They’ve saved the Earth with a little last-second help from Paul Reiser, but they’ve also paid a price. Hopper has always been focused on protecting his loved ones, and in Stranger Things season 3, episode 8, that means he has no choice but to sacrifice himself in order to save Eleven. Is Hopper really dead? Stranger Things Season 3 Ending Explained Stranger Things: Why That Season 3 Postcredits Scene Is So Important. And with that stomping, the gang’s in one place for the first time this season, though the reunion won’t last for long. Madonna’s seminal 1991 documentary had few precedents. The ‘Stranger Things 3’ post-credit scene, explained The end of season 3 leaves the door open (three inches) for a bigger battle. Meanwhile, Hopper, Murray, and Joyce infiltrate the Russian base with extreme prejudice, thanks to Hopper taking out a bunch of soldiers with a machine gun. Stranger Things Season 3 Ending, Post Credit Scene Explained. The three highest-grossing films of the year were Top Gun, Crocodile Dundee, and Platoon, and it’s hard to picture posters of any of those hanging up in Mike’s basement. Given Owens is shown back in Hawkins, it's safe to assume he will lead a US team who guard the Gate. As it works to flesh out Clarice’s damage, the show must invoke the Forbidden Character. IMDb TV Wants to Win the Free Streaming Wars. In Stranger Things season two, the Duffer Brothers broke away from the main action of Hawkins, Ind., for an entire episode set in Chicago, centered on … • Will the next season be set in 1986? That year saw the release of horror and science-fiction classics like The Fly, Aliens, and Star Trek IV, but on the whole, public taste started to tilt away from the sort of movies that inform the show. It’s hard to watch Joyce and El take in the news, especially on the heels of Max’s own confused wailing at Billy’s death. "Maybe they want to stop now," said Stranger Things star Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas) when asked by … Tom's focus tends to be on the various superhero franchises, as well as Star Wars, Doctor Who, and Star Trek; he's also an avid comic book reader. Then a third problem presents itself: the Mind Flayer, now the size of a mall. You\'ll receive the next newsletter in your inbox. Here’s the Stranger Things season 3 ending explained in our full recap of what happened at the end of Stranger Things. They’ll mark the first music to be posthumously released in the format. And even if in the moment you can’t believe Hopper won’t be coming back, it’s still impossible not to get swept up in everyone’s sadness. Now that we've all binged Stranger Things 3, let's talk about the season's ending. One season seemed like enough, but the second turned into a winning follow-up. An ill-timed brawl with the Russian Terminator leaves Hopper stranded in the Gate room, with the generator primed to overload. Toast some Eggos, turn on the boombox, and watch out for the Mind Flayer. After it was originally set for release through Sony Pictures. Dialogue reveals that they have an American prisoner. What made it, in some ways, the perfect ending to the show itself. Murray doesn’t know it. Earlier in the season, Alexei explained that there had been many “keys” (ie. After constructing a battle plan, they break off into subgroups with names like The Scoops Troop (great name), The Griswold Family (they could have done better), and Bald Eagle (a handle Murray resents). As the Byers hit the road, Will leaves his D&D material behind for Erica, who seems a little more comfortable inching out of the nerd closet. Coldplay’s New ‘Higher Power’ Video Will Get Your Holograms Up and Moving. She can’t even crush a New Coke can, much less sling a car around. That’s why it can’t be replicated today. Hopper gives Joyce one last, lingering look, and a nod to trigger it - even though he believes it will result in his death. Great plan. During his … Episode Recap. Jonathan and Nancy felt extraneous for much of the season while Will’s big emotional meltdown seemed added in part to give him something to do. He's heavily involved with his local church, and anyone who checks him out on Twitter will quickly learn that he's interested in British politics as well. Related: Stranger Things Learned The Wrong Lessons From Season 2’s Backlash. So do El and Mike, after Mike assures her that her powers will return and they share one last kiss — one not interrupted by a Corey Hart impression. Hop wasn’t the only killed by the Russians’ machine. Letty & Mia Will Finally Share A Scene Together In Fast & Furious 9, Stranger Things: 6 Questions After Season 3, Episode 8, Stranger Things Learned The Wrong Lessons From Season 2’s Backlash, Stranger Things Complete Timeline Explained. And it was a pretty great season. ... of settings while providing just a dash of cultural commentary. The bulk of "The Battle of Starcourt" is divided between three settings: Starcourt Mall, where the kids battle to keep Eleven safe; the Russian lab, where Hopper and