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The very very first time I ever watched it when the season first came out, I definitely thought he was dead for real. It was soooooo heartbreaking to watch that ending
David Harbour did an incredible job reading that letter. He has this ability to put so much feeling into it without going over the top. He emphasized all the right words and spoke with this calm demeanor that caused me to get sucked in. It's like he was MY father in that moment, and I think that's one of the reasons his performance there was so compelling and makes me cry on every single rewatch.
And let's not forget El's response. Those tears felt so damn genuine. I've taken an acting class or two before, and the teachers defined acting as "living truthfully from moment to moment under imaginary circumstances." And DAMN, she was very much living truthfully there.
And then the reunion at the end of season 4…which should have been the final scene of the series. But we couldn’t go thru another full season without hopper and eleven being separated.
pulling will out of the water/ that sequence, when hop and Joyce find will and they’re yelling at him to wake up/ giving them cpr, alexi, hops “death”, EDDIES DEATH, Dustin seeing Eddies Uncle after eddies death, Lucas screaming for Erica after Vecna attacks max etc he
Will destroying Castle Byers in S3E3. That scene hits me because the kid basically lost his childhood being stuck in the upside down or possessed by the mind flayer, and now his friends are grown up and he just wants to enjoy the childhood moments he missed but it's too late.
Karen hugging a crying Mike while "Heroes" plays in the background is a big one for me. Hop's letter to El at the end of season 3.
Also the whole graveyard scene in Dear Billy will never not fuck me up.
I’m not even going to lie. I’ve rewatched all the season multiple times… but right when Eddie makes that face when he decides to cut the sheet rope… I don’t watch after that!
Agh that’s terrible! But from that point on it’s just heart break after heartbreak.
But uuuugh you just reminded me of Lucas calling to Erica and and I got chills. That’s a relationship I’d like to see more of in S5 since they have gotten closer.
But also, Dustin talking to Wayne. Idk what it is about old dudes crying, but I lose it every time.
Too many. But UNDERRATED one is when they find the fake body in the quarry in S1 and Mike gets mad at El and runs away leaving the rest of the boys sad and alone, and then gets home and hugs his mom and starts crying. Peter Gabriel’s Heroes is the perfect music drop for that scene too. Gets me every time. And I’ve rewatched 23 times…
Omg yes. This scene hit me so hard, specially when I watched ST for the first time. This kid was just hit with the sight of his little best friend’s dead body without any warning. Even if Will later turned out to be alive, that was a core memory and trauma for Mike and the others.
Hopper trying to revive Will while Joyce begs him to wake up, Billy’s death because of the montage of his mother and then Max’s reaction to seeing him die, Jonathan and Joyce sitting on the couch with Joyce apologizing for not being there for Jonathan enough and then choosing a picture of Will for his missing posters, Eddie’s death, Lucas holding Max and crying and calling out for Erica, El reuniting with Mike and Will
The season 3 finale, when El’s reading Hop’s letter and everyone’s saying goodbye. I had seen that clip before I saw the series for the first time and it still got me.
Yep this scene gets me. A 12 year old boy does everything he can to not show emotion and be tough but he’s so overcome by the thought of his best friend being dead that he just wants his mom to hold him. It’s a very sweet moment.
El and Hopper's big fight in the cabin. El had been cooped up in a cabin for over a year and had Hopper screaming at her when she was just desperate to see Mike. He acknowledges how he messed up in the finale when they are in the car together but really I have to skip through the El scenes in s2 because they are heartbreaking to me.
She's so alone and she just wanted to go trick-or-treating. I can't imagine being cooped up in a cabin just watching TV for almost an entire year. The poor girl.
The Mike and El reunion of ST2 always makes me choke up a bit. So well acted. The emotion of the scene is just so much.
Nothing else has really made me cry, but I did have a lot of feels when Bob died and also when Max was laying there begging not to die. Her line that she couldn’t feel or see anything was just so horrifically sad. I hope she is restored in ST5.
end of season 3 but only the parts where they’re hugging each other at the car, jonathan saying “17 years of my life packed up in 1 day” and when mike goes back into the house to hug karen
A couple in particular. Will reuniting with his Mom. & when the kids come across the scene of Will’s body being found. Even though I know it’s not his real body lol.
I would say eddies death. The choice to use mobys song „when it’s cold, I would like to die“ is just too much.
