Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Stranger Things," including speculation of future events.
One of the biggest questions we had after watching the first season of Netflix's "Stranger Things" was the cause of death for Chief Jim Hopper's daughter, Sarah. Though it might seem like a small detail, the actor who plays Hopper hinted last year that it might have a big impact.
"Do you know what specifically Jim's daughter died of in the show?" Redditor hardycoreman asked during an AMA with David Harbour (Hopper).
"Yes, but it's a secret we may explore in [season two], so don't wanna say right now," Harbour replied.
One reason we believe Sarah's cause of death is a secret has to do with a stuffed animal seen in a shot of Hopper and Sarah in a hospital together. It's very similar to a stuffed animal Will Byers kept in his hideout and one Eleven had in her room at Hawkins Lab.
Since Sarah's animal looks more like a tiger, and Eleven's is definitely a Lion, it's of course possible that these toys are just meant to be a symbolic link between the three children. "Stranger Things" creators the Duffer Brothers might have just wanted viewers to make a subtle connection between the tragic backgrounds of Will, Sarah, and Eleven.
Hopper certainly seems to find meaning in rescuing Will when he was unable to save his daughter, but again Harbour's comments make us wonder if there isn't a stronger connection between the three children. What if Sarah was also involved with Hawkins Lab experiments? Or perhaps Hopper's family got caught up in a different government project?
On the first season, we learn that Hopper used to be a "big city cop," but he's cagey about revealing details regarding his past. He also gets into an unmarked car after rescuing Will, which made us suspicious about his possible involvement with government conspiracies that could be related to Hawkins Lab. What isn't he telling us? Why did David Harbour say Sarah's cause of death was a secret?
"Stranger Things 2" arrives on Netflix October 27, so fingers crossed that we'll finally get answers about Sarah and Hopper's mysterious past.
