Stranger Things co-creator Ross Duffer reveals whether the rumored season 5 episode runtimes are accurate. Given the three-year hiatus since season 4 and with the new episodes only months away from being released, anticipation for the final season of the hit Netflix series is at an all-time high.
Recent rumors suggested that the runtimes for all Stranger Things season 5 episodes had been leaked, and the runtimes ranged from one hour and 55 minutes to the series finale being three hours long. Season 4 set a precedent for longer runtimes, with all episodes over an hour, and the finale being more than two hours long.
On his Instagram stories, Ross Duffer has now debunked the Stranger Things season 5 runtimes by saying “lol not even close to accurate” underneath the list of rumored episode lengths. Check out his response below:
What This Means For Stranger Things Season 5
Not Every Episode Will Be 2-3 Hours Long
Given the extensive runtimes of season 4’s episodes and season 5 taking about a year to film, it was easy to believe that the supposedly leaked episode lengths for season 5 were accurate. These runtimes would also have added more merit to Netflix’s decision to split Stranger Things season 5’s release into three parts.
Nevertheless, Duffer has confirmed that the rumored season 5 runtimes are untrue, and gotten ahead of everyone thinking that almost every episode is longer than two hours. The actual length of each episode remains unconfirmed and may not be revealed until Netflix releases each installment.
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Even though the episodes may not be two or three hours long, they will likely still have a long runtime considering all the mysteries Stranger Things season 5 must answer, along with the need to provide a satisfying conclusion to the character arcs that audiences have been following for almost a full decade now.
Our Take On The Rumored Runtimes Being Debunked
It’s A Good Sign That Stranger Things Season 5 Can Still Feel Like A TV Show
After being invested in this show for so long, the rumored runtimes would not have dissuaded me from watching the last season. At the same time, I am glad to know that these episode lengths are not accurate, as they would have made the show feel less like television and more akin to a series of overlong movies.
Long television episodes can definitely work in telling an overarching story, but each one needs to be distinct, such as “Dear Billy” in season 4, which is a standout episode for Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink). Making distinct episodes would have been less feasible when every installment is two to three hours long.
There is also the matter of when the episodes are released. Watching new Stranger Things episodes on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve is already going to be challenging for many, but it would have been even more difficult if the rumored runtimes were true.
Source: Ross Duffer/Instagram
Stranger Things
8/10
- Release Date
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2016 – 2025
- Network
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Netflix
- Showrunner
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Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer
