A phone number used in Netflix show Stranger Things might provide a clue to the fate of a beloved character who seemingly died in the latest season.
At one stage in season three, viewers hear the phone number of Hopper’s conspiracy theorist associate Murray Bauman (played by Brett Gelman – best known as Claire’s awful husband in Fleabag).
Fans have been calling this number – 618-625-8313 – and are very intrigued by what they discovered: a message from Bauman to Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder) seemingly given after the events of the finale.
It read: “Hi, you have reached the residence of Murray Bauman. Mom, if this is you, please hang up and call me between the hours of 5 and 6pm as previously discussed, okay? If this is Joyce: Joyce, thank you for calling, I have been trying to reach you. I have an update. It’s about... well, it’s probably best if we speak in person. It’s not good or bad, but it’s something.”
Going by what happens in the season three finale – namely Jim Hopper (David Harbour) seemingly dying – could Murray’s “update” be to do with their mutual friend? Could he be alive after all? It certainly seems like the police chief would have had time to either jump into the Upside Down or be dragged away by the FBI or indeed some Russian soldiers.
Should it be the Russians, it’s no stretch to assume he’s the mysterious “American” referenced in the mid-credits scene.
Harbour himself is holding out hope. He told Entertainment Tonight: “You know, that machine went off and blew up and Hopper seemed to be trapped there. He did glance around a little bit, but he seemed to be trapped and the machine exploded.
“And then you cut to, what was it? It starts with a ‘K’ or something – some town in Russia, right? Where there’s some American and there’s some other prisoner. I don’t know, I mean it seems strange. I don’t know how though.”
Stranger Things is available to stream on Netflix now. Read our review of season 3 here.