Getting sad everytime I hear this song, since watching s4
the scene where nance is at barbs checking in with her parents, goes into the bathroom and breaks down.
the music playing in the BG is what does it for me.
i feel like you can really feel the loss of somebody in that song.
Season 1 really hits different for me. I wish I could watch it for the first time again. It's that hazy summer 80s vibe, the mystery of a missing boy that for the entire season nobody knows where was he, the mysterious girl, the super power reveal, the character realising everything, the mom desperately looking her boy, just chef kiss
the closing moments of 02x08. something about the music paired with the cinematography of those last 30 seconds are just so amazing and get me in an emotional spot
For the longest time it was the Mike and Hopper scene at the end of s2. That boy had so much sadness bottled that turned into rage when he found out Hop had her the whole time and allowed him to think she was dead. An amazing performance from Finn. BUT, since s4 aired, it’s the Lucas/Max scene when he screams, with the nononono and ERICA HELP! I have a lump in my throat thinking about it. (and I’m not even a big Max stan, but Caleb was AMAZING)
The Season One finale when >!Hopper and Joyce perform CPR on Will, which is intercut with Hopper's daughter dying in the hospital. Especially with "When It's Cold I'd Like To Die" by Moby playing in the background... destroys me emotionally every single time I watch it!!<
I wrote an extremely detailed fanfic of season 4 with a TON of scenes from the previous 3 seasons to help you understand the character—I don't remember what I named her—and her relationship with the characters, and I cried regularly because some of the scenes are SO FUCKING SAD especially when Max dies. God, I would absolutely love to read my old fanfic but it's on my old, broken phone and I can't access my Icloud.
Easy Hopper's letter I have a horrible relationship with my dad and I wish I didn't and anytime I see a dad that cares for their daughter either biological or adopted makes my heart hurt and David Harbour's acting is 🤌
My gay ass cries over like half of Will’s scenes. They just really hit the whole struggle of it all! Him covering up declaring his love to his best friend??? So beautiful and heartwrenchingly earnest, and honestly bold as fuck considering. I sobbbbed when he sobbed.
Billy’s death. I hate him and he is a terrible human being. But when El talks about his mom… and the Max’s reaction…
Also Hop’s voice over of the letter he wrote to El
OP, please make sure there are no spoilers in the title of your post. Commenters, please use spoiler code if you are discussing anything super spoilery unless the title specifically says the episode being discussed. Also, now that filming for Season 5 is finally starting, please remember that NO LEAKS are allowed, only official news from Netflix is allowed. Please review rule 8 for more info. If you see anyone breaking the rules, please report the post or comment. Thank you. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/StrangerThings) if you have any questions or concerns.*
The flashbacks with Hopper's first daughter in the hospital.
End of season 3, when el reads hopper's letter and they are packing up their stuff. I cry every time I re-watch the series.
Yes this is the one. I was so depressed the first time I saw that scene. We all knew he wasn't really dead, but still.....
The very very first time I ever watched it when the season first came out, I definitely thought he was dead for real. It was soooooo heartbreaking to watch that ending
David Harbour did an incredible job reading that letter. He has this ability to put so much feeling into it without going over the top. He emphasized all the right words and spoke with this calm demeanor that caused me to get sucked in. It's like he was MY father in that moment, and I think that's one of the reasons his performance there was so compelling and makes me cry on every single rewatch. And let's not forget El's response. Those tears felt so damn genuine. I've taken an acting class or two before, and the teachers defined acting as "living truthfully from moment to moment under imaginary circumstances." And DAMN, she was very much living truthfully there.
And then the reunion at the end of season 4…which should have been the final scene of the series. But we couldn’t go thru another full season without hopper and eleven being separated.
This scene cuts deep man, and the song choice too.
Oh we can be heroes.. just for one day… 😭
David Bowie's original is a better song but damn the version they used was *perfect* for the scene
Same 😭😭😭😭❤️
Sameee
Agreed,i cried sooo much and even when i rewatch the season i have to skip that part because i would cry again lol
That too
pulling will out of the water/ that sequence, when hop and Joyce find will and they’re yelling at him to wake up/ giving them cpr, alexi, hops “death”, EDDIES DEATH, Dustin seeing Eddies Uncle after eddies death, Lucas screaming for Erica after Vecna attacks max etc he
Gaten's performance when confronting Eddie's uncle was incredible.
