The Duffer Brothers passionately defend lengthy gaps between seasons of TV shows like Stranger Things, ahead of season 5’s approaching release. Stranger Things season 5 will be arriving on Netflix in the final months of 2025, over three years after season 4 was released. Long wait times between seasons of TV on streaming have become a controversial conversation recently.

Speaking with Variety, however, the Duffer Brothers have a different take on Stranger Things‘ years-long gaps between seasons. Matt Duffer defended the idea of event-like TV shows, saying it’s what he and his brother, Ross, intend to continue creating through their Upside Down Pictures production company. This includes new “eight-to-10 episode seasons” of TV for Paramount under their new deal:

I get fatigued watching 20-episode seasons. We didn’t grow up interested in any of that. We only watched movies. That’s the weird thing that we ended up in TV, because we had almost zero interest in television.

If TV shows come out every year, it’s diminishing return. I like the buildup.

What The Duffer Brothers’ Defense Of Long TV Wait Times Really Means

The Duffer Brothers’ deal with Paramount means their hands are going to be in many TV projects in the coming years. While this includes the aforementioned shows under the company’s umbrella, it also includes 2026 Netflix series The Boroughs and Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen. They’ll remain involved in Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 and a live-action spinoff.

While it’s unclear what the shows they’ll be making under Paramount are going to be about, the duo seem determined to create series that are just as eventful as Stranger Things. However, their statement also comes at a time where most TV shows are taking a long time to return, something that’s become controversial for audiences as years-long waits persist.

Yet, for the Duffer Brothers, the TV shows they create include large amounts of visual effects, with a filmmaking approach that’s akin to a feature-length project. Stranger Things season 5 took an entire year to film, with the show coming out almost a year after filming wrapped. It emphasizes how some projects need the time, even if it takes a while.

Our Take On The Duffer Brothers’ Defense Of Years-Long TV Season Gaps

©Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

Although it’s understandable why the Duffer Brothers would want time to perfect their craft, TV is a very different medium from film. Stranger Things season 4 ended with setup for a battle that’s taken over 3 years to arrive. While this is partially due to the 2023 Hollywood strikes, long wait times can result in disinterest.

Artistically, though, it seems the Duffer Brothers simply want to focus on TV series that feel special when they arrive or return. While it’s not applicable to every TV series that takes years to return, Stranger Things‘ lengthy production times necessitates the long timeline. Whether their future shows will justify these waits as well remains to be seen.

Release Date

2016 – 2025

Network

Netflix

Showrunner

Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

Directors

Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer, Andrew Stanton, Frank Darabont, Nimród Antal, Uta Briesewitz

Writers

Kate Trefry, Jessie Nickson-Lopez, Jessica Mecklenburg, Alison Tatlock