'Stranger Things' creators share two cents on complicated season 5 dynamic

As Stranger Things barrels toward its final episode, the Duffer Brothers are shedding light on one of the show’s most emotionally charged relationships between Jim Hopper and Eleven.

According to the creators, the “messy and complicated” dynamic between David Harbour’s Hopper and Millie Bobby Brown’s Eleven is a crucial piece of the puzzle as the series reaches its conclusion.

“It’s just a dynamic that we really wanted to explore,” Matt Duffer explained while adding, “which is this dynamic of a parent and their child, who’s actually no longer really a child anymore, is actually a young adult, becoming an adult — and how do you deal with that?”

The brothers noted that the tension largely stems from Hopper struggling to loosen his grip as Eleven grows into her independence. 

"How do you deal with letting them go, giving them independence, when, especially Hopper, feels protective of her?" they added.

That protectiveness, they emphasized, runs deeper than it might for most parents. Hopper’s past, including the devastating loss of his daughter, Sarah. 

As a result, his instincts toward Eleven are heightened, emotional, and sometimes overwhelming.

In conclusion, Matt said that the parent-child struggle is “really a big part, I think, of everyone’s journey in transitioning from childhood or young adulthood to adulthood.”