Why did the Byers and Eleven move to California in Stranger Things?

They’re not in Hawkins anymore. Stranger Things season 4 volume 1 is almost here, and it’s going to show us a couple of new locations. Jim Hopper (David Harbour) is out in Russia as a prisoner after the events of the season 3 finale, while Joyce (Winona Ryder), Jonathan (Charlie Heaton), Will (Noah Schnapp), and Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) are now living in Lenora Hills, California.

SPOILERS ahead for Stranger Things season 4 volume 1

Eleven and Mike (Finn Wolfhard) are managing a long-distance relationship. They reunite for Spring Break, which is great for El especially because she hasn’t been fitting in at school. Though it doesn’t seem like Will is really making any friends either, Eleven is severely picked on. Without her powers or her friends, Eleven feels helpless in her new surroundings.

Meanwhile, Jonathan and Nancy (Natalia Dyer) are also in a long-distance relationship, though theirs isn’t too strong. They don’t even decide to spend time together for Spring Break. Jonathan smokes a lot of weed with his new friend Argyle (Eduardo Franco) and tries to figure out what he should do for college. As for Joyce, she’s got a new job that isn’t terribly fun and is understandably missing Hopper.

Lenora Hills isn’t shaping up to be the best place, so why do the Byers and Eleven even move there in the first place?

Why do the Byers and Eleven leave Hawkins in Stranger Things?

Throughout Stranger Things season 3, it’s hinted that the Byers will move out of Hawkins. During one scene where Joyce and Hopper are investigating the old Hawkins Lab, Hop mentions her plans to leave, though she doesn’t confirm it. At the end of the season, however, the decision is made to get out of town for her family’s safety. From Will’s abduction and possession to the death of Bob (Sean Astin) and the “death” of Hopper, Joyce has enough of Hawkins, understandably.

The final moments of season 3 are so emotional as the Byers pack up their things and prepare to leave. With Hopper believed dead, Eleven is now part of the family, so she goes with them to California, too.

But obviously, whatever safety the Byers family finds in California isn’t going to last; otherwise we wouldn’t have a fourth season on our hands. We’ll find out just how things fall apart when the first seven episodes of Stranger Things season 4 debuts on Netflix this Friday, May 27. The final two episodes will follow on July 1.

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