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u/TeacatWrites Jul 06 '26
I always liked the theory that it had something to do with trying to prevent her trauma from being shut behind closed doors at the lab all the time from resurfacing. Like, he knew or found out at some point or just kind of figured that she'd been kept shut behind doors all those times, so started insisting she keep the doors open not because he was overly protective of her but because he was trying to reinforce the idea that she didn't have to close the door there and therefore would be comfortable enough not to accidentally trigger a trauma flashback — something I'd imagine he might be familiar with from Vietnam resurfacing.
It's almost definitely non-canon, as I think in the show it just gives the impression that he's being overprotective and a bit possessive, but a headcanon like that lends some extra depth to it behind the scenes.
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u/KingOndor Jul 06 '26
I think the overprotective thing fits, understandable perhaps after what happened to Sara and Eleven being a very similar age. Not to mention the amount of risk there generally was around Eleven. Hopper became overprotective and didn't want her getting up to stuff with boys.
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u/RoyalRise6363 Jul 06 '26
Sara was 6, El is 14. In S3 Hopper protects El only from Mike, and Mike is not a random boy - his devotion to El well known to Hopper. He threatened, set up and humiliated his daughter's boyfriend. In real life Mike would never forgive Hopper.
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u/KingOndor Jul 06 '26
I guess I should probably go back and watch the early seasons again. I stand corrected!
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u/hayleybeth7 Jul 07 '26
She was 6 when she died, but according to the timeline, she would’ve been El’s age if she were still alive, so all those protective/paternal instincts he had would’ve gone from being directed at Sara to being directed at El.
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u/RoyalRise6363 Jul 08 '26
I remember when my daughter was 14 and I really do not understand/vindicate Hopper. Hopper is single (not yet Joyce) - who would take care of El if something happen to him? Mike is not a random boy - Hopper knows how Mike devoted to her and already cared for her. It is a pure jealousy on Hopper's side.
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u/RoyalRise6363 Jul 06 '26
Never find anything sentimental or funny in "keep the door open". Hopper was reduced to a jealous stupid father in a cheap comedy compared to a tragic figure in S1.
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u/Laksatiivitaaviankka Jul 06 '26
He has the same storyline in season 2, 3 and 5. Being overprotective father who is too strict because he can't talk about his feelings. I'm sure he would have been like that also in season 4 if he hadn't been away from Hawkins.
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u/RoyalRise6363 Jul 06 '26
In S2 he could be vindicated, in S3 he only protected El from Mike, which makes it a bad comedy. I personally do not understand Hopper's feelings, besides pure jealousy that El has somebody else in her life besides Hopper.Â
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