Don't take this too literally. This feels like the marketing excuse for dividing the season
This is the beginning of switching to weekly releases, like everyone else.I feel like the marketing for this has been all over the place.
First, after numerous nothing-teasers and clips (the release frame of which felt like forever), they FINALLY give us a release date, but decide to split it into two parts, same as Ozark.
Second, they come up with a "this is the ending/finale/conclusion" moto, then IMMEDIATELY after reveal it's been renewed for a 5th and final season.
Why can't it be both? I doubt they'd lie about the overall length of the season being twice as long as the others, especially since it'll have been almost three years since season 3 so I can see them wanting to give us as much show as possible. The previous seasons were roughly between 6-7 hours in length so if this is, say, 12-14 hours total then splitting the season doesn't seem unreasonable, especially since it's only five weeks apart.
It's ironic that Netflix, the pioneers of binge watching streaming content, are going to start falling in line with every other platform and start releasing weekly content. But I suppose a streaming show does have more longevity in the public consciousness if it goes on for a month or two than if it's dropped in its entirety designed to be binged in a weekend only to become yesterday's news within a week.
While it's theoretically possible, with all the new characters and all, I have heard this before and it turns out the season is actually shorter overall, but you know, the premiere and finale were longer. Or it's like 10 mins. I am sure we will have a supersized start and finale. But this is most likely creative math that comes with 9 episodes instead of 8. Maybe every episode will average 15 minutes more overall. Maybe the finale is 90 mins. But I am going to go in with doubt. Netflix aren't exactly trustworthy.
That won't be why they do it. Service that is already way too expensive for the content they have is trying to suck people dry. Season 5 is going to be three years away as well, so they can suck those lapsing subs waiting for it dry.
I guess we'll find out. But based on the info we have I'm at least willing to bet that all of the episodes are at least 60 minutes each. Time will tell.
Either way, the recent subscription price hike has me considering dropping Netflix by the end of the year. I'll resubscribe for the final season of Stranger Things and anything else that I might find interesting like the Mike Flanagan shows but overall I've found myself turning to HBO Max and even Disney+ a lot more than Netflix recently.
That's where I'm at. Stranger Things season 5 and You season 4. Other than that I'm out on Netflix. They just don't have it anymore. Been that way for years imo. (Speaking of which I need them to drop the Stranger Things season 3 blu ray.) Hulu and HBO Max are the ones I use the most anyway
One would hope. Physical media has only been getting less popular but I can see Netflix continuing with those releases since it's their flagship show after all.
Yeah I think the biggest shows Netflix still do it. For now. I don't think HBO (except their biggest shows), Disney+, and Hulu do it anymore
Like massively popular shows before it like Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead, I'm certain there'll be spinoffs and the most likely subject for it is a prequel about the Hawkins lab where all of this started. As for a sequel, it's hard to tell just yet without knowing how it ends.
