Well, Netflix recently released a trailer for season four of Stranger Things and it’s supposed to contain a surprise. Remember the post-credit footage at the end of season three? It had an unnamed American being held captive in a Russian gulag in the deepest frozen recesses of Siberia. Fans speculated that it could be anyone from Chief Hopper to Martin “Papa” Brenner, Billy Hargrove, or Bob Newby. I blogged about this on October 5, 2019 and had my theories about the mystery prisoner then. Well, I’m glad to see they were confirmed in this season four trailer:
Hopper is Alive!
Big shock, right? I know I wasn’t surprised and neither are thousands of Stranger Things fans. Chief Hopper is a main character in the show and an on-again-off-again love interest for Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder). You didn’t think they were just going to kill him off, did you? Besides, they never found a body. And in TV and movie lore, if you don’t find a body, chances are good that the character will be alive and kicking in a future sequel. Well… there you go.
Games of Thrones Tie-In
Yes, there’s a Game of Thrones tie in… if my ability for actor recognition is as good as it used to be. When the camera is panning over the Siberian worksite, it lingers on a Soviet guard carrying a small version of an AK-47. The actor looks suspiciously like Tom Wlaschiha, who played Jaqen H’ghar, one of the Faceless Men of Braavos. If it’s been too long since you watched Thrones, let me refresh your memory. He was that long-haired dude who said odd things like, “A girl is not a beggar anymore,” and “A man is not Jaqen H’ghar.”
Normally, I don’t make Stranger Things predictions because I’ve been wrong before. That said, I’m feeling pretty good about being right about Hopper’s survival, so I’ll make another one. I’m predicting a huge fight between Hopper and Wlaschiha’s character. Stranger Things’ creators the Duffer Brothers tweeted that this season is influenced by jailbreak films like I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang and The Shawshank Redemption. Considering all that, I think a huge fight and a breakout are safe bets.
Remember What I Said about Season 4?
On October 5, 2019, I wrote about the first Stranger Things season four trailer. It’s your typical Stranger Things teaser trailer that gives thinly-veiled Easter eggs that hint at what we can expect:
Here were my takeaways then and now:
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It’s likely that the Demogorgon will return, based on its appearance in the post-credit scene in season three and its telltale clicking growl in this trailer.
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The darkness, shadows, and creeping vegetation means a return to the Upside Down.
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The illuminated light on the porch of Hopper’s cabin signifies that he’s still alive. (This latest trailer confirmed that.)
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The phrase “We’re not in Hawkins anymore” suggests that the action will take place elsewhere. (My guess is Siberia and wherever Joyce moved with her two sons and Eleven.)
Some Unanswered Questions
The Duffers like to play a little game with their Stranger Things trailers. The first one starts out with very cryptic messages and each subsequent trailer shows a little more. Admittedly, this gives fans like me something to look forward to in the months running up to the season premiere. Since we’re still in the early, mysterious stages of season four’s trailers, there are still a few things we don’t know:
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When will the next trailer come out?
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When will season four debut?
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Are there any new characters that will be introduced?
I’m sure we’ll get the answers to these questions very soon, probably by way of another Stranger Things season four trailer.
