We're eagerly anticipating the release of Stranger Things season 5 this fall, and as the first batch of episodes grows nearer and nearer, we're also starting to learn more behind the scenes details from the cast and creators. While those rumored episode runtimes turned out to be false, the Duffers recently revealed the first two episodes have officially completed post-production.
Since production wrapped on the Netflix phenomenon's final season last winter, the cast has been steadily hyping up the upcoming swan song. Most recently, series star David Harbour chatted with Collider at the FanX Tampa Bay Comic Convention and teased some exciting details about Hopper's storylines in season 5 that will have "Jopper" fans very excited.
Before Stranger Things comes to an end, Harbour reveals that Hopper and Joyce will be one of the biggest storylines for Hopper in the final season:
"I think that season 5, in terms of Hopper's storyline, the two biggest storylines for Hopper are going to be the Joyce piece, which is obviously very big, and people really loved it calling it Jopper and got me. It’s very sweet to have like young kids care about a middle-aged couple."
Yes, you read that correctly. Harbour teased "two" of Hopper's biggest storylines, so what's the other one? Of course, probably the beating heart of Stranger Things, the father-daughter relationship between Hopper and Eleven. Since Hopper was presumed dead at the end of season 3 and the characters spent all of season 4 separated, we only briefly saw them reunite.
According to Harbour, season 5 won't skip past the emotional reunion and will give fans the "hell of a payoff" we have been waiting for since that cliffhanger moment. The season 4 finale gave us just enough of Hopper and Eleven's reunion, but the series will continue to explore their dynamic now that so much has changed in their worlds, both individually and together.
"The other huge relationship arc that needs resolution is going to be Hopper and Eleven, which you saw a bit of their reunion at the end of season 4, but we're definitely gonna dive in and give you a hell of a payoff for that storyline," Harbour shared with Collider.
Sure, there are a lot of fish to fry, so to speak, in Stranger Things season 5, especially with the final battle with Vecna looming large. When we last left Hawkins in the season 4 finale, things weren't looking too good for our everyday heroes, and the season 5 teaser previewed some of the high-stakes adventures and battles still to come as they fight to save their town.
But it's also heartwarming to know that even with so much going on, Stranger Things will continue to find time for the quiet character-driven moments that fans love about the show. It's a larger-than-life sci-fi spectacle, but at the end of the day, fans adore each of these characters. It's why there are constantly meltdowns about the mere thought of certain characters (Steve) not surviving.
Thankfully, we can sleep well knowing that Hopper and Joyce's relationship won't be tossed onto the back burner and they will find their way back to each other amidst the chaos. Likewise, Hopper and Eleven, perhaps the character pairing fans love the most, have the chance to work though their reunion, work together, and (hopefully) have the payoff they deserve.
Stranger Things season 5 releases on Nov. 26, Dec. 25, and Dec. 31 on Netflix.
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