answer in Stranger Things Season 4 Volume II shouldn’t hold their breath.

[WARNING: This article contains detailed spoilers regarding Stranger Things Season 4 Volume I.]

One of the biggest questions in 'Stranger Things' is who created the Upside Down. Here, Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler, stands in the alternate dimension surrounded by vines in a production still.
Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler stands in the Upside Down in ‘Stranger Things’ Season 4. | Cr. Courtesy of Netflix

Eleven disappeared into the alternate dimension at the end of ‘Stranger Things’ Season 1

When Stranger Things Season 1 premiered in July 2016, fans watched as a monstrous creature known as the Demogorgon snatched Will Byers from a shed in his backyard. Later, his friends stumbled upon a little girl with a shaved head in the woods. Her supernatural powers fascinated the boys, and she helped them search for their friend. Eleven somehow knew of the Upside Down, but her limited vocabulary kept her from being able to explain it fully. 

Toward the end of the season, Eleven confessed she “was the monster.” This led many to believe that she actually created the Upside Down. When she banished the Demogorgon back to the alternate dimension, she disappeared as well. 

In Stranger Things 4, Dustin discusses the Upside Down and says, “Far as we know, Eleven didn’t create the Upside Down. She opened a gate to it. The Upside Down has probably been around for thousands of years. Millions. I wouldn’t be surprised if it predated the dinosaurs.” 

Several believed we might learn about its inception by the end of Stranger Things Season 4 Volume II. However, the Duffers recently confirmed that’s not happening.

Netflix wants to know about the mystery of the Upside Down

Casual fans aren’t the only ones clamoring for answers about the alternate dimension. In a recent interview with Variety, Ross and Matt Duffer said even Netflix wants an explanation about its creation.

In Stranger Things Season 4, audiences learn that the Upside Down is frozen in time. It looks exactly as it did when the Demogorgon kidnapped Will in season 1. Variety asked about the reasoning behind that decision.

“That is a very good question. That is actually one of the few questions that we’ve raised this season that isn’t going to get answered in Volume 2. But that’s setting the stage for some big reveals in our final season. But all the way back, we’ve said this before, but Netflix, midway through Season 1, they went, “Can you just please explain to us what the Upside Down is and where these monsters are coming from, all of this stuff?” So we wrote this document, we spent like a week with our writers just writing out all the mythology and that really is where we really defined what the Upside Down was and where these monsters were coming from and what it all meant. And so this season, we are giving the audience a lot of information, but there’s still mysteries about the Upside Down, and that is a big one. But we really wanted to hint at it this season because it’s going to play such a huge role moving…”

Matt Duffer via Variety
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Ross Duffer says ‘Stranger Things’ Season 4 Volume II gives a little more information about the Upside Down

While fans might not learn every detail about the Upside Down in Stranger Things Season 4, the Duffers promise at least a few more answers. Ross Duffer confirms that fans find out more about the dimension in volume II. Plus, both say they know the answers about its creations. Fans will also know by the end of the series.

Stranger Things Season 4 Volume II premieres on Netflix on July 1, 2022.

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