Eleven's Hair Tie in "Stranger Things" 3 Has a Secret Meaning That Will Truly Make You Sob
In Stranger Things seasons one and two, Hopper wears a blue hair tie that belonged to his daughter Sara.
Fans noticed that in season three, Eleven wears the exact same one.
Actor David Harbour confirmed that it's the same bracelet.
If you're feeling a bit weepy after the gut-wrenching final scenes of Stranger Things 3, then I suggest you stay FAR away from ST Reddit. They've uncovered a heartbreaking detail about Chief Hopper's and Eleven's relationship that might truly put an end to me.
WARNING: big time Stranger Things 3 spoilers ahead!
I'll give you a moment to mentally prepare, because it's about to get really emotional. Alright, SO in the first season, Hopper wears a braided hair tie around his wrist and we find out in the flashback scenes that it once belonged to his daughter Sara.
Well, in season 3, one Reddit user noticed that Eleven wears the hair tie pretty much the entire time. It seems like Hopper passed along the the elastic to her, proving just how much he really does love her.
There's even a moment, just before the Battle of Starcourt, where Hopper tugs at El's bracelet while they're talking – simultaneously tugging at my very delicate heart strings.
David Harbour, who plays Jim Hopper, has confirmed that this isn't just a coincidence. The showrunners added these scenes in on purpose.
Just after season 2, Harbour told Insider: "It's something subtle we do, and in fact if you watch the first [scene] of Jim Hopper in season one, he wakes up in the morning and before he even checks his watch he touches that bracelet on his arm."
"It's the first thing he does every morning because he never wants to forget her. Sara and the death of his daughter is his grounding place for reality," he continued.
David also noted that the bracelet represents his connection with Eleven, one he hasn't had since his daughter died.
"You'll see in the first flashback with Sara that she has her hair up in these little pigtails and she's wearing these blue hair ties. You'll notice throughout the series I will occasionally play with it like when I'm talking to Eleven or going through a difficult time," he said.
"I'll fiddle with it, almost like you would with a wedding ring when you're going through a divorce but you're still wearing it," Harbour continued. "It's a constant reminder to him of his struggles and his guilt around not being about to save his child."
So now we know why he pulled at it just before sending El away before the Battle of Starcourt. It's like a punch right to my tear ducts. And in case you need something else to cry about, Eleven also wears it as she reads Hopper's final letter.
Kay, that's it! Enjoy your tears!
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