Stranger Things 3: 6 reasons [spoiler] is still alive

Stranger Things 3 has been with us for about a month now, but fans are still not over the heartbreaking season finale which tore apart the heroes of Hawkins after one of them supposedly died helping to save the world.

OK, here we go, folks, this is your last chance to avoid spoilers for Stranger Things season 3.

So, as all of you still reading will know, Jim Hopper was apparently shockingly killed off at the end of season 3, as he appeared to be caught in the explosion of the Russian machine that was opening the portal to the Upside Down. I say “appeared”, though, because everyone’s skeptical whether things are actually as they seem.

You see, there are various things, both on-screen and off, pointing to Hopper still being alive. Here are six reasons why we think David Harbour will return in Stranger Things 4. 

The word choices of the cast and crew

First of all, the way those involved with the show have discussed Hopper’s exit may tell us that he’s not actually gone for good.

In Netflix’s official podcast for ST3, for example, host Dan Taberski said: “I’m gonna tell you right now, we can’t confirm nor deny Hopper’s fate.” This sounds like Taberski kept his words deliberately vague to avoid giving away a twist. “Fate” doesn’t necessarily spell “death.”

On the same podcast, co-creator Matt Duffer said they wanted to give Hopper “a Han [Solo] sacrifice moment”, like in The Empire Strikes Back. Any Star Wars fan will tell you that Harrison Ford is rescued from being frozen in carbonite at the beginning of the next movie.

Last but not least, Millie Bobby Brown used a curious phrase while speaking to EW about getting in the zone for the emotional scene where Eleven reads Hopper’s letter:

"“I just immediately wanted to put a camera on me and find the way I react and the way I reacted was pure devastation and sadness, and a distraught child that just lost her father or so she thinks.”"

“Or so she thinks”?!

David Harbour’s contract

Here’s somewhat stronger evidence for you: it seems that Hopper may return as David Harbour has reportedly got at least one more season left on his contract.

TVLine has it on good authority that the actor’s current contract carries him through another year, however, they warn that this doesn’t mean Netflix has to pick up his season 4 option.

If the producers do want to get rid of Hopper, then, they can but it would make more sense for them to bring an in-demand star like Harbour back if he’s already signed up for it. As you’d imagine, TV Line also writes that the odds of him returning are high.