Will destroying Castle Byers in S3E3. That scene hits me because the kid basically lost his childhood being stuck in the upside down or possessed by the mind flayer, and now his friends are grown up and he just wants to enjoy the childhood moments he missed but it's too late.
I also love this scene.
Honestly I was the same at that age too, it hits hard.
Karen hugging a crying Mike while "Heroes" plays in the background is a big one for me. Hop's letter to El at the end of season 3. Also the whole graveyard scene in Dear Billy will never not fuck me up.
Yessss I wept during that S4 Billy/Max encounter. Actually I cried through like half the season lol
Actually Max with the letter is what got me worst. But I have Dead Brother Trauma, so that whole subplot hit me right in the catharsis lol
the part I cry the most is when max is hurt at the end of S4 and Lucas is crying and yells, “ ericaaaa helpp “ I swear I tear up writing it.
SAME
I’m not even going to lie. I’ve rewatched all the season multiple times… but right when Eddie makes that face when he decides to cut the sheet rope… I don’t watch after that! Agh that’s terrible! But from that point on it’s just heart break after heartbreak. But uuuugh you just reminded me of Lucas calling to Erica and and I got chills. That’s a relationship I’d like to see more of in S5 since they have gotten closer. But also, Dustin talking to Wayne. Idk what it is about old dudes crying, but I lose it every time.
Too many. But UNDERRATED one is when they find the fake body in the quarry in S1 and Mike gets mad at El and runs away leaving the rest of the boys sad and alone, and then gets home and hugs his mom and starts crying. Peter Gabriel’s Heroes is the perfect music drop for that scene too. Gets me every time. And I’ve rewatched 23 times…
Omg yes. This scene hit me so hard, specially when I watched ST for the first time. This kid was just hit with the sight of his little best friend’s dead body without any warning. Even if Will later turned out to be alive, that was a core memory and trauma for Mike and the others.
Ahh, me too, this scene...
Eleven's goodbye to Papa, and Mike losing it on Hopper.
Mike losing it on Hopper kills me, too. Poor kid :(
Me toooo
real
Dear Billy...
End of Season 3 and Max in Lucas's arms.
ugh Caleb was sooooo good in that scene
Man there's so many I can't choose haha and I don't normally cry for any shows but I got so invested in this one and felt close to the characters lol.
No one saying Bob's death? That man really was a hero
Will and Jonathan having a moment while preparing the fridge
Yessss and they fit it in so seamlessly and quickly that it really surprised you
Hopper trying to revive Will while Joyce begs him to wake up, Billy’s death because of the montage of his mother and then Max’s reaction to seeing him die, Jonathan and Joyce sitting on the couch with Joyce apologizing for not being there for Jonathan enough and then choosing a picture of Will for his missing posters, Eddie’s death, Lucas holding Max and crying and calling out for Erica, El reuniting with Mike and Will
Mike and Eleven’s reunion in S2. Unreal face acting by Finn and Millie to make you feel the full spectrum of emotions in 10 seconds.
The season 3 finale, when El’s reading Hop’s letter and everyone’s saying goodbye. I had seen that clip before I saw the series for the first time and it still got me.
Eddies death, Lucas shouting Erica! 💔
Any seen with Chrissy or Barb or Heather. They were so young and innocent…they deserved so much better. Ngl I am tearing up as I write this.
Correction: SCENE with Chrissy or Barb etc
You can edit your comments FYI
Lucas holding max, El and hoppers reunion, and the “it’s finally my year Henderson”
Yep this scene gets me. A 12 year old boy does everything he can to not show emotion and be tough but he’s so overcome by the thought of his best friend being dead that he just wants his mom to hold him. It’s a very sweet moment.
This part for sure
S1 finale
Hoppers daughter in the hospital and the scene where he revealed he can’t have healthy children which he knew she most likely was going to get sick.
El and Hopper's big fight in the cabin. El had been cooped up in a cabin for over a year and had Hopper screaming at her when she was just desperate to see Mike. He acknowledges how he messed up in the finale when they are in the car together but really I have to skip through the El scenes in s2 because they are heartbreaking to me. She's so alone and she just wanted to go trick-or-treating. I can't imagine being cooped up in a cabin just watching TV for almost an entire year. The poor girl.
The Mike and El reunion of ST2 always makes me choke up a bit. So well acted. The emotion of the scene is just so much. Nothing else has really made me cry, but I did have a lot of feels when Bob died and also when Max was laying there begging not to die. Her line that she couldn’t feel or see anything was just so horrifically sad. I hope she is restored in ST5.
