We jump that year-it's safe to assume that their team, including Dr. The Russians were working on a machine to open the gate, and when all the men were vanquished, their leader told them to get their act together: they had one year. However, it's important to consider a few key pieces that go into this equation.įirst, think back about the opening scenes of the season. Eleven was taken in by Joyce, and moving away with the rest of the Byers family (and read an emotional letter Hopper had left behind).

In the closing scenes of the season, we saw the characters attempting to move on after what was accepted as Hopper's death. She reluctantly pulled the switches, and it appeared that our dear sweet chief was gone-we saw some of the Russians get obliterated, and when Joyce looked, Hopper was not there. When Dustin and others were shouting into the walkie that the switches needed to be turned, and the gate needed to be closed, Hopper gave Joyce his look of knowing approval, knowing fully well what seemed to be coming. After defeating the Russian Terminator-esque guy, Hopper was standing within direct vicinity of both the energy machine, and the gate to the Upside Down itself. But don't lose hope, because we're here to say: not so fast.Īs the season finale makes clear, Hopper is presumed dead. But at the back end of those hours, fans suffered a few major losses-one, seemingly, bigger than the rest. Stranger Things 3 was a trip, wasn't it? An up and down season that saw the kids become teens might just have been the easiest binge yet-the third season's eight episodes flew by. We'll find out for sure in Stranger Things 4.A few hints from earlier in the season, and the post-credits scene, make it possible he's still around.Chief Hopper appeared to die in the Stranger Things 3 finale.Stop reading NOW (!!!) if you haven't seen it yet. Warning: This post contains spoilers for the third season of Stranger Things.

Hopper stranger things