Attention, fellow fans of Stranger Things! The excitement is building for the fifth and final season of this beloved series, but what about the actual episode lengths? There have been whispers and speculations suggesting that each episode could stretch anywhere from a gripping 90 minutes to a full two hours! However, Ross Duffer, the co-creator of the show, has finally stepped in to clarify these rumors. Contrary to what some may have expected, while the runtimes for the initial four episodes of season five are substantial, they won’t hit those lengthy marks that were previously suggested.
In an engaging Instagram video, Ross provided us with the specifics of what to anticipate: the season opener, intriguingly named The Crawl, will last for approximately one hour and eight minutes; the second episode, named The Vanishing of..., will be a shorter 54 minutes; the third episode, titled The Turnbow Trap, comes in at one hour and six minutes; and finally, the fourth episode, known as Sorcerer, will run one hour and twenty-three minutes.
These four episodes will kick off the first volume of the highly anticipated final season, making their debut on November 26. Following swiftly will be volume two, which includes three additional episodes arriving on Christmas Day, and the series finale is set to grace screens on New Year’s Eve. While the episode lengths aren't quite the mini-movie experiences some claimed they would be, rest assured that several of the concluding episodes will very likely satisfy your craving for a feature-length viewing experience, especially the series finale, which holds promise for an impactful closure.
What's intriguing, however, is that even as Stranger Things reaches its conclusion, the franchise will carry on! Audiences can look forward to several exciting continuations, including Stranger Things: Tales from ’85, an animated series with potential for unique storytelling, and discussions are underway for a possible spin-off series, which may evoke the eerie vibes reminiscent of Twin Peaks. On a broader scale, the Duffer brothers are venturing away from Netflix, having inked an impressive deal with Paramount. This new agreement will encompass both television projects and feature films, marking a significant new chapter in their careers.
"We are immensely excited to become a part of the Paramount family! David, Josh, and Dana share our passion for producing bold and original films for cinema. Being involved in this mission is exhilarating and truly represents the fulfillment of a lifelong dream," expressed the Duffer brothers in an official statement. They added that it’s a significant honor to join a studio with such an illustrious history in Hollywood. Furthermore, they expressed enthusiasm about reconnecting with Cindy and Matt, who were among the very first to believe in their unconventional script that eventually became Stranger Things. "They took a chance on us back in 2015, and now they are doing it again – we can’t wait to explore new stories together!"
What do you think about these episode lengths? Are our expectations too high, or could we discover something wonderful in these more concise runtimes? Share your thoughts in the comments below – is the narrative strength of Stranger Things enough to withstand shorter episodes? Let the conversation begin!
