Netflix has finally confirmed in a sneak peak teaser that Season 4 of Stranger Things will release sometime during 2022. After showing clips from the previous three seasons, the teaser also included some new footage from the upcoming season.
There’s a lot packed into the 31-second teaser, so here's a breakdown for all of the new footage for Season 4.
A Grandfather Clock
The first new footage in the teaser is of a grandfather clock that’s chiming 12:00. It may just seem like a one-off shot, but it has to be more than that. Every teaser for Season 4 has included a clock of some kind. The first appearance was a fact; the second could have been a coincidence, but this third appearance has started an undeniable pattern.
In a teaser like this, clocks often communicate that time is of the essence, and the audio supplements that idea. Just before the clock is shown, Mike Wheeler can be heard saying, “Something’s coming. It is almost here.” The whole thing has a supernatural vibe, so maybe the Mind Flayer is going to finally enter the real world, rather than sending its minions in Season 4.
Men In Suits Holding Eleven Back
The next new shot is of Eleven. First off, her new haircut – it’s now changed in every season -- looks a lot like Joyce’s, and that makes sense because Joyce is like a mother figure for Eleven after they moved away from Hawkins. However, the bigger issue is that two official-looking men in suits are holding Eleven back. She looks nervous, but she also looks knowing – like she’s seeing something in disbelief.
The suits are likely a reference to the goings-on at Hawkins Laboratory, and that means that Eleven just might be looking at Dr. Brenner. It’s long been theorized that he survived Season 1, and he was even shown in a previous teaser. Some thought that he would appear in a flashback, but this could be a hint that he could return in the flesh.
The Hawkins Gang Is Back Together
Season 4 of Stranger Things is set sometime in 1986, at least a few months after Season 3. These next shots show everyone who is still in Hawkins – because The Byers family and Eleven moved away – is back together, and that means something of significance is happening.
It looks like they are in an abandoned building or an antique store. Maybe this is where the grandfather clock is, but what the place is or what it means is anyone’s guess.
Hopper Has a Flamethrower
The last time that Hopper was shown was in the first Season 4 teaser. It confirmed that he survived last season’s finale and was now a captive in Russia, but here he is seen holding a flamethrower. All that really means right now is that he gets away from the Russians which was kind of expected. Regardless, the flamethrower is just an awesome weapon for Hopper.
Hawkins High Cheerleaders
The next shot is of the cheer team at Hawkins High. Thanks to the casting of a guidance counselor, a band nerd, a cheerleader and a baseball star, it was expected that Stranger Things Season 4 would once again focus around the kids' school lives, which this shot seems to confirm.
A Car On Fire
There's a shot of a car that’s on fire. It’s night, the car is upside down and someone is walking toward it, but it's hard to decipher because of the silhouetted figure. However, it looks like a small car -- potentially Joyce's -- and the figure looks small and could very well be Will. It’s only speculation right now, but Joyce could be in trouble.
Steve Is Under Water
Steve is seen under water with a flashlight. Clearly he’s looking for something, but there’s not much to go on beyond that.
Dice Rolling Down a Table
There’s also a brief shot of three dice – two white and one red – being cast down what seems to be some kind of a game or betting table. Is it a game of D&D? There was also set of dice seen in the second teaser, so they could mean something but it's not yet determinable.
Four People Biking
The final shot before the Season 4 logo appears in the teaser is of four people biking down the road. It’s been a common shot over the first three seasons, and bikes have always been the main mode of transportation for the kids.
From left to right, there's Max, Dustin and Lucas, but the fourth person is difficult to make out. It looks like it could be Lucas' younger sister, Erica, played by Priah Ferguson, who was a standout in Season 3. This would make sense as she's been reportedly promoted to a series regular for Season 4 and was a huge help to the party previously.
Created and produced by the Duffer brothers, Season 4 of Stranger Things will premiere sometime in 2022.