Stranger Things 5 part 1 had me ready for Hopper to die (but the show surprised me)

Jim Hopper is one of Stranger Things’ most beloved characters, and it’s easy to see why. He’s a tough, complicated man who’s fiercely protective of those he cares about, especially Eleven, and he’s been through more than most people could survive. Over the seasons, Hopper has faced death countless times yet somehow always manages to pull through.

He’s faced terrifying dangers from both the deadliest creatures of the Upside Down and relentless human enemies, teetering on the brink time and again and keeping fans on the edge of their seats with every close call. But how many times can someone have a brush with death before it finally catches up to them?

Heading into Stranger Things 5 part 1, I couldn’t help but feel that familiar pit in my stomach every time Hopper appeared on screen. I found myself bracing for heartbreak, mentally preparing for the moment the show might finally take him away from us. But does Hopper actually meet his end in the first half of the season?

Major spoilers are ahead from Stranger Things 5 part 1.

Does Hopper die in Stranger Things 5 part 1?

Fortunately, Hopper does not die in Stranger Things 5 part 1. However, there were two times in the first half of the season where I honestly thought we were about to lose him. The first was during a harrowing encounter in the Upside Down in the first episode. After Hopper hitches a ride on the back of a military truck, he ends up in the Upside Down. His and the rest of the Hawkins gang's plan is to find and kill Vecna, but suddenly, the truck Hopper is in crashes. A Demogorgon then appears and starts attacking and killing the military men.

The truck that Hopper is in starts driving away, but the Demogorgon immediately chases after it. At this moment, I thought Hopper was done for. Seeing him trapped in the truck with a relentless Demogorgon closing in had my heart racing. But the Demogorgon doesn't kill him. Instead, it hops on the roof of the truck and rips out the driver before running away. Hopper once again narrowly escapes death, battered and shaken but alive.

However, did I breathe a sigh of relief? No, because I knew there was a good chance that Hopper would put himself in danger again before the first half of the season was over. And guess what? I was right! Later on, Eleven joins Hopper in the Upside Down and they work together to break into the military facility to investigate a mysterious metal door that they suspect is hiding a powerful being. They think it's Vecna behind the door.

But after successfully breaking in, Hopper is left to figure out by himself a way into the room behind the metal door because Eleven is rendered helpless after a noise goes off that startles her and disrupts her powers. They then have a run-in with Dr. Kay and Lt. Akers before they manage to get away. Since Eleven is weak, Hopper tells her to go find the others at the graveyard.

He then turns around and heads back towards the room, fully aware of the danger ahead. Wearing a vest with explosives as a last-resort fail-safe, Hopper steels himself for what could be a final confrontation. Before leaving, he tells Eleven how proud he is of her, how far she’s come, and how much he loves her. With that, he walks alone down the hallway toward the room while memories of his daughter, Sarah, flash through his mind. Once he makes it to the door, he opens it and steps inside.

With all of the emotional buildup, I surely thought this was it. I thought we were about to witness Hopper’s final heroic sacrifice because everything about the scene felt like goodbye. But no. Guess what Stranger Things 5 did? It yanked the tension right out from under me and kept him alive.

Hopper exits the room and then goes back in with Eleven. It's not Vecna who's behind the metal door at all. It's Kali Prasad/Eight, aka Eleven's sister! The military is keeping her hostage. However, it's unclear what they're doing with her. I guess we'll just have to wait until the next episodes drop in Stranger Things 5 part 2 to find out. The second part of the season will be released on Netflix on Dec. 25.