Hopper -

While a family film, Hoppers deals with surprisingly mature themes regarding the human relationship with nature:

: 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. hopper

: Before moving back to Hawkins, Hopper lost his daughter, Sara, to cancer. He believes her illness was caused by his exposure to Agent Orange during his service in the Vietnam War. While a family film, Hoppers deals with surprisingly

Is nobody talking about Hopper's backstory? : r/StrangerThings While a family film

: This trauma led to a failed marriage and a period of addiction, explaining his initially cynical and "furious" protectiveness over Eleven.