Stranger Things season 5 still of Holly Wheeler looking fearful.MovieStillsDB
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Cher Thompson
Published 9 minutes ago
Cher Thompson is a Senior Staff Writer at Screen Rant, where she covers everything from explosive reality TV moments to cast interviews about the twists and turns of scripted dramas. With a background in creative writing, marketing, and teaching, Cher knows how to spot both the storytelling genius and the guilty pleasures in pop culture. Her work blends wit with insight, making readers feel like they’re chatting with a friend who just happens to know way too much about TV.
Sign in to your ScreenRant account Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recapWith the first volume of Stranger Things season 5 finally streaming, viewers are getting the chance to see the new casting of Holly Wheeler (Nell Fisher) emerging from the background, potentially with a small plot hole to resolve. Once a mostly silent toddler, Stranger Things season 5 re-introduces Holly in a central role, aging her up a bit to do so.
Holly, the younger sister of Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer) and daughter of Karen Wheeler (Cara Buono), has a major role in the high-stakes horror. Where she spent the majority of Stranger Things' run in the background, Holly quickly became part of the danger throughout the newest episodes of the series. Holly becoming a piece of Stranger Things' puzzle made it clear her age had been retconned.
Despite the fact that Holly's age has shifted with the series, the newest episodes of Stranger Things deepening the story with her involvement was the right move. Balancing narrative demands with a timeline that spans the course of a decade has been tough for Stranger Things, but the series has largely been able to work through its viewers questions, even those surrounding Holly.
Holly Wheeler Should Be 7 Years Old In Stranger Things Season 5
She's Said On Screen To Be Older
Nell Fisher as Holly in Stranger Things season 5Image via Netflix
Based on Stranger Things' timeline, Holly's birthday places her being born around 1980, which made her around 3 years old when the Netflix hit first began. Stranger Things season 1 began in 1983, but its final season is running through 1987, meaning that Holly should be roughly 7 years old during the most recently released episodes of Stranger Things season 5.
Instead, however, Holly was shown to be somewhat older during Stranger Things season 5 volume 1's first episodes. The show claims that Holly is between 9 and 10, meaning that the series has chosen to age her up somewhere within the timeline. The age gap may be the right move for her character arc, but has caused some issues with fans looking into the discrepancy.
Why Stranger Things Season 5 Retconned Holly's Age
Her New Age Makes More Logistical Sense
Holly Wheeler in Stranger Things season 5
Although Holly's age should've been somewhat younger than it was during Stranger Things season 5, it's clear that there was a reason behind the shift. Holly's age has been retconned to allow her to be a more fully-fleshed character within the series, as she was given a far larger role. Giving Holly more to do meant putting her in an age range that could support it.
How Nell Fisher's Age Compares To Her Stranger Things Character
Actress Nell Fisher Is Far Older Than Holly
Nell Fisher from Stranger Things posing on the red carpet.Netflix
Nell Fisher, the actress who was cast to play Holly, is far older than her Stranger Things character Holly. Playing younger, Nell is 14 years old and currently playing a 10 year old on the series. While it's clear that Holly's character required more emotional range and control, knowing Nell is so much older has been a bit jarring for Stranger Things fans.
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Stranger Things
10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed TV-14 Drama Mystery Horror Science Fiction Release Date 2016 - 2025-00-00 Network Netflix Showrunner Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer Directors Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer, Andrew Stanton, Frank Darabont, Nimród Antal, Uta Briesewitz Writers Kate Trefry, Jessie Nickson-Lopez, Jessica Mecklenburg, Alison Tatlock
7 Images
Eleven looking into an opening of the Upside Down with pink light in Stranger Things season 1
Jim Hopper (David Harbour) grabbing Jonathan's (Charlie Heaton) shoulders in Stranger Things season 1©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection
Eleven with cables all over her head in Stranger Things season 4
Vecna looking towards Will in the trailer for Stranger Things season 5 (2025)
Max and Eleven in Stranger ThingsNetflix
Stranger Things season 2, episode 2 "Trick or Treat, Freak".MovieStillsDB
The Upside Down in Stranger Things season 5Courtesy of Netflix Close
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Millie Bobby Brown
Jane 'Eleven' Hopper
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