Spoilers for Stranger Things 3 follow below.

Stranger Things 3 saw a whirlwind of changes occurring in the small town of Hawkins, Indiana. The retro, neon-illuminated Starcourt Mall made its grand debut to the public, the Byers family made the ultimate decision to pack their things and move out of the midwestern town that’s haunted them for three seasons now, and even the series’ core group of kids found themselves experiencing some personal growth. Or, in other words, confronting puberty and making that awkward and uncomfortable transition into teenagers. It was a season that covered a vast ground ranging from small businesses and the devastating effects that Reagan-era consumerism had on them, to the emotional inner conflict that comes with growing up. All while the horrific, doom-and-gloom atmosphere of the Upside Down hovered over Hawkins in the form of the ghastly-looking Mind Flayer.

Season 3 was praised for a number of reasons, namely for turning its focus inward on the kids at its center. After a divisive second season, the Duffer Brothers switched gears for this year's follow-up. It came at fans in a vibrant wave of 80s nostalgia, leaving behind the series’ usual Halloween/fall/Christmas setting for the Summer of 1985. It felt bigger, bolder, and returned to the form that had fans falling in love with the sci-fi series in the first place. It also left a variety of questions lingering in the air during its ultimate episode. Now, Netflix hasn’t officially renewed the series for a fourth season yet, but with the monumental success of season 3 that broke records for the streaming giant, it’s a no-brainer that it’ll be making a comeback. In anticipation of what’s to come, here are some of the biggest questions that we hope Stranger Things 4 will tackle when it inevitably arrives.

Is Hopper Still Alive?

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Image via Netflix

The Stranger Things 3 finale, titled “The Battle of Starcourt”, saw our main characters in three separate locations. Joyce, Murray, and Hopper headed into the Russian hub beneath the mall while Dustin, Erica, Steve, and Robin went to the highest point in Hawkins to use Dustin’s Cerebro satellite to communicate with the adults underground. Inside the mall, the rest of the crew took on the Mind Flayer (or his Cronenberg-esque puppet in our world) in an epic battle that eventually led to its demise. Things were looking up inside the now-destroyed Starcourt Mall, but down below was a different story.

Joyce (Winona Ryder) was able to turn the key and explode the machine attempting to open the gate, unfortunately killing Hopper in the process. But did she really? Before turning the key, Hop makes eye contact with Joyce and nods to her, accepting his fate, then the screen goes black. When the now-exploding machine comes back on-screen, Hopper is nowhere to be found on the deck surrounding it. He wasn’t seen exploding like the four men in hazmat suits that appeared on-screen either.

Even with the Mind Flayer and the gate-opening machine gone in Hawkins, a mid-credit scene showed that the Upside Down is, unfortunately, still thriving in a different location. Not only do the Russians have a Demogorgon at their disposal, but they also have an American in their custody. The American’s face is never shown, but it’s easy to speculate that Jim Hopper was the American being referenced (and actor David Harbour has said as much himself). Even if it is, getting him out of the Russian prison would be quite the mission next season.

How Did the Russians Get the Demogorgon?

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Image via Netflix

Speaking of the Demogorgon, how did the Russians get their hands on it? Well, considering the amount of time and effort that went into creating the well-concealed, and incredibly well-built underground hub in Hawkins, it must mean the Russians were already familiar with the Upside Down. Perhaps there are more gates around the world, and the Russians already have one of their own.

Considering this takes place during the Cold War, which lasted up until 1991, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Russians were trying to stay one step ahead of the United States when it comes to controlling the monstrosities in the Upside Down. Similar to the competitive and tense nature surrounding the arms race and/or the space race during this period, having access to the Upside Down would be the perfect way for the Russians to have the upper hand. Finding out where multiple gates are and being able to open them on their own would give them an unbelievable amount of power. Not to mention, if they’re learning how to train and control the Demogorgon that’s currently in their possession as a weapon, the Mind Flayer may be the least of society’s worries.

Another theory is that this scene could be taking place during an entirely different year. The idea of time travel is one that’s been tossed around a few times, especially regarding a possible Stranger Things 4, but this credits scene could easily allude to that. Maybe, after the fallout in Hawkins, the Russians found a gate in their own territory. Perhaps this scene is taking place years later, showing off what the Soviets already have in store.

What Happened to Eleven's Powers?

Eleven from Stranger Things on the phone, looking scared.
Image via Netflix

The loss of Eleven’s (Millie Bobby Brown) powers was a truly game-changing event in the series’ narrative. For the past two seasons, the show’s main protagonists have been dependent on her powers in order to save the day from what lies beneath. This time around, she was unable to use her telepathic and telekinetic powers, leaving the heroics to her plucky group of friends. Which begs some major questions: where did Eleven's powers go and why?

