The fourth season of the hit Netflix original series Stranger Things has started tremendously well with the release of its first volume. This season, however, is the first time the Duffer Brothers have split the journey into two volumes, which prompted some to assume that more changes to the series release would arise heading into the final season.

Binge-watching has been a traditional activity for viewers when experiencing streaming content, but several popular shows have shifted to a weekly release model to keep investment high and in demand. Bingeing beloved shows such as Stranger Things has its benefits by allowing audiences to burn through an entire season in a matter of days, but their overall relevance evaporates rapidly. The separate volumes have allowed the momentum of the fourth season to continue to surge, but there doesn't appear to be a plan to move away from the binge-watching experience the series offers.

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Peter Friedlander, Netflix's head of scripted series, addressed the path of consistency the series will follow while speaking with Variety. "For the fans of 'Stranger Things,' this is how they've been watching that show, and I think to change that on them would be disappointing," expressed Friedlander. "To not give them exactly what they've been expecting — which is 'Stranger Things' is a seasonal experience, they go through that with them — I think that it would be an abrupt change for the member." Stranger Things has been consistent with the viewing experience it offers since its inaugural 2016 release.

Stranger Things (Still Image S4)

"We fundamentally believe that we want to give our members the choice in how they view," stated Friedlander, highlighting that providing audiences with the ability to watch as much of a scripted series as they want is essential to what Netflix wants to deliver regularly. Servicing the subscriber is a focal point for the streamer, lighting a fire under development to make the viewing experience worthwhile. "And so when you see something like a batched season with 'Stranger Things,' this is our attempt at making sure we can get shows out quicker to the members."

Ultimately, changing course is not something Netflix is likely to experiment with due to the declining number of subscribers over the last quarter. The streamer lost roughly 200,000 subscribers and potentially looks to lose another 2 million as the year progresses. Audiences have an expectation regarding how content is made available on the platform, and shifting that may prompt many to find better options elsewhere in a sea of newly available platforms. Many elements have led to the current Netflix subscription dip the streaming platform is experiencing, but the consistent component it offers is the ability to watch an entire season in one sitting, which is not something other platforms are commonly delivering.

The second volume for season four is fast-approaching, and it'll be interesting to see how audiences engage with the story after a month of separation between the two volumes. It's unclear if the fifth and final season of Stranger Things will follow a similar separate volume release pattern, but audiences can rest knowing they won't have to wait an entire week to continue the chilling adventure through the Upside Down.

Stranger Things season 4, volume 1, is currently available on Netflix.

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Source: Variety