Jim Hopper (David Harbour) is one of the most hilarious characters on Netflix's Stranger Things, and the season 3 finale leads into his fascinating and terrifying season 4 arc. While at first, it seems like Hopper died, fans weren't satisfied with that and knew that there was more to the story. Thankfully, Hopper is a big part of season 4, and his storyline is as emotional as it is entertaining and gripping.
Season 4 of Stranger Things was a hit, and that's thanks to the great writing and acting, especially by Harbour. What happened to Hopper at the end of season 3? Does he reunite with Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) in season 4? And what does he do during his time away from Hawkins, Indiana? Thankfully, all of these questions are answered in season 4's nine supersized episodes.
What Happened To Hopper In The Season 3 Finale?
Season 3 of Stranger Things is as jam-packed with action as the rest of the show. It also features the cool, fun setting of the Starcourt Mall, which has just opened in Hawkins. The young characters are thrilled to have a place to hang out, but the mall also becomes a battle ground when the show's creatures end up there.
The season 3 finale of Stranger Things left Hopper's fate hanging in the balance. Hopper tried to blow up a gate leading to the Upside Down, but it didn't work, and it seemed that he died in an explosion. However, as soon as the episode was available for streaming, fans weren't convinced that he was dead. It seemed impossible to kill off such a fan-favorite character, and it was hard to believe that Hopper's story was really over.
How Do Joyce And Murray Save Hopper In Season 4?
The beginning of Stranger Things season 4 reveals that Hopper has been having a terrible time in a prison in Russia for the past six months. He has been trying his best to survive while wondering if he can ever get out of there. The Stranger Things VFX team created the Creel house and made it look suitably horrifying. And the prison where Hopper has been living is just as creepy and unnerving.
Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder) figures out that Hopper is still alive and that he must be in a prison in Russia when she gets a Russian doll with a letter. She teams up with Murray Bauman (Brett Gelman) and they travel there to try to bring him back home. While there are many strong characters in Stranger Things season 4, Murray is one of the funniest. He and Joyce are a quirky and unlikely pair, and their dynamic adds some lightness to an intense and dark season.
Joyce and Murray help Hopper escape along with a smuggler named Yuri (Nikola Đjuričko) and Enzo, a fellow prisoner who Hopper bonds with. Yuri says that he has a helicopter, but he's strange and untrustworthy, and the storyline becomes more intense by the minute. Thankfully, however, Hopper and Murray are able to get home.
Stranger Things season 4 ties plots together perfectly, and Hopper's reunion with Eleven is as beautiful as fans expected. They give each other an incredibly emotional look that proves how much they have missed each other. And they were clearly afraid that they would never see each other again.
The scenes of Hopper in the prison are heartbreaking and that's all thanks to Harbour's incredible performance. The actor alternates between hope and despair, sometimes in the same scene, and it's clear that Hopper has never been tested like this before. While it's sad to see Hopper separated from Joyce and Eleven, this is an important part of his character arc that shows him what matters in life.
How Does Hopper Fight A Demogorgon?
Before Hopper, Joyce, and Murray go back to Hawkins, they fight the Demogorgon that has been kept at the prison. Hopper knows that while they can't travel back home and help Eleven just yet, they can at least hurt one of the most terrifying Stranger Things monsters and hope that Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) will become less strong.
In the kind of epic battle scene that fans were waiting for, Hopper charges toward a Demogorgon with a sword. At the same time, back in the Upside Down, Vecna is lit on fire. It's a visually stunning scene that is memorable and impressive. Hopper is successful in cutting the creature's head off, and he is able to break free.
Hopper and the Demogorgon's battle is infused with emotion and pain. Viewers can't help but think about all of the innocent characters whose lives have been lost because of these creatures, including Barb Holland's (Shannon Purser) tragic season 1 death. Hopper is ready to go home and reunite with Eleven, and the moment is as moving as it should be.