Stranger Things | Hopper's Ammunition Box
Updated: Aug 8
Season 2 of Netflix's hit series, Stranger Things, was where we began to see a much darker Hawkins. Set a year after Will Byers' return, the story raises the stakes with the introduction of the terrifying Mind Flayer, creating a darker and more suspenseful atmosphere without losing the heart that made the series so popular. The season shines through its character development. Steve Harrington's transformation into the group's unlikely protector becomes one of the show's biggest highlights, while Will's emotional struggle delivers one of the strongest performances of the series. New additions Max and Billy bring fresh dynamics, and the relationships between the original characters continue to evolve naturally.
During Chapter 3, 'The Pollywog', we see Hopper and Eleven's relationship at the heart of the story, with the secluded cabin serving as far more than just a hiding place. Originally Hopper's grandfather's old cabin, it becomes the first place Eleven can truly call home. As they clean, repair, and furnish it together, the cabin gradually transforms into a symbol of safety, family, and a fresh start. Hopper creates strict rules to protect her from Hawkins Lab, while also filling the cabin with comforts such as food, warmth, a television, and everyday routines that she has never experienced before.
During the renovation and tidying of the cabin scenes, we see Hopper begin to make the cabin secure by changing and adding locks to creating homemade security traps to ensure the outside perimeter is safe. In this instance, Hopper is creating a homemade tripwire using the shells and a mousetrap before placing the wire onto the trap. This is where we see the Bilson Ammunition Box that Hopper is using shells from.
© Netflix. Stranger Things (Season 2, Episode 3)
The box itself features signs of wear with scratchings, markings and very subtle dent to the face of the box due to the handling and usage on set for these scenes. Inside the box, we also have the cartridge holder that was used for the holding of the shells which David Harbour and his character will have used for the specific scene.
The Bilson Ammunition Box may only appear briefly in Stranger Things Season 2, Episode 3, but its significance extends far beyond its screen time. As a genuine piece used within Hopper's cabin, it helps reinforce the authentic 1980s atmosphere that defines the series, but also reminds us of why it was also being used within the show itself - Hopper taking the role of a father and providing Eleven a new home, safety and security from the outside world.
Props aren't remembered because they're always in the spotlight—they're remembered because they helped create the worlds fans and film/tv enthusiasts love. Long after the cameras stop rolling, the items remain, preserving the stories, craftsmanship, and moments that audiences continue to remember for a very long time.
