Zoo'd Animal Friends: September 2019

Hi everyone!

As promised in our last post, here are the rest of the animals as their favorite characters from Stranger Things season 3!

Also, like most people on the internet, I've been pondering some Stranger Things fan theories for season 4 - some of these are already popular, and some are my own - can you guess which ones? Which ones do you think may be true?

General Stranger Things Fan Theories & Predictions:

1) Now that Tom and the others at the Hawkins Post are dead, Nancy may be able to go back and take over as the head writer, since she’s proven her reporter skills are serious and far beyond pouring coffee. Or, maybe she starts up an independent publication.

2) Erica and Lucas get along better now that she admits to being a nerd like him – they may even regularly play D&D together. Also, we never saw her parents’ reaction to their 10-year-old daughter being away for 48+ hours and being caught up in all this danger – surely her mother was furious!

3) Karen and Ted restore some type of passion in their marriage, since Billy reinstated her confidence before he passed away, and she can share that reawakening with Ted.

4) If/when Hopper is found and reunites with Joyce, they will be so overwhelmed with joy to see each other again, that they share a kiss (finally!!)

5) Steve may get a love interest…. Maybe a girl that both he & Robin have the hots for, and go through a similar story arc to when Dustin & Lucas were competing for Mad Max.

6) With all the references to Back to The Future in season three, this may hint strongly that time travel (or at least something that gets people somewhere far away at warp speed) may end up in use for the characters. Maybe they can use this sci-fi technology to get quickly to Russia?

7) With Hawkins getting some bad publicity and all this nightmarish stuff happening there, it’s possible that some more people (in addition to Joyce and family) would move from there – which might mean that the Wheelers may move to nearby where the Byers are living. It would reunite Mike & El, and him with Will, and Nancy & Jonathan. It’s not probable, but possible.

8) We’ve definitely got to see more Suzie-poo & Dusty-bun. There’s got to be at least one meet-up scene for the young lovebirds, and her immensely scientific mind can help the team of teens.

9) If El’s powers are gone for good, she may have to be trained in martial arts; this could pay homage to the classic scenes from The Karate Kid (an early scene in season three shows Max and El looking at a picture of the boy who played him, Ralph Macchio).

10) An early season four reveal poster suggests that it might be out in December 2020; this might mean that there will be a stronger focus around Christmas this time, than there was in the first season, and they may be able to pay homage to another 80s classic, The Gremlins (speaking of Phoebe Cates….)

11) ALF may be referenced in someone’s watching TV – previously, 80s classics such as Cheers, Magnum P.I., the movie Mr. Mom, and several other shows & commercials of the era have been shown on a variety of screens in characters’ homes. What makes ALF relevant is, if the next season is in later 1986, that’s when the show debuted and became popular. Another thing which makes this show relevant, is how El could relate to being “hidden” away from the world for her safety and how frustrating it is to crave freedom - she may be able to relate to the furry Melmacian.

The Upside Down and its creatures were created by the Russians. To support this theory:

1) We first see Eleven interact with one while she’s spying on a Russian soldier in season one. She is distracted by the Demogorgon feasting on someone. It might’ve followed her back to Hawkins Lab, via her interdimensional abilities.

2) From season two on, we learn that the creatures “like it cold.” Where is a cold place? Russia, where it can reach temperatures of the minus 40s… which the monster seems to be used to/prefer over American warm weather.

3) In season three, we see the “Scoop Troop” find some glowing green fluid in glass canisters, and Erica suggests drinking it, before it later explodes and seems very poisonous! Around that time, Nancy and the kids go into Tom’s house and find opened cleaning products all over the counter, implying that Billy and Heather may have been ingesting them or using them to “feed” her mother & father while getting them possessed by the Mind-Flayer. When the kids mention that this would be fatal to ingest, Lucas says “Yeah, if you’re a human” which further implies that might be the use for the green substance found by Steve in the elevator room. We also see Mrs. Driscoll eating fertilizer as she becomes possessed, same way the rats had done earlier.

4) In the last episode, Joyce, Hopper and Murray go into the Russian base and are seen standing near large glass tubes, filled with various canisters of the glowing green stuff. This is the exact same area where Dustin and Erica were, when she noticed a huge cage and asked Dustin about the size of the previous monsters…. So maybe they are being bred here by feeding that substance to humans and placing them in the large cage while they transform into Demogorgons. Demodogs seems to be “manufactured” organically, as they all start as pollywogs. The kids question how they may have ended up in a garbage can in Hawkins, and could’ve “come from another country”.

