Stranger Things fans have theories about the clocks in the latest teaser

Although Stranger Things 4 still doesn’t have a set release date, Netflix has dropped a number of teasers for the new episodes — all of which fans are picking apart for clues.

The third season of the hit horror series seemingly shut the door on the Upside Down and Eleven’s (Millie Bobby Brown) powers, but fans expect both to return at some point during Stranger Things 4. They also know something weird is happening in Siberia, where Jim Hopper (David Harbour) was transported after closing the gate to the Upside Down.

And Stranger Things 4 will probably dive into Hopper’s fate, along with Eleven’s past. Teaser trailers have indicated both storylines have a role to play in the upcoming season. One shows Hopper imprisoned in Russia, and another revisits Hawkins National Laboratory, where Eleven and her siblings were raised and experimented on.

However, the latest teaser adds an interesting new subplot into the mix: Creel House. It seems the characters who remained in Hawkins will find themselves dealing with a haunted house, and fans think it could tie into the Upside Down and Eleven.

Could the clocks in the Stranger Things 4 teaser hold clues?

The Creel House teaser for Stranger Things 4 shows the gang investigating a home where Victor Creel (Robert Englund) seemingly killed his family years earlier. The end of the teaser highlights a grandfather clock in a way that’s too intentional for it not to hold greater meaning.

According to ScreenRant, some fans believe the clock could actually be a portal to the Upside Down. It’s stopped at 3:00, the same time shown on the clock at Hawkins Lab in the previous teaser. Is it possible Eleven unknowingly opened an entrance to the Upside Down, just like she did back in season 1?

That would explain the connection between the clocks — and possibly Victor’s murderous behavior. Billy Hargrove (Dacre Montgomery) proved that humans can be possessed by the creatures from the Upside Down. Perhaps that’s what led Victor to go after his family all those years ago.

Will Stranger Things bring in time travel?

Another question fans are tossing around is whether Stranger Things 4 will bring in time travel. It’s a commonly used storytelling device, especially in the sci-fi genre — and it’s one the Netflix series has yet to dig into. The emphasis on the clocks could hint at that changing in the new episodes.

If the gang did have to travel back in time, it would explain the inclusion of Hawkins Lab. Perhaps they’ll need to revisit Eleven’s past for clues — or to help her regain her powers.

ScreenRant also posits the theory that the Upside Down could be a glimpse of the future bleeding into the present. If Stranger Things 4 plans to reveal some timey-wimey twists, the clocks would be a clever means of teasing that.

Unfortunately, fans will be left speculating about the upcoming season for another few months before getting any real answers. A full-length trailer could clarify what kind of story the new episodes will tell — but Netflix won’t give up its big surprises until Stranger Things 4 arrives in 2022.

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