The post-credits scene seems to imply it’s [SPOILER].
But what if it’s not?
Warning: this story contains major spoilers from theStranger Thingsseason 3 finale.
Netflix
But thenStranger Thingsdid something completely new.
Who is the American?The most obvious theory is that its Hopper.
Even subtle throwaway thoughts from Stranger Things stars like Brown have given us pause in declaring Hopper dead.
Whenspeaking with EW, Brown described filmingthe moment Eleven reads Hoppers posthumous letter.
Those last four words are pretty telling!
But hear us out: what if the American isnt Hopper?
Take into account his final words in his letter to El: Keep the door open three inches.
Is he talking about the door to the Upside Down?
Is he actually stuck in that dark dimension, and his letter was foreshadowing his fate?
And if Hopper is stuck in the Upside Down, who is in that Russian bunker?
Lets take a look at all the theories of who the American could be aside from Hopper.
That military backup would have been extremely useful!
Weirder things have happened!
And instead of feeding him to the demogorgon, they could use him for leverage down the line.
Murray knows too much, both about the Russians and the Upside Down.
Hed be useful in whatever theyre planning next.
Could the Russians have found and kidnapped one of Els siblings to use for their own purposes?
What if this mysterious sibling holds the key to helping El get her own powers back?
Stranger Thingsseason 3 is now streaming in full on Netflix.