5) The Russians are seen experimenting with opening the Upside Down in 1984, but they might’ve been creating it for longer than that, since it was 1983 when Eleven first interacted with the creature. It's possible that their machine to open the gate wasn't because they didn't know about the Upside Down prior to that, but maybe lost previous access and were trying to gain it back.

6) The latest monster is “made from” humans (as shown in Chapter Six: E Pluribus Unum), so this could be a nod to a reveal in season four, that all Demogorgons could be made from humans, but in a different sense than the Mind Flayer monster.

Hopper jumped into the Upside Down via the narrow opening. To support this theory:

1) Perhaps as an Easter egg, Hopper insists El leaves the door open 3 inches so he can keep an eye on her. This is mentioned again in the heart-breaking letter she reads from him at the end of the last episode.

2) He kept turning to look toward it, before he looked back and nodded at Joyce to go ahead and turn the key. His expression indicated, “it’s alright, I’ll be okay.”

3) He’s been in the Upside Down before, in season two, so he might know his way around for survival, from previous experience.

4) With the Mind Flayer killed, Hopper may not even be in any imminent danger from any monsters, which would make his time there a bit safer.

5) When season one ended and two wasn’t out yet, it was implied that El was killed – she even said “goodbye, Mike” before disintegrating. The internet exploded with grief as people mourned her, and were hopeful to see her again after a late scene were Hopper left out some Eggos in the woods for her. Sure enough, she returns in the first episode of season two. This implication/return pattern may repeat.

6) When Joyce pulls the keys, that scene cuts to black for several seconds, maybe just enough time for him to leap off the platform (Joyce shuts her eyes and turns away, so she would not have witnessed his survival). He is also not seen anywhere near the machine in the explosion scene.

7) Hopper's remains are nowhere to be seen when Murray comes to comfort Joyce; in the first episode of season 3, it is shown that people who get fried by this machine, turn into a pile of burned flesh.

8) El conveniently lost her powers, meaning she would not be able to “spy” or check for Hopper, like she used to be able to.

9) There is an Easter egg phone number to call Murray (618-625-8313), and hear a voice mail directed at Joyce, about some news he has for her…

If Hopper is “the American” in the Russian prison, AND if they’re making the Demogorgons with that green chemical, then maybe they will attempt to turn Hopper into one… Joyce and everyone may have to intervene and thwart that…

El’s Lost Powers, Theory One: She lost copious amounts of blood from a wound in her leg, which may have “drained” her powers, especially since she’d been using them very hard around that same time. Maybe it was just too much.

El’s Lost Powers, Theory Two: She removed the pulsating growth from her own leg, and then it slithered away before getting stomped by Hopper. Maybe this creature absorbed her power.

Will is a member of the LGBTQ community. To support this theory:

1) On the surface, his aversion to girls looks like it’s just from his stunted emotional growth (he still wants to be “kids” with his friends, even though they are 15-16 years old). However, in the first episode of season three, he is grossed out by Jonathan having obviously spent the night with Nancy, to which Joyce replies “It won’t be gross when you fall in love.” Will responds with saying that he’ll never fall in love. Maybe he feels he won’t be accepted for his authentic self, and so won’t bother.

2) Later on, after an awkward attempt at a D&D game, Will storms out of Mike’s house and they have words outside, where Mike shouts “It’s not my fault you don’t like girls!”

3) Will’s overall aversion to Lucas & Mike having girlfriends, may stem from jealousy… but not jealousy of his friends – perhaps jealousy of the girls for getting to be with them/having their attention?

4) Internet fans have pointed out that Will sometimes stares longingly at Mike, and that Mike is his best friend. Maybe Will is upset around Mike because he’s experiencing the anguish of unrequited love?

5) In season two, when Dustin & Lucas are attracted to Max, Will pays her almost no attention in the same way that they do.

6) And to cap it off, there was already an LGBTQ “coming out” with Robin, when Steve professed feelings for her and she admitted she had feelings for a girl in her class. This could open the door to other potential outs in season four.

The “Number Kids” from Hawkins Lab may return. To support this theory:

1) This one is very far-fetched, but it could be a possibility – with El having lost her own powers, it would be difficult for her to use them in case the Russians start a world war with their bred Demogorgons. However, the story arc with Kali and the gang, feels somehow incomplete.

2) In addition to wondering what became of Kali after “The Lost Sister” in season two, we also didn’t get to learn about the kids numbered 001-007 and 009-010 (assuming 011 was the last of them). We may get to see them all come together, sort of like the X-Men.

