Hopper and Eleven’sStranger Thingsseason 5 return will be exciting, but it must avoid season 3’s disappointing change to their relationship. While Hopper and Eleven have had connections with each other since the show began, it wasn’t until season 2 that they became some of the closestcharacters inStranger Things. After discovering she survived the events of season 1,Hopper keeps her in his cabin and treats her like a daughter, though keeps her inside so she’s not discovered by those working for Hawkins Lab. His protectiveness mirrors his emotions involving his late daughter, Sara.
However, the pair were separated when he seemingly sacrificed himself at the end of season 3. Luckily, he survived, withStranger Thingsseason 4 endingon the father-daughter duo reuniting after their subsequent adventures. With the pair back together, alongside the rest of the group,Stranger Thingsseason 5is shaping up to use their personal connections in important waysfor the show’s final stretch. Despite how iconic the pairing is, though, season 5 needs to avoid a big mistake season 3 made that almost ruined their relationship.
Hopper & Eleven’s Tense Relationship In Season 3 Changed Too Much About Them
Their Clashing Interests Made Their Characters Feel Completely Out Of Sync
DuringStranger Thingsseason 2,Hopper and Elevenwere on equal footing with one another.The relationship established between them was a father-daughter one, but also indicates they saw each other as team members, both with the objective of keeping Eleven safe. While she eventually ran off because he kept her confined, it was clear he loved her enough that he didn’t want to lose her like he’d lost Sara. She also didn’t hate him, but rather the situation they were forced to reckon with at the time.
All of this changed in season 3, with Eleven now being Hopper’s adopted daughter who was able to roam more freely than ever before. With this also came a change in their dynamic.Hopper became stricter with her, especially when she started dating Mike, to the point where their relationship started to fall apart. This was especially apparent at the start of season 3, with him not understanding how to parent her, essentially losing that trusting bond the pair had in season 3. This big character change was jarring, negatively impacting the pair’s partnership despite all they’d been through.
As for Eleven, she began breaking out of her shell in season 3, including seeing Mike more often and gettingcloser with Max. This put her at odds with Hopper even more, since he was still in a protective phase that made him seem angrier than he’d ever been. But, in treating their relationship like this,season 3 dampened the initial connection the pair made.The tension in their relationship may have been important to the story, but it also relegated that initial bond they had with each other to the background.
Stranger Things Season 5 Needs To Remember What Eleven & Hopper Were Like In Season 2
The Pair Work Better When Their Bond Is On Equal Ground
When it comes to their relationship going intoStranger Thingsseason 5, the show needs to remember the strength of Hopper and Eleven’s connection in season 2. While he was still strict about having nobody discover she was still alive,Hopper cared for Eleven in a more deliberate fashion than in season 3. While she still wasn’t happy with the situation they were in, she learned how much he truly cared for her by the end, something season 3 didn’t lean into as much.
Their final scene together in season 4 illustrated how perfectly this would work, with everything they’ve been through bringing them back to that equal footing of when they first met.
However, with Hopper escaping Russia and Eleven being crucial to defeating Vecna,Stranger Thingsseason 5 has an opportunity to build their connection back to how it was in season 2. Their final scene together in season 4 illustrated how perfectly this would work, with everything they’ve been through bringing them back to that equal footing of when they first met. Thanks to this last scene, season 5 has the opportunity to avoid disappointment and build their relationship back to where it was perfect.
