‘Stranger Things’ Fans Found an Explanation for Hopper Randomly Having a Sword

Stranger Things is inarguably a brilliantly written show, and as a result, there are very few plot holes. Like, these writers account for literally everything. But! Fans were left briefly confused by Hopper using a straight-up sword to battle a Demogorgon.

A sleuth-y fan on Twitter and HITC figured it out, noting that we actually see Enzo open a weapons locker in episode 7, which, yep: includes the sword. And turns out said sword is a very cool Easter egg, in that it’s quite literally the Atlantean from the Conan movies starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.

And yes, it’s the actual sword from Conan—not a replica. David Harbour confirmed this himself in an interview with British GQ, saying, “I don’t know if you saw this, but that sword I pick up—it’s the actual prop sword they used in Conan the Barbarian. It’s the sword that Schwarzenegger swings in the movie.”

He also spoke about the sword in an Instagram caption, saying, “Nerd alert. The prop at the end of episode 9 is the Atlantean sword from the Conan films. A lovely fan found a still of [it] when it was established in ep 7 and used by an unlucky inmate who met an untimely death near the cells at the side of our gladiatorial pit. The real excitement behind this, however, is that the sword the incredible ST props department (reveal yourselves, guys, so I can credit you) gave me is THE ACTUAL SWORD used in the filming of both Conan films. It was heavy as hell and such a tremendous honor to wield. @Schwarzenegger—ready to accept your notes on my technique.”

Welp, this has been the latest installment in “Stranger Things Is the Coolest Show Ever.”

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