Phone number buried in new Stranger Things episode could provide a clue about next season
Aux Features TV
This article discusses the plot of Stranger Things 3.
Love him or hate him, you can’t deny that Murray Bauman, Stranger Things’ resident paranoid muckraker, played a major role in the Netflix series’ third season. Brett Gelman’s irritable character returned to serve as a Russian translator for Hopper, a friend to doomed scientist Alexei, and a key part of the explosive climax. Now, if this newly uncovered Easter egg is to be believed, it appears he could play just as big a role next season.
Writer Meagan Navarro took to Twitter this morning to point out that Murray’s number, which is revealed to be (618) 625-8313—a Southern Illinois area code—during the season’s sixth episode, is a real one that, should you call it, directs you to a prerecorded message from the character. In it, he angrily instructs his mother to call only between 5 and 6 p.m. (“as previously discussed!”), then, with a touch of compassion to his voice, calls out Joyce, the character played by Winona Ryder on the series.
“If this is Joyce—Joyce, thank you for calling, I’ve been trying to reach you,” he says. “I have an update. It’s about—well, it’s about—it’s probably best if we speak in person. It’s not good or bad but it’s something.”
Vague? Sure, but we’d be surprised if it didn’t have something to do with that post-credits scene, which almost definitely indicates that Hopper is both alive and captive in the wintry depths of Russia.
Murray’s isn’t the only number to call, either. Dial up 1-800-737-4154 and you’ll reach an automated operator for Scoops Ahoy, the Starcourt ice cream joint where Steve and Robin toil away. This one, however, is more of an advertisement for the Scoops Ahoy pop-up that just opened in Burbank. It also mentions the “unusual symbols”—i.e. QR codes—found on the pints of U.S.S. Butterscotch currently being sold at Baskin-Robbins locations, saying they’re definitely “not part of a covert operation that some have reported.” We haven’t gotten our hands on a pint yet, so, if you do, be sure to let us know what the QR code prompts. Sure, it’s probably just a link to a sale on New Coke, but we’re curious anyway.
22 Comments
Their upside-down dingus-berry cake is worth the trip :p
Keeping Hopper in a Soviet prison for a while is a great way to justify the actor’s weight-loss.
As someone mentioned in the AV Club recap of the final episode, what if it’s Dr Brenner in the prison, and Hopper is stuck in the Upside Down?
Either way, he’s likely to be down to a Hellboy weight next season.
But the asshole monster got him in the first season? How would he have survived that?🤔
Didn’t see his body, so there’s a chance.
I hope this becomes an alternate reality game like one used to promote AI. That was really fun.
YES the AI game was a blast! Too bad the movie didn’t live up to it.
It also mentions the “unusual symbols”—i.e. QR codes—found on the pints of U.S.S. Butterscotch currently being sold at Baskin-Robbins locations, saying they’re definitely “not part of a covert operation that some have reported.” I haven’t seen any QR codes, but at the Burbank location there’s this decal stuck on the front of the ice cream case:
So it is a stealth game? Fun!
So we need to find these in the show in some sequence and call that number?
The qr code I got says036631081798 which when put through this code sheet says ЭБППБЬЭЯЛИЯ which is EBPBBELYA in the English alphabet.
Yeah but how many calls has the Philadelphia Public Library gotten this weekend?
Don’t forget to drink your Ovaltine.
Made these for everyone. Have fun.
https://gph.is/g/ZkbA6o8https://gph.is/g/Z5kAYrQ
Aw, I just tried Murray’s number, and the automated recording says the mailbox is full.
Same
Hopper clearly used the rift to get out of there before Joyce overloaded the device
So wait. I called but not between those times. Does it change?
I think the unusual symbols it’s talking about is this morse code
I gotta say I was pretty ambivalent on Brett Gelman last season but really loved him this season. Also the saddest part of Alexei getting shot was seeing Murray in the background in his jean shorts, holding up the corn dogs and dancing in celebration at Alexei winning the Woody Woodpecker plush, not having yet realized that he’s been shot 🙁
The number for Murray just has an automated recording about a voicemail system and the mailbox being full.