Joyce must overload the Gate generator; and the highest point around Hawkins, where Dustin uses his Cerebro unit to coordinate everything. If so, we’re pushing a bit past the golden age of Stranger Things’ influences. ... as we saw in episode one. Another season of Stranger Things has arrived on Netflix. Breaking Dustin off from the others and teaming him up with Steve turned out to be a winning decision, and it seems likely that the Byers family’s move could help out with some of the logistics next season if only by breaking the characters off into discrete units. Warning! Editor’s Rating 3 stars * * * ... Stranger Things ends the way it began: as the most comprehensive pastiche of ’80s sci-fi imaginable. Meanwhile, everyone else prepares to retreat to the safety of Murray’s hideout. All of YouTube is having a moral meltdown. Dustin gets his best moment yet, singing a hilarious duet with Suzie, while Eleven manages to reach Billy and help him fight against the Mind Flayer's control. Jul 8, 2019, 2:34 pm And is the Hawkins Gate closed for good? The final episode of Stranger Things season 3 saw the Mind Flayer defeated - and raised a lot of questions for the inevitable season 4. It’s a new dawn at Mythic Quest, yet both Poppy and David are being forced by their subconsciouses to recognize the sway Ian has over them. Okay, that finale will take some time to process. The go-to source for comic book and superhero movie fans. This time around, however, the heroes of Stranger Things must pay a terrible price if they're going to save the world from the Mind Flayer. Stranger Things season 2 ended with an epic hourlong finale. All rights reserved. It's unclear whether Eleven has been formally adopted, or whether Joyce just considers herself Eleven's most appropriate guardian following Hopper's death. Life’s a Beach in DJ Khaled’s ‘We Going Crazy’ Video With H.E.R and Migos. Hopefully they don't resume experiments with it as well. The new Stranger Things trailer confirms that Hopper is alive - and here's how he survived his apparent death in Stranger Things season 3.Police chief Jim Hopper (played by David Harbour) seemingly paid the ultimate price to close the Russian Gate to the Upside Down. Literary Editor Resigns After Reportedly Bathing on Zoom in Mesh Shirt. The Stranger Things season 3 ending, "The Battle of Starcourt," is an explosive climax that changes the show's status quo - possibly forever. Alexei had warned that the energy flare would reduce anybody to dust, but that's frankly a little too convenient - and there is a well-placed ladder he could have used. Stranger Things season 3, episode 8 sees the heroes gather to fight the Mind Flayer and tackle the Russian Gate - and it all sets up season 4. Okay, firstly, ‘Stranger Things’ Season 3 Episode 8 is almost 80 minutes long, so there is a lot to unpack here. The question of Stranger Things’ shelf life has hung over it from the start. Short answer: destruction. The X-factor here turns out to be Flayed Billy, who’s disabled Nancy’s car, forcing Nancy, Jonathan, Will, El, Max, and Mike back into the food court. For a refresher, be sure to check out our review of "The Bite." How Old Are The Stranger Things Kids in Season 3? As is characteristic of ‘Stranger Things’, the battle is crucially coordinated from three locations and they all have to come together to win the high stakes, that is the safety of the human race. Hopper’s gone. Let's explain it all with a recap. But Dustin knows someone who knows, a virtually perfect creature a few states over in Utah: Suzie, who (1) exists, (2) is thrilled to hear from Dustin in spite of being curled up with a great Ursula K. Le Guin novel, and (3) will happily share Planck’s constant with her Dusty bun in return for a song. Or could it be the continuously absent Dr. Brenner? Keep up with all the drama of your favorite shows! But in a new report, staffers say that’s not the whole story. The final episode, “The Battle of Starcourt” reaps what the careful seeding of previous episodes sews. When the dust settles from Stranger Things season 3, episode 8, there are more questions than answers. Hopper has always been focused on protecting his loved ones, and in Stranger Things season 3, episode 8, that means he has The credits may have rolled, but thanks to an extra scene, speculation over the next season carries on. WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS FOR STRANGER THINGS 3. The slate for 2021 — of fiction and nonfiction alike — is bursting with vibrancy and verve. Season 1 Episode 8. Log in or link your magazine subscription. For all the action and adventure, Stranger Things season 3, episode 8 is absolutely packed with character, and it features some of the most unforgettable scenes in Stranger Things to date. Featuring dead pirates, a dragon, and more product placement than you can possibly imagine crammed onto one deserted island. With the Gate still partly open, the Mind Flayer can return. Meanwhile, it finally reveals the Mind Flayer's true plan; it wants to incorporate Eleven into itself, thus neutralizing its only threat and potentially gaining the ability to open Gates itself. ... and gutting episode… Major spoilers for Stranger Things 2 follow below.Turn back now if you’re not caught up. Previously, he's written entertainment news and articles for Movie Pilot. Stranger Things season 3, episode 8's ending appears to changes the show forever, with the Byers family taking Eleven in - and leaving Hawkins. • The show took a big swing by bringing in the Russians, but it worked, allowing the Duffers and others to tap into a rich vein of late–Cold War depictions of evil Russkies. Smart move or a failure of nerve? Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Stranger Things season 3.. With three seasons under its belt, the Stranger Things timeline is so twisty and complex that it needs to be explained. Season 3 Episode 8- The Battle of Starcourt. Toast some Eggos, turn on the boombox, and watch out for the … • One thing that became apparent over the course of the season: It’s hard to do right by every character with a cast this big. No more watching Miami Vice with El. STRANGER THINGS season 3 sees the Netflix series’ biggest-ever battle. That leaves them with two problems that turn out to be related: They can salvage the part they need from the car El trashed in the previous episode, but El’s powers seem to be failing her. Early on, it felt a bit like Stranger Things had started to repeat itself, and while that remained true to a point, it also kept upping the ante with bigger threats, bigger emotions, and a storyline that acknowledged these kids were growing up and changing. About that: We kind of covered it above, but Hopper’s sacrifice — after a long fight with the Russian super-soldier that ends in the Russian’s death — gets played for maximum emotion. What could go wrong? It all began in November 1983 and, so far, stops in October 1985 at the end of Stranger Things season 3.What's more, there's plenty of history alluded to within the show that adds years onto the … Let's unpack everything that happened in the finale. 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On the other hand, it cheapens a lot of what made the ending to Stranger Things Season 3 so meaningful and painful and true. Related: Stranger Things Complete Timeline Explained. Erica and Dustin don’t either. Now that we've all binged Stranger Things 3, let's talk about the season's ending. No more coffee and contemplation. This doesn't seem to be a temporary thing, either; three months later, she's shown still powerless. Retreating to the hill overlooking Hawkins, Dustin and Erica plan to guide Murray, Hopper, and Joyce through the bunker. A one-stop shop for all things video games. Stranger Things 3: Post credit scene explained. Specifically, she needs him to sing Limahl’s theme to the 1984 fantasy film The Neverending Story with her, which he does, much to his embarrassment (even though Gaten Matarazzo has a lovely singing voice). Lucas, as ever, remained underserved, but Erica emerged as a star player. But first, how did we get there? But when the energy flare is over, it's unclear if Hopper is really dead. What happened to the Russians? In one chilling scene, he approaches the Russian Gate and learns that it isn't entirely closed; clearly the fabric of reality at Hawkins has suffered lasting damage. • Stranger Things did, however, lay off trying to do a departure episode like last season’s Chicago adventure, perhaps burned by fan response. Undaunted by the killing, Joyce suggests they go to Enzo’s for a date, at last, and Hopper agrees. After some tender moments, they spring into action. The series was created by the Duffer Brothers, who are also executive producers along with Shawn Levy, Dan Cohen, and Iain Paterson.. Stranger Things 3 has been streaming for less than a week and fans are already picking their favorite moments and performances. The ending of 'Stranger Things' season 3 explained. Robin proved a worthy addition to the cast and Starcourt Mall brought the spookiness to the most sterile (and most ’80s) of settings while providing just a dash of cultural commentary. They’re also whirling from a post-credits scene at the very end … This has been a short season, focused on exploiting the show's Cold War context for the first time, and Stranger Things season 3, episode 8 wraps all that up pretty neatly - for now. A look at why the ad-supported service is so important to Amazon. HitFix’s Alan Sepinwall interviews the Duffer brothers, Matt and Ross, about "Stranger Things," their Netflix ’80s supernatural drama, starring Winona Ryder and David Harbour. His death has also led to a splintering of our central characters. The ending in Stranger Things Season 3 is no different. Season 3 Episode 8. It's unclear what happened, but the most reasonable explanation is that she's simply burnt out. Hawkins will never be the same. 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