The fifth and final season of Netflix's hit series Stranger Things will be upon us before we know it, set up to return sometime later this year after a lengthy wait between seasons. With the show ending, some of its stars have started reminiscing about the series and the epic experience.
One of those actors is David Harbour, who plays the beloved Sheriff Jim Hopper. It might be hard to believe, but Harbour was almost ready to give up on his acting dreams when he landed Stranger Things. Now, the actor has become a huge name in Hollywood, even landing a significant role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Alexei Shostakov, a.k.a. Red Guardian, first introduced in Black Widow and soon to return in Thunderbolts*.
But even when Harbour first landed on Stranger Things, the actor once expected his character to die as early as season 1. In April, Harbour sat down for an interview with GQ and revealed that when he first read the script, he anticipated Hopper killing himself to apologize to his daughter, Sarah.
Hopper has always blamed himself for Sara's death because he believes his exposure to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War is what ultimately caused his daughter's sickness and eventual death. The actor expected season 1 to end with his suicide.
Eventually, Hopper does die, or at least appears to. At the end of season 3, he gets to have his big moment of self-sacrifice to help Joyce (Winona Ryder) escape and close the Hawkins gate to the Upside Down.
But the writers didn't let us think Hopper was dead for long. A post-credits scene set in Russia teased his survival.
It might have been better for the story if Hopper had really died
Hopper's supposed death was one of the show's most heart-wrenching and beautifully rendered scenes.
“I think they were just committed to the beauty of that moment of his death. It was so moving that I think they almost didn't want him to be alive," Harbour tells GQ.
Many agree with Harbour and even feel the character should have died rather than be transported to Russia. The season 3 finale was one of the show's best and most moving episodes. Who could forget Hopper's touching farewell letter to his foster daughter Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), in which he asks his foster daughter to "keep the door open three inches" for her "dear old dad."
The Russia sub-plot in season 4 was polarizing among fans, many of whom felt Hopper's survival negated the emotional pull of the season 3 ending.
Another popular character almost died in season 1
Hopper isn't the only character who could have had a different fate in season 1. Stranger Things creators Matt and Ross Duffer previously revealed that they originally intended for Steve Harrington (Joe Keery) to die at some point in the debut season.
Considering Steve's popularity, the Duffers made a good choice by opting not to kill him off but instead making him an integral part of the cast.
It was Keery's performance that motivated the Duffers to change their minds.
“You’re learning what works and what doesn’t work. The cast is impacting where you take the narrative, the other writers and directors … it’s this living thing,” Matt Duffer previously told Rotten Tomatoes.
If you or someone you know are experiencing suicidal thoughts, call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 988.