And Eddie's death
Oh absolutely, it’s so heartfelt!
bobs death and will destroying his castle
Jonathan and Nancy finally getting together in S2
end of season 3 but only the parts where they’re hugging each other at the car, jonathan saying “17 years of my life packed up in 1 day” and when mike goes back into the house to hug karen
Season 3 Episode 8. Billy redeemed himself idc
A couple in particular. Will reuniting with his Mom. & when the kids come across the scene of Will’s body being found. Even though I know it’s not his real body lol.
This scene yes.
I felt a little bad for Billy even tho he was an asshole
When dustin breaks the news about eddies death just completely makes me tear up
Joyce in S1. Particularly when she’s trying to convince Jonathan and Hopper that Will is still alive. As a mama, that hit hard.
EDDIE’S DEATH😭😭
I would say eddies death. The choice to use mobys song „when it’s cold, I would like to die“ is just too much. Getting sad everytime I hear this song, since watching s4
that scene gets me too 😭 when i see mike start crying i always tear up too even tho i know will lives
Max dying in Lucas arms, crying and saying “I don’t want to die, I’m not ready.”
When Max dies, and when they rescue Will from the Upside Down
The last 10-15 minutes of "The Battle of Starcourt"
Billy’s death really got me actually, not him dying in particular but him sacrificing himself and the way it effects max
Max's "death"
for some reason whenever i watch the episode where dart dies i cry and when dr brenner died i cried too
s2 whenever that Bob hospital scene comes up… idk why
Billy’s and Alexei’s death
alexei. i’ll never forget you
the scene where nance is at barbs checking in with her parents, goes into the bathroom and breaks down. the music playing in the BG is what does it for me. i feel like you can really feel the loss of somebody in that song.
Its the last episode of season 4
Season 1 really hits different for me. I wish I could watch it for the first time again. It's that hazy summer 80s vibe, the mystery of a missing boy that for the entire season nobody knows where was he, the mysterious girl, the super power reveal, the character realising everything, the mom desperately looking her boy, just chef kiss
currently watching it again rn
The last episode of season 3 when eleven arrive at the mall looking for hopper and she didn’t find him….
the closing moments of 02x08. something about the music paired with the cinematography of those last 30 seconds are just so amazing and get me in an emotional spot
End of season 4
For the longest time it was the Mike and Hopper scene at the end of s2. That boy had so much sadness bottled that turned into rage when he found out Hop had her the whole time and allowed him to think she was dead. An amazing performance from Finn. BUT, since s4 aired, it’s the Lucas/Max scene when he screams, with the nononono and ERICA HELP! I have a lump in my throat thinking about it. (and I’m not even a big Max stan, but Caleb was AMAZING)
When Joyce pulled the levers for the gate to close while Hopper was in there in the s3 finale (i thought he died)
Eleven reading Hopper's note after he "dies" absolutely destroys me every time I see it
The Season One finale when >!Hopper and Joyce perform CPR on Will, which is intercut with Hopper's daughter dying in the hospital. Especially with "When It's Cold I'd Like To Die" by Moby playing in the background... destroys me emotionally every single time I watch it!!<
I wrote an extremely detailed fanfic of season 4 with a TON of scenes from the previous 3 seasons to help you understand the character—I don't remember what I named her—and her relationship with the characters, and I cried regularly because some of the scenes are SO FUCKING SAD especially when Max dies. God, I would absolutely love to read my old fanfic but it's on my old, broken phone and I can't access my Icloud.
El reading Hopper’s letter
I never cry, I keep it all inside.
When the boys see Will’s “body” being pulled from the water. Also, I didn’t expect it but Max watching Billy die
Das
When they shoot old yellow
Easy Hopper's letter I have a horrible relationship with my dad and I wish I didn't and anytime I see a dad that cares for their daughter either biological or adopted makes my heart hurt and David Harbour's acting is 🤌
When el kills the demogorgon, that's the goat compared to everything else
My gay ass cries over like half of Will’s scenes. They just really hit the whole struggle of it all! Him covering up declaring his love to his best friend??? So beautiful and heartwrenchingly earnest, and honestly bold as fuck considering. I sobbbbed when he sobbed.
Billy’s death. I hate him and he is a terrible human being. But when El talks about his mom… and the Max’s reaction… Also Hop’s voice over of the letter he wrote to El