After the Russians track down the kids in the mall, El flips a car into them, killing them instantly. Once the coast is clear, the kids all reconnect in the mall and catch up on what’s been happening with each group. El, on the other hand, walks away. Racing thoughts and voices converge into a high-pitched tone and she falls to the ground, writhing at the pain in her leg from the Mind Flayer’s bite. The group notices something moving underneath her skin, and she uses the remaining strength that she has to remove the tiny piece of Mind Flayer and fling it away from her body.

This is the last time we see El’s powers in full force. She begins to notice their absence when she’s unable to move the car she flipped. She then tries using them on a New Coke can, mirroring how she would crush cans at Hawkins lab back in Season 1, and nothing happens. Three months later, and we see they still haven’t returned, but Mike assures her that they will in time.

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what caused Eleven's powers to vanish, or if they’re permanently gone for that matter, but it’s clear that the piece of Mind Flayer stuck in her body had something to do with it. Maybe having that internal connection to the Upside Down caused her own powers to collide with the supernatural in a much different way than before. She’s always had a connection to the Upside Down, especially with her ability to walk in a purgatory of sorts between both worlds, but perhaps bringing both of them together proved to be too overwhelming for her, and her powers weakened from the collision. From a storytelling standpoint, the loss of Eleven's powers also mean that she's unable to use her powers to look for Hopper after his supposed death, which is convenient.

Only time will tell if El's powers will return, but the loss of her powers could be a beneficial turn for her. Now, she gets to live life as a normal teen without fear of connecting with the Upside Down again. Hopefully.

Why Was Dr. Owens at Starcourt Mall?

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Image via Netflix

One of the bigger surprises in the Stranger Things 3 finale was the arrival of Paul Reiser's Dr. Owens character from Stranger Things 2. He was the Director of Operations at Hawkins Lab who spent most of his time investigating the Gate to the Upside Down, prior to Eleven closing it. He also worked closely with Will in Season 2, especially after his possession by the Mind Flayer. Owens was never revealed to be good or bad, simply curious about what was going on beyond the gate. By the end of Season 2, Dr. Owens is badly damaged by the demodogs, which could be a key reasoning behind his return this season.

Dr. Owens’ appearance is brief, but noticeably important. After stepping out of a helicopter (part of the U.S. government calvary that Hopper sent for), he stops and looks at the devastating wreck that is now Starcourt Mall. He heads inside the mall and underground to the Soviet hub, immediately setting his eyes on the (mostly) closed gate. The camera rests on his horrified face, slowly zooming in on him.

Obviously, fear is the first emotion that a viewer can take away from Owens’ expression, but as the camera zooms in, it settles into a look of regret and disappointment. Maybe he knows what trouble he brewed up just by researching the Upside Down in Season 2, and now he has to deal with the consequences. Clearly his cameo-like arrival here is teasing a more substantial role in Stranger Things 4, so maybe this scene is meant to set up his determination to close end the Upside Down once and for all. His wounds from the Demodogs could also play a role in his reaction. Maybe he has a connection to the Upside Down now, just like Will and El...

Now That the Byers Family Moved, Who Will the Narrative Follow?

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Image via Netflix

In another sad turn of events, the closing moments of the season’s final episode sees the Byers family, along with Eleven, packing their things into a moving truck. The decision isn’t a surprising one, especially after everything that family has been through, but it’s a heartbreaking moment for the kids. With the Byers family and Eleven now moving far out of town, how will the narrative unfold with everyone in separate locations?

One answer, and the easiest of them all, is that they could all reunite again during the holidays. Mike even mentions to Eleven that he’ll still see her around Thanksgiving, so this could be how Stranger Things 4 brings the kids back together. Or, maybe Eleven and Will still hold connections to the Upside Down that will bring them right back. Maybe, because of their connections to it, the Russians will see them as important pieces in their overall Upside Down puzzle, and will be tracking them down in their quest to control it. Either way, their move is a refreshing way to change up the series’ story and bring it into new and unexplored territories. Hopefully, the changes will help branch Season 4 away from the formula that they’ve become a little too comfortable with.

By expanding to different countries and locations, the Duffer Brothers have the perfect opportunity to breathe new life into their narrative. Not only would it allow us to watch the kids grow up in different settings, but it would avoid rehashing any major plot points from the first three seasons. It’s time to be bold and daring, and Stranger Things now has the perfect opportunity to do just that.

For more on Stranger Things 3, click on the links to our recent articles below:

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