Episode 6: i think I keep saying “holy shit” but that keeps being my reaction haha. I still am not sure how the Mind Flayer has been able to do what he’s doing, but it’s all so cool that I don’t even care. This season is legit scary and I kinda wish it was fall/Halloween right now
Just finished this on a plane, great performances and the overall plot was well constructed, I was really sucked in episode to episode which this show does so well. The splitting off into groups was fine but a little overkill, it’s hard to build those plot lines that are so separate to a satisfying conclusion. They kind of pulled it off but it was a mess in a lot of ways. Big fan of Alexei. Not a big fan of the over the top fight sequences that work out just right every time, the giant monster finally being unleashed but being unable to see anything? Slow as fuck unless it’s chasing a car? Undetectable despite barreling down a highway? Not attacking the fair? Come on, attack the fair! Also the endless fireworks, Billy redemption I guess? Soulless evil Russians with no motive feels empty, a lot of the character dynamics felt slapped together, so many heart to hearts that didn’t really connect that well tho that letter at the end was great for Hop. Who is def dead. It was pretty good. Love a show that masters that sense of suspense and mystery so well even if the landing was like ok. It has its flaws but so many great choices in pacing and aesthetics.[/spoiler][/spoiler]
Hopper is 99.9% chance the American mentioned in the epilogue. If not then he's hanging out in the Upside Down tho it would make no sense for him to be able to survive there long term
Haven't caught up on this thread yet so I'm sorry if I'm treading over old ground here - That finalé possibly the best episode of all 3 seasons? So many emotional moments for so many characters (I feel very sad for Billy think it was just a mixture of the dreamlike memory, the music and just the situation he and El were in that got me "misty eyed" lol) and the Byers' leaving Hawkins was such a good ending. r.e. Hopper, I did think he would survive by going into the upside down but the distance between the gate and the platform he was on was too big. If he did survive, I think he got out by using the tunnel Dustin was talking about when they were discussing the plan, that he said was underneath that machine. Would be happy if he did survive but I think the American in the cell at the end was probably 'bald eagle' guy who's name I forget lol Edit: just checked the start of ep6 where Dustin & crew escape from the machine room, and there is no way Hopper got into the upside down and the tunnel I mentioned earlier that Dustin & Erica use is in another room entirely. I agree with @incognitojones he is definitely dead
I’d like to see this show go a different direction entirely with regards to the threat / villain. But based on the post credits the opposite of that is happening haha
I think Hopper is definitely the one alive in the epilogue. He was constantly referred to as "the American" throughout the season, have to think it was intentional.
I feel like he’s alive because they didn’t show him blowing up like the did the guards in that room. Who knows though.
it's either Hop, or that's a red herring and it'll be Brenner who they set up being alive in S2. not huge on the idea of either but they could pull it off
He definitely survived. Like there’s a less than zero chance it isn’t him that they’re talking about in the credits scene.
Haven't read the thread yet but just started S3 last night and two episodes in. Great so far. Love seeing a bit more of El. Those mall scenes though remind me of the times I would go in the early 90s as a kid.
Yeah, the set design was amazing and the special effects have definitely improved exponentially since season one.
I was so in awe of the mall design. It was such a good call to center the season around such an amazing location.
Hop’s last line of his letter said something like, “For the sake of your dear old dad, leave the door open three inches” or something. I realize that was a callback, but it sounded like it could have had a double meaning. Like opening the door to the Upside Down so he could escape or referencing a prison cell with that post-credits scene in mind. Either way, it didn’t seem very conclusive to me...
No body, no death. It's just a basic rule of genre television at this point. Also that shot of him staring at the open portal for a few seconds made it seem like he planned to take his chances. I mean, why not?
No shade to the show, but it's a crowd pleaser, not a risk taker. There's no way they killed off the show's most beloved character.