Since the release of its fourth season in 2022, almost three and a half years ago, it would be no surprise if fans of the Netflix original series “Stranger Things” were bored of it. The release of the first season in 2016, almost 10 years ago started a stretch of endless waiting for viewers who want to return to the world of Hawkins, Indiana. But, does being made to wait only build up the fans’ excitement?

From its first season to now its last, fans always seem to complain about one thing: the amount of time between the releases of each new season. This trend seems to be continuing with the upcoming fifth season.

“The turn around could have been quicker,” University of Wisconsin student Grace Marotta said. “I barely remember what happened in the previous seasons.”

This sentiment is a common one among the show’s massive fan base, and it isn’t wrong. Between seasons one and two, there was a year and three month gap, which has only grown bigger since it’s now been almost four years since the release of the last season.

But fear not! All five seasons will be streaming on Netflix by the end of the year, with the last episode of the final season set to release Dec. 31, 2025. Despite the show’s slow turnaround, there are still people who have managed to avoid the show’s fan craze.

“I’ve never seen it,” UW student Sidney Wang said. “The only thing I know is there’s a levitating kid or something.”

Die-hard devotees of the show don’t mind the wait, as each successive season seems to exceed everyone’s expectations.

When a new season is released, everyone seems to forget about the wait — and the notoriously long episodes certainly make up for it, a majority being an hour or longer.

“I’m excited, I almost feel like waiting so long makes it more highly anticipated,” Marotta said. “It’s been hyped up so much and I can’t wait to get closure on the season.”

Whether they’re sick of the wait or sick with excitement, it’s no doubt that the season’s drop is long awaited.