Does Hopper escape Russia in Stranger Things season 4 part 1? (Spoilers)

It’s time to celebrate, Netflix fans, because Stranger Things season 4 part 1 is officially here! We already knew thanks to teasers and the trailer that Jim Hopper (David Harbour) actually survived the explosion at the Starcourt Mall somehow, and now we get to see what he’s been up to out in snowy Russia. (Spoiler alert: It’s not good.) Is he able to escape and return home to Hawkins? Does he get to reunite with Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder) or Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown)?

We have all the answers and more!

Spoilers ahead for Stranger Things season 4 part 1.

When Stranger Things season 4 opens up, Hopper is a prisoner out in Russia doing manual labor. It’s terrible, but there’s a potential end in sight. He’d bribed one of the prison guards, Dmitri (Tom Wlaschiha), into helping him escape if he makes him rich. The two coordinate a package sent to California to Joyce’s to let her know that Hopper is alive and she can see him again under a few conditions.

Joyce, understandably, freaks out at the idea that Hop could actually be alive and she enlists Murray (Brett Gelman) to come help her figure it all out. The two agree to work with Dmitri and are soon on their way to Alaska to meet a smuggler named Yuri (Nikola Djuricko) who will go pick up Hopper for a hefty price of $40,000. It all seems like the plan might very well be successful, and Hopper even goes through a wild prison break. It’s not easy, and he ends up injuring himself pretty badly, but he gets out and hides in nearby town.

All that’s left to do is for Yuri to fly to Russia and pick Hopper up from the hiding place, however, a major betrayal is committed. Looks like Yuri isn’t to be trusted after all. Who would’ve thought?

Does Hopper escape the Russians in Stranger Things season 4 part 1?

Not yet, but an escape is now in sight at the end of season 4 part 1! Let’s recap what happens.

Yuri decides he’s not going to help Dmitri and the group anymore because he realizes he could get even more money if he rats them out. A corrupted Russian guard, an American prison escapee, and two innocent Americans are worth a lot more than $40,000, he assumes.

Yuri tells the Russian guards where Hopper is hiding and they bring him back to prison. As for Joyce and Murray, Yuri drugs them and brings them along on the flight to Russia, with the plan for him to turn them over to the guards. However, Joyce and Murray get the upper hand on the flight and they knock out Yuri. But because they don’t know how to fly a plane, they crash it in the Russian woods.

Fortunately, they all survive, and now Joyce and Murray have Yuri as hostage. They demand he takes them to the hiding place and help them find Hopper. It seems really hopeful that they’ll be able to find him, however it might be too late. Over at the prison, Dmitri is now a prisoner for betraying his fellow guards, and he and Hop get ready for an even bigger threat than jail — a Demogorgon. There’s been some talks of a monster in their midst, and Hop knows exactly what it is.

One night, the prisoners are taken into a room with a feast waiting for them, and while they believe it’s because they have to be strong to fight the monster, Hop tells them it’s because the guards want them to be nice and fat for the creature to feed on. He’s faced a Demogorgon before and knows the threat. But he also knows a trick or two on how to defeat one.

Murray arrives at the jail pretending to be Yuri, with Joyce and Yuri with him tied up as his prisoners. He gets them inside and the guards explain the fight they’re about to watch. They all stand by as Hopper, Dmitri, and the other prisoners battle against the Demogorgon. Of course, Murray and Joyce are horrified and realize they need to make moves if they want to see Hopper get out alive. Fortunately, Hopper is able to keep the monster away while Murray threatens one of the guards and gets inside to try and open the door for Hopper to get out. He and Joyce are successful, and Hop and Dmitri escape the Demogorgon.

Hopper is then shocked to see Joyce inside waiting for him, and they share a heartfelt embrace. That’s the last we see of this group in season 4 part 1, so we don’t actually get to see Hopper’s escape from prison. As of now, he’s still in Russia, and this storyline is bound to be a major plot point again in season 4 part 2.

Stream all episodes of Stranger Things season 4 part 1 right now on Netflix and don’t miss part 2 when it releases on July 1!