Stranger Things is infamous for taking very long breaks between its seasons , which has created an unavoidable problem for its main cast. In the first season (set in 1983), youngsters Mike, Eleven, and the rest of their group were 12, which roughly matched the ages of the actors portraying them. But now, almost a decade has passed in real time as Season 5 comes out — but only four years have passed within the show. In the final season (set in 1987), the kids are meant to be about 16, but the actors are all in their early 20s.

Despite the young cast drastically out-aging their on-screen roles, creators the Duffer Brothers don’t think it’s super noticeable. “It’s not as dramatic as people think,” Matt Duffer told Variety on Nov. 21. “There was a scene in Season 4 in Episode 4, the

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