It's been a little over a week since Stranger Things 3 came out on Netflix, and so enough time has passed for most people to have binge-watched the popular show about monster-fighting teens. Although I could have posted this article a day after it came out, and it would still be true. Given the immense following of the show, its characters, and its wonderful cast, it would be a shame to not draw attention to Hopper's character this season. The glorification of a — dare I say — problematic character can be overshadowed by the overall love for the show.
For everyone who loves Hopper's character as I do, it is important to acknowledge his tragic past. He had a beautiful family consisting of a daughter who made up his whole world. She passed away due to illness, and Hopper saw Eleven as a sort of reincarnation of his daughter -- another chance for him to be a father. He has emotional baggage that is valid.
However, the problem is not in his baggage, but how he deals with it. He channels his fear of Mike replacing him in Eleven's life by threatening Mike, who we should remember is just a kid. He goes so far as to lock him in the truck. Mike, so scared is forced to lie and stop communicating with El. On top of this, his general disposition throughout the season is seen as aggressive, angry, and even manipulating. Though his intentions are great, his actions do not align with a character viewed as having a strong moral compass.
An example of this is when he tricks Joyce into going on a date with him, and lashes out at her when she doesn't show up. While he is crushed that his expectations for Joyce don't hold up, he treats it as though she betrayed him. His insecurities are further projected when he accuses Joyce of having feelings for Alexei, the Russian captive. In reality, she is just looking out for a scientist who is trying to explain his work. Hopper's treatment of Alexei is worsened not just by the fact that he is Russian, but that he gains the mere understanding of Joyce.
Another moment of incredible anger is Hopper's encounter with the mayor of Hawkins. He beats up the mayor and then almost cuts his finger, going well past his authority and abusing his position. When the secretary tries to call someone, Joyce takes the phone line out and says, "Who you gonna call? The police?" The show somehow allows this abuse of authority and use of aggression by the police.
One could argue that this is all part of Hopper's character development, and that he finally trusts Mike when he tells him to "be careful" before leaving El. Yet, this is not because he has come to any realization, but rather because Hopper has no choice but to accept Mike's presence when Hopper isn't around. Steve, for example, is homophobic when he calls Jonathan queer in previous seasons. Yet, he ends up accepting Robin's sexual identity in season three. This is character development. Hopper's "change" towards Mike is conditional, the condition being a life or death situation.
If we are to examine the angry male trope further, Billy is another example of this. Plagued by the disappearance and maltreatment of his mother, Billy lashes out on Max. His father is an overbearing, almost abusive parent who does not value Billy as a child himself. The loss of Billy's childhood leads to him being eternally resentful, and especially angry toward his kid sister. He finally tells Max he's sorry before his death.
The failure in both Hopper and Billy's characters is that they affirm that it is okay for males to project their pain as anger. The resolution of season three of these characters as heroic, complex people with hearts of gold paint a broad brush over what really happened. Young men for generations will watch this, still incredible, show and be affirmed that it is somewhat cool and attractive to be angsty, angry, aggressive men who deal with their turmoil in unhealthy ways. It still would have been okay for Hopper to be angry if he wasn't one of the many angry male tropes. Nancy, on the other hand, deals with her insecurities by putting up with Steve... affirming that it is not normal for women to get angry over their emotional baggage.
"Stranger Things 3" was a marvelous season, but it proved that Hollywood still has a lot to change when it comes to writing real people that reflect the world, equal in its representation.
