This is a forewarning of major spoilers for season three of Netflix's original series, Stranger Things. If you have not finished yet, please read at your own risk.

Season Three of Stranger Things is NOT what I had expected to happen at all, but I loved every single minute of it. Well, maybe just every minute before the final episode.

In the final half of the final episode, we are hit with the death of many characters, including the beloved Chief of Police, Jim Hopper.

When I watched the scene with Hopper and Joyce, I shed many, many, many tears. I continued to shed tears when Eleven sat and read the letter that Hopper had written her during his frustration with her and Mike's budding relationship. I let the tears continue to flow as the credits played because I didn't want this to be the end. But then, the scene came on.

If you're one of those people that turn off a show or movie as soon as the credits roll, then you missed out on a huge part of season three that leads us into season four. If you haven't watched it yet, please, open another tab and do so now, and come back to continue reading my conspiracy theory for season four.

So, in the final scene after the credits, we see a Russian jail and as the guards are walking past the cells that are so conveniently hidden behind large metal doors, "Not the American". They walk to the next cell and offer up that prisoner to what seems to be a human-like demodog.

Hm.

What American just spent an entire season fighting off bad Russians to help save Hawkins from the many evils of the Upside Down? That's right, Hopper. Now, it very well could be that Hopper is behind this door. But, that would be too easy for fans, right?

Well, that is where my theory comes into play. I'm not sure who is behind this door, but I do know whoever it is will play a big role in season four. But, as for Hop's fate, I believe that he made his way into the Upside Down before Joyce closed it. We never see Hopper's body, and the town of Hawkins is infamous at claiming people as dead when they really are just victim to the Upside Down. I mean, look at poor Will Byers. Speaking of which, the song that is playing in season one when they pull Will's fake dead body from the lake is the same song that is playing when El is reading the note from her "poor old dad" who is very much alive.

But, here's what I think will be the twist for season four will be. El, at the end of season three, is moving away with the Byers. When she is packing up, you see her struggle with using her powers. El has been known to be able to find people with her powers, and this is exactly why at the end of season three that everyone buys into Hopper's death. But, next time the gang is reunited and El has been able to let herself recharge, she'll be a key role in finding out where Hopper is, and what truly happened to him.

Obviously, this is all how I personally interpret next season to play out. None of this is confirmed, but I can hope that this is how season four plays out because like the rest of us, I'm not ready to say goodbye to old Jim Hopper yet.