#twentyminutegate

I REALLY THINK I'M ON TO SOMETHING HERE. Since i'm SO utterly convinced that Mike needing "20 more minutes" is going to be VERY SIGNIFICANT in season 5 (theory coming soon), I scrubbed through the 20:00 minute mark looking for clues! Here are the most notable instances I found, but feel free to let me know if I missed anything important!

20:00 TIMESTAMPS:

Season 1

s1,e1

scientists enter the upside-down for the first time (however the elevator doesn't open at exactly 20:00, so idk if this one was intentional)

s1ep5:

The flee and the acrobat. The focus on Mike here is interesting, since Mr. Clark was just explaining how the person could go forwards or backwards (in time?). Right at 20 though, he explains that a flea also has the ability to go upside-down (enter another dimension)

s1e8

the flickering lights catch Steve's attention at EXACTLY 20 minutes. This was the pivotal moment when Steve decided to be a hero and turn back to save Jonathan and Nancy. If he was originally supposed to die here, then this would have been the start of a pattern, which you'll see in a second. Also-could this have been Will who got Steve's attention from in the upside down? just a thought

Season 2:

s2e1

"You're going to be home by 8:00"- the time hits 20 minutes EXACTLY when she says the word 8:00. This was the time Will was supposed to be home by on Nov 6, if the party hadn't stayed "15 after". She continues on to say that Jonathan will probably "stay home and listen to The Talking Heads, and read Vonnegut".

I thought that this was weirdly specific, so i looked up the synopsis of Vonnegut's most famous novel "The Slaughterhouse 5", and the BOOK IS ABOUT FREAKING TIME TRAVEL. I'll expand more on the book (here) later bc it's so flipping insane, and there are a few specific aspects that kind of stood out right off the bat. If anyones actually read the book, pls give me your thoughts

s2e5

THIS ONE IS CRAZY

"the answer to what happened to your friend is up here somewhere" Pretend that this is also about Will for a second. WHAT'S ON THE BOARD GUYS? It's a "timeline" which Nancy says is "all wrong". The times listed on the board include 8:15, 7:00, and 3:20!

s2ep8

the broom hits the floor at EXACTLY 20:00. This is what kills Bob, and if you watch the scene it's pretty much undeniable that the timing here was on purpose.

Season 3

s3ep2

Sudden cut to this creepy ass clock. The time reads 12:45.

s3ep3

Will says: "LUCAS, the zombie hoard ROARS." at exactly 20:00. He then asks: "Do you fight back or do you run?" This specific line, as well as the whole scene is most likely foreshadowing. (theory here)

Even MORE interesting though, is what happens next:

Lucas is about to respond, but is interrupted by the phone ringing at EXACTLY 20:07!

s3ep5

"What time was the attack? around 9:00. You waited all night to call?All this focus on time here is pretty sus, and could also relate back to my s3 basement foreshadowing theories bc of the focus on "calling".

(also, the fact that Will's looking directly into the camera here is sus)

s3ep8

Will feels the mind-flayer between 20:00 and 20:07

s3e8

"tune in at 8:00" when -0:21:00 changes to -0:20:59

and then we get a Back To The Future reference at EXACTLY -0:20:00

season 4:

s4, ep4:

The grandfather clock chimes at EXACTLY 20:00, ushering in Max's impending doom

what do you guys think though??? 20gate perhaps?

(I also took screenshots of more potential 8:15 content, via times like -8:15 and 1:8:15 we might have overlooked ( I’ll be posting soon?)

Honorable mentions:

s3e1:

Hopper: “I need them to break up”. Behind him, a bunch of watches are hanging on the wall. Joyce responds with: “that’s not for you to decide”

s3e2:

Billy clone (Vecna) tells Billy:

“I want you to build”

Billy: build what?

Vecna: “what you see”

Billy: I don’t understand