Hopper Dead After Stranger Things, season 3? Our theory on this final scene

Stranger Things has not had a particularly high body count among regular cast members during its first two seasons (sorry, Barb and Bob), which has led many fans to assume that '' '' one or more main characters might die in Season 3. End of season 3, we have a lot of questions about one of our particular heroes … While Billy de Dacre Montgomery absolutely dead in the final of season 3, we are a little more skeptical about the fate of Chief Jim Hopper (David Harbor), allegedly killed by the machine explosion that the Russians were using to reopen the gateway to Upside Down, but can actually be trapped in a Russian prison, judging by the post-credit scene.

David Harbor asked if Hopper was dead or alive in a new interview with EW – and unsurprisingly, he was rather shy: "I do not really know but we will have to see together." It's a situation it's bad enough that it's done in the end, and the way it all happens is pretty overwhelming, so I think we're going to stay there and see if there's a life beyond that, but I'm not sure yet. "

Sending to Entertainment tonight to find out if Hopper could be "American" in the post-credit scene, Harbor teased: "I have no idea! I mean, of course, It's also my hope, that sounds pretty crazy though.You know, This machine exploded and Hopper seemed to be stuck there.â € He peeked around him, but he seemed to be stuck and the machine exploded.And then you cut, what was it? It starts with a "K" or something – a city of Russia, no? Where there is an American and a Another prisoner, I do not know, I mean, it seems strange … "

But the Duffer brothers have warned that things might not be as obvious as they seem: "You absolutely must not assume anything," Matt Duffer told EW. "The line that the Russian guard said is deliberately intended to spark debate. We need people to ask the very questions you ask. "

"Assuming there's a season 4, obviously the question of who is this American in this cell and then what they're doing with the Demogorgon, it's a tease." "added Ross Duffer. "We are trying to do a little bit of season 4."

Regardless of what the Duffers say, we are pretty confident that Hopper is alive and will be back in Stranger Things Season 4 for several reasons:

• We never see Hopper's body. It may be a cliché, but according to the usual rules of television, if the other protagonists never find a body, the character is probably still alive.
• The Duffer brothers clearly want us to assume that Hopper is "American," say the Russians in the post-credit scene, as there is no reason for two guards to be so vague about the Identity of the prisoner immediately after the "shocking death" of the main character. "(For the record, we do not think the American detained in Russia is Hopper precisely because it's such an obvious clue, but that does not mean he's dead.)
• As many fans have noticed, after Eleven has finished reading Hopper's note, Peter Gabriel's "Heroes" starts playing – the same song that the Duffer brothers chose as their soundtrack when the police found a fake version of Will's body in the lake while he was in reality. still alive and trapped in Upside Down. The show does not often repeat the musical signals, which gives the impression that it could be acting from another false pretense of death.
• It is also quite practical that Eleven's powers do not work at the end of the season, as the show had established that she was able to find people if she wanted to watch (what's up). she did not do to locate her dad, Dr. Brenner), and would probably be able to feel that Hopper is still alive somewhere if she was working at full power.
• As Harbor notes, we see Hopper looking several times back to the door (and thus to the open flaw upside down), before Joyce turns both keys to turn off the machine. There is no way out of the gantry in front of him with the way the energy produces sparks, but it's a subtle way to indicate that he exists technically is a way out, even if it could cremate him. If Hopper is already almost certain that he will die, what harm is there to make a last potentially fatal leap at the risk of saving him?
• Not only we do not see Hopper's body, if you stop fast enough, you will see that there is no trace of him near the machine just before it explodes:

Exhibit A:

Exhibit B:

Hopper should be visible to the left of the machine on these shots, but there is no trace of it anywhere else – curious and curious.

But he was visible moments before, when Joyce's realization began:

Our best guess is that Hopper jumped (or was thrown by the explosion if you want to spread those shots before the machine explodes) and got trapped in the Upside Down. Maybe he'll become the new Mind Flayer host in Season 4, just as a way to twist the knife for Eleven and Joyce, or maybe he'll find a way to escape when someone one will open another could actually be useful and grab it, if they have not already captive it?).

Of course, the only drawback of this theory is that it could alleviate the emotional impact of Hopper's poignant letter to El, who was a strong adieu to the beloved character even though he did not write it with his death at the time. # 39; mind. But honestly, if it brings David Harbor back to a bigger kiddie and helicopter relationship, it's a price we're willing to pay.

Do you think Hopper survived the blast or do you think he's dead and that he should remain after his departure in tears? Share your reaction in the comments and see our reviews of each episode of Stranger Things Season 3 and the top 10 references of the 80s of the first two seasons.

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