Netflix has been forced into a quiet but significant edit of its flagship series, Stranger Things, after subscribers spotted a glaring historical inaccuracy in the show's final season.
The Blunder That Broke the 80s Illusion
In the seventh episode of season five, titled The Bridge, a sharp-eyed moment of costuming broke the show's carefully crafted 1980s atmosphere. The scene features Holly Wheeler, played by Nell Fisher, who escapes from one of Vecna's (Jamie Campbell-Bower) 'Pain Trees'. As she fights her way free, viewers noticed the distinct logo of sportswear giant Under Armour clearly visible on her left sleeve.
This presented a major chronological error for the hit sci-fi drama, which is set firmly in the 1980s. Under Armour was not founded until 1996, making its appearance in Hawkins, Indiana, a definitive mistake. Fans quickly took to social media to highlight the anachronism, with many comparing it to the infamous Starbucks coffee cup left in a shot during the final season of HBO's Game of Thrones.
Netflix's Swift but Silent Correction
In response to the fan uproar, Netflix has now digitally altered the controversial scene. The streaming giant has removed the Under Armour logo entirely, leaving Holly Wheeler's sleeve a plain, unmarked black. The edit was made without any official announcement, following the platform's common practice of silently updating content.
Despite the correction, the online discussion continues. One baffled viewer questioned on social media, "How did they not notice this?" Another directly referenced the Duffer Brothers, the show's creators, stating, "Now that’s funny. Duffer Bros missed this one bad." A third fan drew the parallel to Westeros, writing, "Close enough, welcome back GoT season eight."
A Costly Oversight for a Premium Production
The error has raised questions about quality control, especially given the show's reported $500 million budget for its final seasons. One subscriber pointedly asked how, with thousands of professionals involved in the production, such a basic historical inaccuracy could make it to the final cut, only to be caught by a random viewer.
This incident occurs as Stranger Things season five nears its conclusion. The penultimate episode revealed the Upside Down to be a wormhole—dubbed 'The Bridge'—linking Earth to The Abyss, home to Vecna and The Mind Flayer. The core group's plan is now to destroy this bridge to stop Vecna for good.
All will be revealed when the series finale drops. The final episode is scheduled for release on New Year's Eve, Wednesday, December 31, in the US, and New Year's Day, Thursday, January 1, in the UK, exclusively on Netflix.
