Netflix is home to incredible original shows that have helped the streaming giant become a force on TV. These shows vary in genre and scope, and while many are great, few actually come close to matching the success of Stranger Things.
The series wisely put David Harbour in the role of Hopper, and while it's a major success, people had their reservations about it. This includes Harbour, who did not see the show becoming a hit on Netflix.
Let's take a look at the show, and why David Harbour thought that it was doomed to fail while filming season one.
'Stranger Things' Is An Excellent Show
Since its debut in 2016, Stranger Things has had a grip on TV audiences who love great shows. The series, which was created by the Duffer brothers, was an instant smash on Netflix, and since then, it's become a global phenomenon that has only increased in popularity.
Starring a brilliant young cast alongside veterans like Winona Ryder, Stranger Things has somehow managed to do all the little things right. They got their casting down perfectly, their scripts are razor sharp, and the horror elements of the show are balanced out well with great character development, and well-timed moments of levity.
Season four of the show recently hit Netflix, and it was a smashing success. It was released in two parts, with each part generating incredible amounts of streaming time. This is no surprise, as the show has become a must-watch for millions of fans. Even those late to the party are sinking their teeth into the latest season, which already has some moments being hailed as iconic.
There are so many excellent pieces in place on the show, including David Harbour playing Hopper.
David Harbour Has Been Brilliant As Hopper
Since the show's first season, David Harbour has been brilliant as Hopper. He might not have been a huge name in entertainment prior to landing on the show, but the casting team did a remarkable job of finding him the right character to play.
As we've seen during the show's first four seasons, Hopper has had one heck of a journey and character arc. Fans have come to love the character, and while he's written exceptionally well, it's Harbour's performance that has been instrumental in the character becoming so popular.
Recently, Harbour spoke about the character, and when he will potentially be back in action to film season 5.
"I think we'll [shoot] next year. They're finishing writing it this year, and they need to prep and stuff, so hopefully it'll be this year. But that's the plan. So it'd probably come out mid-2024, based on our track record," he said.
It's incredible that he'll be around for season 5, especially considering that Harbour thought the show would be a disaster.
Why He Thought The Show Would Fail
According to Yahoo, when speaking to The One Show, Harbour admitted his feelings regarding the show's potential while filming season one.
When asked if he thought the show would be a success, Harbour said, "Not at all. I remember when we were shooting the first season. We were down in Atlanta, Netflix had given us a budget of about $20 and we thought…Halfway through, I remember my hair person coming up to me, about episode 4 we were shooting, and she said, 'I don't think it's going to work.'"
Having a small budget definitely played a part in Harbour's lack of faith in the show, and he even admitted that he thought it would turn into a disatser with no one watching.
"So by the time we wrapped, I thought we wouldn't get a second season, we'd be the first Netflix show ever to never get a second season. We thought no one would watch it, it was going to be a disaster," he continued.
Yahoo also notes that Harbour wasn't the only cast member who felt this way. Even Natalie Dyer was stunned at the show becoming a massive global hit.
"No one had any idea how successful the show would be. There was no preparation – there couldn't have been, even if we'd known. It was a surprising and overwhelming shock. Then it was like, 'OK, this is how it is now,'" Dyer said.
Stranger Things has at least one more season left, and thanks to its continued success, it's likely to shatter records when it comes out. As David Harbour learned, sometimes, it's good to be wrong.