Do Hopper and Joyce reunite in Stranger Things season 4 part 1?

Ever since it was confirmed that Jim Hopper (David Harbour) actually did survive the explosion at the Starcourt Mall in Stranger Things, fans have been speculating how he could’ve made it out alive. Did he make it into the Upside Down or did the Russians simply capture him right after? Well, now that Stranger Things season 4 part 1 is out we have our answers and then some.

Spoilers ahead for Stranger Things season 4 part 1.

While the mid-credits scene of Stranger Things season 3 teased that Hopper might still be alive, the first season 4 teaser which was released in Feb. 2020 officially confirmed it by showing the fan-favorite character working outside in the snow in Russia. In the jam-packed full-length trailer for season 4, we get other glimpses at Hopper, but no reunions between him and Joyce or anyone else in Hawkins. Does he ever get to see his loved ones again?

Joyce (Winona Ryder) and Murray (Brett Gelman) try to save Hopper in Stranger Things season 4 part 1, and it seems they are successful! In episode 7, they all reunite out in Russia and Hopper and Joyce share a heartfelt embrace. We love to see it!

At the start of season 4 part 1, Joyce receives a package from Russia which contains a mysterious Russian doll. After calling Murray for advice, Joyce smashes the doll open to see if there’s anything secretly inside. She finds a note in ransom style, telling her to call a phone number if she wants more information about Hopper. The note is signed “Enzo,” which signals to Joyce that Hopper must really still be alive. In case you forgot, Enzo’s is the restaurant where Joyce and Hopper decide to go to a date in season 3 before Hopper’s “death.”

Joyce and Murray call the number, and a Russian prison guard named Dmitri (Tom Wlaschiha) tells them if they bring $40,000 to a man named Yuri (Nikola Đjuričko) in Alaska, they’ll get Hopper back. Of course, they decide they must do it.

According to Dmitri’s grand plan, once Yuri gets the money, he’ll fly to Russia to pick up Hopper who has to escape the prison. Everything almost goes smoothly, except Yuri decides to betray them and wants the money for himself. He realizes he can get even more money if he rats out Dmitri and Hopper to the Russians, plus if he has two Americans with him. Because of Yuri’s change of plans, Hopper is caught after he escapes and is brought back to prison, while Yuri holds Joyce and Murray hostage.

However, on the flight over to Russia, Murray and Joyce get the upper hand. They crash the plane out in the woods in Russia but make it out alive, then use Yuri to get to Hop. Meanwhile, Hopper is getting ready for a dangerous battle as the Russians have a Demogorgon captive and need to feed it. Guess who the food will be? Yup, the prisoners. But because Hop has experience with the Upside Down creatures, he knows how to defeat one.

During the intense fight against the Demogorgon, Hopper and Dmitri make it out alive as Joyce and Murray arrive and watch from afar. They’re terrified and know they need to figure out a plan to get Hopper out of there safe. In the end, Hop and Dmitri escape the Demogorgon but for a split second think they’re being put right back into jail. However, the door opens and Joyce appears, which is obviously an emotional moment for the characters.

That’s the last we see of the group in volume 1, so we have to assume Hopper will be saved. But now they all have to make it out of the prison safely.

We’re so happy Joyce and Hopper reunite! It certainly brought tears to my eyes while I was watching. As for a reunion between Hop and Eleven? We hope that’ll happen in volume 2.

Be sure to follow along with all of our Stranger Things season 4 content here at Netflix Life. Season 4 volume 1 is currently streaming, while season 4 volume 2 comes out on July 1, 2022.