3) Dr. Owens has access to the military, and he worked for Hawkins Lab before it shut down, so he might be able to pull some strings and contact the number kids, and possibly even take them to a military base for training, if the Russians declare war.

This one is from someone else -> The Mind Flayer is actually 001. To support this theory:

1) Though I personally think the demo-monsters originate in Russia, I do respect this interesting theory that’s circulating the internet right now… El does “meet” the first monster in Hawkin’s Lab, where Dr. Brenner seems pretty calm about its existence.

2) The scientists almost fearlessly study the Upside Down and the affiliated creatures, as though it’s already somewhat familiar and they’re just calmly gathering more information… so perhaps this was their experiment “001” in an attempt to try out new weapons.

3) Dr. Brenner appears to have been working in the lab for some time, given his distinguished and well-aged appearance. Perhaps he has spent many years trying to create something just as powerful as 001 (the Mind Flayer) so that he can use that to contain it. We know that Jane was born in the early 70s during a time that he had test subjects being exposed to LSD experiments… maybe he was trying to make human weapons the entire time, to stop 001…

4) This Mind Flayer carries a huge grudge against Hawkins and its residents… maybe this monster was once human and resents no longer being able to live normally among everyone. It also seems really taken with Will (first 2 seasons) so maybe it was once a little boy, similar to him, and that might explain why it seems to have a childlike, emotion-driven, impatient and vengeful arc, like a child who is having a tantrum and wants instant revenge.

5) In season three, we see it form a monster made of human flesh, etc. so maybe that’s a nod to the Mind Flayer having once been a human itself… maybe.

6) Admittedly, this is definitely one of the more far-fetched theories, but it’s been taking the internet by storm, nonetheless.

Who is “The American” in the cell?

1) The obvious answer everyone wants, is for it to be Jim Hopper – perhaps when Joyce pulled the keys and then looked away, in those few seconds of black-screen, some Russian soldiers grabbed Hopper and detained him.

2) Sadly, it could also be someone else… though most of the deaths on the show, actually show the death or at least the body later (Benny, Barb, the “baddies” from Hawkin’s Lab, Mews, Bob, [the wanna-be American] Alexei, Billy and all the possessed humans who melted into the latest monster), one potential “death” in season one was only implied, and part of the internet believes it could be Dr. Brenner/Papa.

3) We know it is not any of the characters whom we’ve had to witness meet their tragic end. Though some have suggested it’s Bob or Barb, that’s highly unlikely…. sadly, because they were both so nice!

4) It could even be a whole new character to whom we get introduced…

Who will be the next tragic death in this season?

If there’s one thing we’ve learned from Stranger Things, it’s that they pull our heartstrings and make us like a character, just to mourn their loss. It’s reached a point where it’s a little scary to become fond of a character – just look at Bob Newby, superhero… or more recently, the man-child Alexei.

The main characters (original kids) are probably safe, especially since many might stop watching if one of the young characters were killed off. However, it doesn’t seem as morally wrong for the tragic fate to happen to a character over 18…

1) Steve – some people on the internet have suggested that he might sacrifice himself in some way to protect the kids. This actually makes sense for a few reasons. He’s been touted already as a “damn good babysitter” and there may have been a hint in season three, when he opened one of the boxes in the elevator and pulled out a tube of green chemicals. Dustin was standing too close and when Steve told him to move, Dustin exclaimed: “No! If you die, I die!” (Losing Steve would likely cause Dustin to “die” emotionally, but it would be a heroic moment).

2) Jonathan – this is a slight stretch, since he & his family are not in Hawkins. However, he is sharing a household with adoptive sister El, so the latest monster from the Upside Down still has a vendetta with her and may track her down. Maybe he dies trying to protect her, if her powers haven’t yet returned? That’s pretty heroic.

3) Nancy – this is unlikely, but sadly possible. Though most of the deaths have been male characters, Barb was an example that females get taken, too – even when they’re likable. Nancy’s come close a couple times in season three already. First, the monster at the hospital, and then Billy revving his car at her in the mall parking lot. She's also proven she is protective of the kids, so maybe she will sacrifice herself for her brother Mike or something.

4) Robin – this would be sad, since she was just introduced last season and became an instant hit! But “sad” is exactly what gives us that shock value….

Which ones do you like the most?

Which theories do you believe/not believe, and why?

Oh, and here is my personal favorite...

Zoo'd Animal Friends

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Wednesday 25 September 2019

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Monday 2 September 2019

Zoo'd Characters as Stranger Things Characters