Stranger Things Fans Catch a New Season 5 Slip-Up

Stranger Things season 5 Volume One has raised expectations for the remaining episodes, delivering big twists, emotional character moments, and the kind of tension-packed storytelling the show is known for. The first four episodes have been praised by viewers, even though critics were less enthusiastic this time around.

On Rotten Tomatoes, the season currently holds an impressive 85 percent audience score, showing just how much fans are enjoying the ride. But longtime viewers haven’t just been watching the action unfold, they’ve been paying attention to every detail.

And in doing so, many have noticed that one scene in episode four doesn’t quite match the show’s established history. The moment in question occurs in episode four, titled "Sorcerer." During a key sequence, Will Byers (played by Noah Schnapp) revisits major moments from his past.

These quick flashes highlight important memories from earlier seasons, including a brief shot of Castle Byers being constructed. The scene itself isn’t dramatic or surprising, but one detail stands out immediately: the weather. In the flashback, sunlight filters through the trees, and the scene is set on a bright, clear day.

For casual viewers, this might seem like nothing. But for fans who remember the show’s lore inside and out, this raises a red flag.

This raises a red flag.

Back in season 2, during the episode titled The Mind Flayer, Jonathan describes the day he and Will built Castle Byers. His version of events is very different. Jonathan explains that the two of them worked through the night, stayed outside even when the weather turned bad, and ended up sick afterward because they refused to stop.

He emphasizes that it had been raining heavily as they finished the project, a far cry from the sunny scene shown in season 5.

A Castle Byers flashback inconsistency has fans debating if it’s a mistake or just Hawkins being Hawkins.

Once viewers noticed the mismatch, discussions popped up online almost immediately. Some joked that the show’s creators must have stopped worrying about precision.

Others pointed out that this isn’t the only time the series has stumbled with continuity. Joyce previously mentioned that Will was 11 when he disappeared, even though he was canonically 12. And now, Will’s memory of building Castle Byers doesn’t line up with Jonathan’s detailed story from earlier seasons.

However, some fans argued that the moment might not be a true mistake. According to this more forgiving theory, the memory shown in season 5 could simply represent a different part of the same day, perhaps a short break before the storm began, or a moment earlier in the afternoon. After all, the scene we see lasts only a few seconds, and the weather in Hawkins changes quickly.

commons.wikimedia

Still, it’s hard to ignore the growing list of continuity puzzles fans have collected over the years. This isn’t the first time the Duffer Brothers have been questioned about inconsistencies, and one of the most memorable examples happened in season 4.

During the roller-rink scene, the video camera's date reads March 22, 1986, which is actually Will’s birthday. The episode makes no mention of it, and none of the characters acknowledge the date. Not even Will seems aware of it.

The oversight became such a topic of conversation that the Duffer Brothers eventually responded. They admitted they had forgotten the birthday entirely and joked about “George Lucasing” the problem, in other words, changing it retroactively so it fits more smoothly into the story.

Whether the new Castle Byers discrepancy will be explained, ignored, or quietly edited in future releases remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: as Stranger Things heads toward its final episodes, fans are watching more closely than ever.

With expectations sky-high for the conclusion, even small inconsistencies are becoming part of the conversation.