Stranger Things season 3: Easter egg hints at season 4

Netflix’s extremely successful series «Stranger Things» is all about its references and homages – some subtle, others more obvious. The series takes place in the 1980s when movies such as «The Goonies», «Ghostbusters» and «The Terminator» were released, the hairstyles were striking, the clothes colourful and the world by far not as cynical as it is today. So «Stranger Things» can draw on unlimited resources.

The Duffer brothers, the creators of the series, captured the zeitgeist perfectly. «Stranger Things» really does feel as if it was filmed in the 80s, put in a time capsule and sent to the year 2016, when the first season was released.

One of the best – maybe the best – Easter egg in the series was discovered by Reddit user Aipy. It appears in a season 3 scene with side character Murray Bauman (Brett Gelman). The most important thing about this: it might hint at season 4.

If you haven't finished the third season yet: spoiler alert!

A number and an answering machine

This is what happens: We've known Murray Bauman since season 2. Bauman is a former investigative journalist who now keeps a low profile and works as a private investigator. Why? Because he’s incredibly suspicious and sees conspiracy theories in everything and everyone.

In the middle of the third season Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder) and Jim Hopper (David Harbour) appear – with a captured Russian scientist. A top-secret project, overseen by the Soviets, is threatening the fictitious small town of Hawkins. Bauman hasn’t been lying.

What didn’t escape the eyes of Reddit user Aipy is that, for a split second, Bauman's number is seen on his telephone.

Unlike usually the case in movies or series, this is a working number. When you call, you’re connected to Bauman's voicemail:

If you want to listen to it yourself, here's the number: 001 618 625 8313. I tried it and it works. But keep in mind calls abroad come with charges.

Spoiler alert: what's the news about?

What is this «something» that is neither good nor bad? Well, in the Reddit post I mentioned earlier, fans suspect that Jim Hopper didn't actually die in the season finale. They’re guessing that Hopper is, in fact, «the American» the two guards in the Soviet prison camp are talking about in the post-credit scene at the end of the season.

Apparently, actor David Harbour doesn’t know anything about what happens to his character. But he admitted to «Slashfilm» that he agrees the possibility of being said American is «the most likely scenario».

Officially, no fourth season of «Stranger Things» has been announced yet – probably to maintain the suspense after the end of the third season. Having said that, we’ve known since last year that there will be at least four seasons, possibly five.

If you’d like to be informed about more behind-the-scenes news from the world of cinema and TV series, follow me by clicking on the «Follow author» button.