It may seem deeply unlikely, but is there a chance that the resident conspiracy theorist of Stranger Things Murray Bauman is actually a deep-cover Russian agent? Debuting in mid-2016 to instant critical acclaim, The Duffer Brothers’ Stranger Things has proven a consistent success for streaming platform Netflix thanks to the show’s unique tone and stellar multi-generational cast.
Currently filming its long-awaited season 4, Stranger Things mixes elements of horror, sci-fi, 80s nostalgia, and coming-of-age dramedy in its story of the seemingly normal small town, Hawkins, Indiana. Far from the suburban idyll it seems, Hawkins is home to some hidden government experiments, a whole lot of body horror, a secret Russian military base beneath the local mall, and most dramatically of all, a lot of teenage romance.
Stranger Things is famous for its superb cast, whose adult contingent includes 80s starlet Winona Ryder and Hellboy himself David Harbour and whose young stars count Godzilla franchise heroine Milly Bobby Brown and Ghostbusters: Afterlife hero Finn Wolfhard among their number. As the series continued through its 3 seasons this cast has added a string of impressive names to its number, among them Cary Elwes, Paul Reiser, and Brett Gelman. The character actor was recently promoted to series regular, meaning viewers will be seeing a lot more of his goofy conspiracy theorist Murray Bauman come season 4. An earlier ScreenRant article suggested that despite his professed hate for the USSR, Murray may in his comic ineptitude have unintentionally led the Russians to Hawkins. But what if the kooky conspiracy theorist has been working with them all along? One Reddit is convinced that the character is in league with the season 3 baddies, and it’s a pretty convincing idea (despite the idea opening up some sizeable plot holes post-season 3’s dramatic climax).
The Russian Double Agent Theory Explained
ittedly, the libertarian livewire Murray may seem like a surprising candidate to work with Hawkins Lab are sure to be anti-Soviet.
The Evidence That Murray Is Working With the Russians
Murray's leanings seem to be more libertarian than communist or socialist, judging by Ayn Rand-style rant in season 2. However, he is also adamantly against Hawkins’ Lab and their shadowy human experimenting operation, meaning he may have teamed up with the Russians to give them access to information in exchange for helping him take down their operation. Both Murray and the Russians hate the US government (for very different reasons), and the Cold War 80s were a time when strange bedfellows were made across the political landscape, with many spies and informants working against their own country thanks to any number of specific battles they were waging against shady organizations like Hawkins Lab.
Not only that, but Murray’s adamant resistance to hosting Alexei in his home when Joyce and season 3's newly-aggressive Hopper arrive with the Russian defector in tow early in season 3 may come from a fear that Alexei will recognize him as a Soviet collaborator and give the game away. Finally, Murray’s loud insistence that “the Russians are coming” since long before they were a major player in the series also hints that he may have had an inside track, and wanted to throw suspicion off himself. By warning characters and viewers alike of the Russian threat early, Murray made himself seem uniquely opposed to the Soviets when the opposite could well prove true.
Why The Theory Might Not Be True
Even though it’s a convincing theory, there are some pretty hard-to-avoid plot holes here. For one thing, series star David Harbour outright denied the theory (but he also denied that Hopper’s death was a fake-out, so take that with a grain of salt). Moreover, Murray helped the gun-toting Hopper and Joyce infiltrate the Russian base at the close of season 3, and while he may have been deep undercover, he was at least partially responsible for the deaths of a lot of comrades, something his possible allies could hardly be happy with. Moreso than his professed hatred of Russians (which could be a disguise), this is likely the most compelling reason to believe that Murray is not a Russian double agent, although if he is, this betrayal is also the most dramatic element of his potential character journey.
What This Means For the Show
If Murray is in league with the Russians, there’s a chance he could have a change of heart and help Hopper out of Siberia - a pretty huge journey that end of Stranger Things season 3. This plot thread could also be an interesting avenue for Stranger Things season 4 to follow through on, as Murray could be made instrumental in the show’s revelation of what makes Hopper uniquely able to survive the events of season 3.