‘Stranger Things’ Mistakes You’ll Never Be Able to Unsee

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Despite its attention to detail in recreating the 1980s, ‘Stranger Things‘ still has a few mistakes that eagle-eyed fans keep spotting when they rewatch the show. These errors range from minor inconsistencies in the storyline to objects and facts that didn’t exist until years later. These goofs happen throughout all seasons, and here are ten of the most discussed mistakes viewers have noticed in Hawkins and the Upside Down.

Will Byers’ forgotten birthday

Okay, so as a huge fan, I noticed a bit of a continuity goof in Stranger Things. They clearly establish Will’s birthday as March 22nd in Season 2 with that sweet home video scene. But then, in Season 4, when they’re at the roller rink, you see the same date on a camcorder, and nobody mentions it’s his birthday! It felt really odd. It turns out the creators actually realized this mistake too, and they’ve even talked about going back and changing the date in post-production to fix it. It’s good they’re aware and trying to keep things consistent, even if it’s after the fact!

1985 walkie-talkies in a 1983 story

The radios used by the kids on the show are recognizable to hobbyists as RadioShack Realistic TRC-214 models and similar ones. However, these models didn’t come out until the mid-1980s – the show is set in 1983. Fans have also noticed the radios seem to have better range and clarity than those models actually offered. While they look the part, the radios aren’t accurate for the show’s time period and don’t perform realistically.

The Demogorgon miniature that arrived late

During the first season, the show used a Demogorgon miniature to represent the monster in the characters’ ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ game. Interestingly, that specific miniature wasn’t actually available in stores until the year after the season was set. So, the game piece is a little anachronistic, but otherwise fits the look and feel of the 1980s thanks to its materials and sculpting style, making it hard to notice unless you’re a collector of older miniatures.

A 2010 ‘Heroes’ cover in an eighties world

A powerful scene in Season 1 features an orchestral version of David Bowie’s ‘Heroes’ performed by Peter Gabriel. However, Gabriel’s recording wasn’t released until 2010, which is later than the show’s 1980s timeframe. Although the characters in the scene don’t actually hear the music, its modern sound clashes with the period setting. Many viewers have pointed this out as a mistake in the soundtrack, even though the original Bowie song is from the correct era.

The wrong value for Planck’s constant

In Season 3, a character uses Planck’s constant to crack a code. Interestingly, the specific number mentioned is a more recent value – one determined in the 2010s – rather than the older figure found in sources from the 1980s. Scientific constants are updated as our measurements become more precise, and the show accurately reflected this modern value. While a minor detail, science educators and trivia enthusiasts quickly picked up on it.

A duet that walkie-talkies could not carry

The iconic duet in ‘The NeverEnding Story’ features characters singing through walkie-talkies. These radios work by pushing a button to talk, and only one can transmit at a time. If both characters tried to sing at the same moment, the sound would be messy and distorted. While the scene looks beautiful in the movie, it’s technically impossible for the radios to clearly carry a two-way song.

HVAC units from years in the future

Okay, so I was rewatching the show and noticed something a little odd. The art department really did a fantastic job creating the 80s atmosphere, but a few modern air conditioning units slipped into the background of some outdoor scenes. These weren’t the models you’d see in the 80s – they’re clearly from the late 90s! It’s a small detail, and easy to miss while you’re caught up in the story, but once you spot the logos and cabinet designs, it’s pretty obvious. It’s a classic case of something modern accidentally ending up in a period piece, but it’s a testament to how detailed the show usually is that this even feels like a mistake and not intentional.

A transformer toy that had not hit U.S. shelves

As a fan, I noticed something interesting in Season 3 – they featured Ultra Magnus, and it’s the same version that’s in Dustin’s collection! It’s a bit strange though, because the season takes place in July 1985, but the Ultra Magnus toy didn’t actually hit stores in the US until 1986. There was an earlier version in Japan as part of the Diaclone line, but it looked quite different. The one they show on screen is definitely the later American release, which doesn’t quite line up with the timeline.

A periodic table that gives the era away

In the early episodes, classrooms featured a periodic table that wasn’t accurate for the 1980s. Sharp-eyed viewers—especially teachers and chemists—noticed it included elements that hadn’t been discovered or named yet. The show later updated the classroom decor with a periodic table that matched the time period.

The ‘Master of Puppets’ timeline squeeze

The season four finale features a stunning performance of ‘Master of Puppets’ by Eddie in March 1986, the same month the album was released. This has led fans to wonder if a skilled guitarist could actually learn and perform the entire song so quickly, relying on the new album and a good ear. Regardless, the scene became iconic and sparked a lot of discussion among music fans about the show’s timeline.

As a huge ‘Stranger Things’ fan, I’m always noticing little mistakes or funny things that happen on set! I’d love to hear what bloopers you’ve spotted – what was the first goof that caught your eye?

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2025-10-26 08:19