Hopper

: In a poignant letter to Eleven, Hopper describes being stuck in a "deep, dark cave" of emotion. He reflects on the necessity of "the hurt," noting that feeling pain is a sign of finally being out of that metaphorical cave.

Is nobody talking about Hopper's backstory? : r/StrangerThings hopper

Jim Hopper's narrative is considered the emotional core of the series. His "deep story" is defined by a cycle of loss, grief, and eventual redemption: : In a poignant letter to Eleven, Hopper