'Stranger Things 4' Adds Content Warning To Episode One After Texas Shooting

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of fictional graphic scenes which some readers may find upsetting. 

Today, the first volume of Stranger Things’ fourth season has released on Netflix, almost three years after the last one. The highly anticipated season has been split into two parts - while the first seven episodes are available to watch today, the final two don’t release until 1 July. 

However, as reported by Variety, following the tragic shooting which took place at Robb Elementary School in Texas earlier this week, Netflix have added a warning card to the first episode, specifically for US viewers. This is due to the season’s first episode containing a particularly graphic scene involving children.

The warning reads: “We filmed this season of Stranger Things a year ago. But given the recent tragic shooting at a school in Texas, viewers may find the opening scene of episode [one] distressing. We are deeply saddened by this unspeakable violence, and our hearts go out to every family mourning a loved one.”

Meanwhile, the premiere’s description has also been altered, and now includes a note to add that the show “contains graphic violence involving children”. Additionally, “disturbing images” has been added to the show’s rating advisories.

The scene which warranted this warning was actually already released ahead of the season’s premiere - last week, the first eight minutes of episode one were shown as a special sneak-peak. In this opening scene, without going into spoilers, we see one of the main characters involved in a severe act of violence, and a number of dead children covered in blood are pictured. Although this clip was first revealed to the public prior to this week’s events in Texas, it was clearly determined that a warning was still necessary, given the graphic nature of the images and the timing of the season’s release.

Our thoughts go out to anyone affected by Tuesday’s shooting.