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Simply put, Hopper isn’t a character who knows how to control his emotions. This often leads him into conflict with characters like Joyce Byers and Eleven, who becomes his adoptive daughter in Season 2. However, when reminded of some of Hopper’s greatest quotes, fans will remember that deep down, Hopper is a hero.
Warning: Spoilers Ahead
9 Hopper’s Morning Routine
Jim Hopper’s introduction in the first episode of Stranger Things doesn’t exactly paint a pretty picture of this guy’s life. It’s almost a comedic moment when the guy who wakes up shirtless, takes a pill, and downs it with a beer puts on a badge that reads “Police Chief.” However, we quickly see this is all par for the course for Hopper.
When he arrives at Hawkins Police Station, he is immediately negligent of the many duties of his job. To his secretary, Flo, he lazily quips:
To Hopper’s chagrin, this morning will soon be interrupted by the arrival of Joyce Byers after her son Will has gone missing. So much for coffee and contemplation.
8 Hopper Breaks Into Hawkins Lab
After discovering that the body of Will Byers that washed up in a quarry is a fake, Hopper seeks answers from Hawkins Lab. Unfortunately, his investigation in Chapter Five goes south when he’s caught by two lab officials. However, Hopper’s plan to get away with it comes off pretty smooth despite it being impromptu.
With two guns pointed at him, Hopper tries to ease the officials’ worry by making a pretty bold claim:
For a moment, the mention of Dr. Brenner is enough to stall time. However, when one of the officials pulls out a walkie-talkie, Hopper resorts to his main method of fighting: punching people in the face.
7 Hopper Meets Murray Bauman
The events of Season 1 lead Hopper to a troubling situation when the scientists at Hawkins Lab force him to cover up their crimes. His cover-up job must not have been squeaky clean, as Hopper faces speculation from local conspiracy theorist Murray Bauman. This is of course before Hopper and Murray join forces in Season 3.
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After Murray makes mention of a psychic girl (who is clearly Eleven), Hopper lazily sits back in his chair, knowing the truth, and sarcastically tells him:
Understandably, Murray is not entertained by Hopper’s jokes. That being said, the loony investigator may be onto something regarding a Russian invasion in Hawkins.
6 Hopper And Eleven’s Word Of The Day
The ending of Season 2, Episode 1 certainly pulls the rug from under viewers. It’s revealed that Hopper has adopted Eleven since the events of Season 1, hiding her in a remote cabin. It’s not until the second episode of the season that fans get a glimpse at what Hopper’s parental tactics are with the quiet lab experiment.
After rejecting Eleven’s idea to go trick-or-treating, they have an adorable moment after Hopper suggests a “compromise,” which Eleven doesn’t understand:
If only the rest of the season contained more moments like this showing the family these two are building together. Unfortunately, there’s more horror on the horizon.
5 Hopper Comforts Joyce
Later on in Season 2, Episode 2, Hopper visits the Byers after Joyce is worried about the effects being in the Upside-Down had on Will. She shows him drawings that Will has done of a monster that will eventually be named the Mind Flayer. In reality, Will’s not the only one anxious about the one-year anniversary of his kidnapping.
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Hopper’s advice for Joyce at this moment is an attempt at sounding comforting, but it doesn’t do much to ease Joyce’s worries:
Certainly, Hopper doesn’t know yet that Will’s drawings are prophetic. However, it’s a sweet moment between Jim and Joyce sharing their traumas with each other.
4 Hopper’s Rules For Eleven
The early episodes of Season 2 contain flashbacks to the beginnings of Hopper and Eleven’s relationship. After finding her, Hopper takes her to his remote cabin, where he establishes some pretty strict ground rules after booby-trapping the area:
The irony of this moment is that Hopper’s speech is intercut with Eleven opening the curtains, unlocking the front door, and stepping outside. For a moment, in this episode, Eleven was stupid.
3 Hopper Makes A Deal With Dr. Owens
The second season’s finale finds Eleven and Hopper heading to Hawkins Lab to close the gate to the Upside-Down. On the way, they find Paul Reiser’s Dr. Sam Owens suffering from Demodog wounds. As Hopper patches him up, he offers a deal to the vulnerable doctor as he introduces her to Eleven:
Doc Owens keeps his promise. The episode ends with Owens handing Hopper a birth certificate making Eleven, or “Jane,” his legal daughter.
2 Hopper Hates Mike
The beginning of Season 3 finds Hopper at his wits’ end as Eleven and Mike continue to have a relationship. After repeated warnings regarding Eleven not keeping the door open three inches, Hopper goes to Joyce to let off steam. While Joyce suggests he take the mature route, Hopper has other ideas:
Thankfully, Hopper listens to Joyce and goes forward with his prepared speech. Well…sort of, before he changes plans after Mike makes fun of him.
1 Hopper’s Letter
The true contents of Hopper’s planned speech to Mike and Eleven aren’t revealed until the end of Season 3. After Hopper’s supposed death, Eleven finds his letter among the items she’s packing away. Hopper’s voice reads it over a montage of Eleven joining the Byers as they finally move out of Hawkins and away from danger.
No true fan of Stranger Things didn’t cry rivers of tears upon hearing the following:
Thankfully, fans don’t have to wait long to hear more iconic lines from David Harbour’s iconic character.
Stranger Things 4 premieres on Netflix on May 27, 2022.
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