As with many of the shows that have risen to the forefront of small-screen content over the past years, sci-fi horror Stranger Things to forces fans to part ways with beloved characters, and for Season Three, that proved to be Officer Jim Hopper.
A staunch face of the ensemble for the show since its very inception, Hopper was given an ending befitting his stature, sacrificing himself to close the portal between our dimension and others, thus bringing an end to the entirety of the saga set in the city of Hawkins, as we see Eleven move to Chicago.
Actor David Harbour, who portrays Hopper, has been tight-lipped about reprising his role in a yet unannounced Season Four ever since the latest season first released, often dodging a concrete answer to whether the recent finale truly meant the end of the road for his character.
Of course, the much-discussed mid-credits scene showed two soldiers in the middle of Siberia entering a vault and encountering, among other things, an American prisoner who many fans posit could potentially be Chief Hopper.
Moreover, it was a series of profile picture alterations on David Harbour’s Instagram that further added fuel to the speculation. When collated, the sequence became 618-625-8313; a phone number which fans dialled to then hear a voicemail from Investigator Murray, ‘Mom, if this is you, please hang up and call me between the hours of 5 and 6 p.m. as previously discussed, okay? If this is Joyce, Joyce, thank you for calling, I have been trying to reach ya. I have an update. It’s about, well, it’s probably best if we speak in person. It’s not good or bad, but it’s something…’
And, perhaps most importantly, recent reports stemming from various entertainment publications have suggested that, in fact, Harbour is under contract for yet another season, and given the show’s knack for the supernatural, a return wouldn’t be all that jarring.
Season Three of Stranger Things can now be streamed on Netflix.