'Stranger Things' season 4 might see the Hawkins' heroes use time travel to defeat the monsters from the Upside Down
This article contains spoilers for 'Stranger Things' season 3
Mad scientists, possessed people, exploding rats, and spies. If there's anything else that 'Stranger Things' could bring in next season, it's the possibility of time travel. Soon after the third season's premiere on Netflix, theorists have already started speculating about what the potential season four has in store and time travel does seem a looming possibility.
To start with, why is there a need for time travel?
Simple. Jim Hopper (David Harbour) is presumed dead and there are a number of theories that support the fact that he's still out there somewhere and needs rescuing. Right at the start of season one, people have been theorizing that the gate to the Upside Down doesn't lead to a parallel universe, but rather to a future version of Hawkins. The second season also had ample references to 'The Terminator' to fuel the theory. The third season had references to 'Back to the Future' and these would have all prompted fans to deduce that there would be an element of time travel in the upcoming season.
The second feature that suggests time travel is the letter that Hopper writes to Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown). "I know you're getting older, growing, changing, and I guess if I'm being really honest, that's what scares me. I don't want things to change," Hopper wrote. "So I think maybe that's why I came in here, to try to maybe stop that change, to turn back the clock, to make things go back to how they were. But I know that's naive. It's just not how life works. It's moving, always moving, whether you like it or not. And yeah, sometimes it's painful. Sometimes it's sad. And sometimes it's surprising. Happy. So you know what, keep on growing up, kid. Don't let me stop you."
Maybe by season four, El would have regained her powers and tried decoding the message. The first time she reads it, the overwhelming emotion may not have given room for spotting any clues and it is safe to assume that if anyone were to help her out in deciphering the message, it would be Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder), as she is the only other person to have read the letter.
If there is the possibility of time travel, then that would provide an opportunity to stop all the catastrophe that unfolds and results in Billy's (Dacre Montgomery) death. Perhaps, Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) could be saved in the first place. And Bob Newby (Sean Astin) could be saved as well, not to forget Barb (Shannon Purser). That is, if all of this goes according to plan. If it backfires, well, that could be the plot point of season four.
Given the geniuses that the kids are, it's not a stretch to imagine that they could build a time machine. Or the alternative is that there is a time-traveling portal in Hawkins yet to be discovered.
Season three ended with the heroes pretty much going their own separate ways. Maybe this plot concerning time travel would heighten the story a bit. 'Stranger Things' season three is available for streaming on Netflix.