It hasn't been confirmed but it's very likely they're doing a season 4, season 5 is a question mark. Tbh I wouldn't have even been mad if they had made this the last season.
I don't think the Lost Sister episode was a fail simply because it was outside of Hawkins, I think it was a fail because that character wasn't interesting and El couldn't carry an episode by herself. Technically when Hopper & Joyce took the Russian scientist to meet Murray that took place outside of Hawkins. The problem with that Lost Sister was episode was that it just didn't fit with everything else they were doing. Especially not on a show that only has like 8 episodes per season, you don't have really the luxury of filler.
If he had to die in that scene then I would have preferred if he sacrificed himself to kill fake Schwarzenegger. But I've come to learn in shows that if they don't show a major character actually dying on screen then it means they're leaving the door open for a return and I think with the post-credit scene of the Russians talking about an American in custody it's doing that. It wouldn't be for the first time either because they basically did the same thing with Eleven in season 1.
I do agree though that after the events they showed after his death that I would prefer if they kept him dead, because if not then it makes it seem almost pointless.
Had they not included that mid credits scene, this would've been a great series finale. Kinda obvious "the American" is Hopper, sigh.....
This show I feel like would really benefit from an anthology format. New location, new story, new cast members.
This show I feel like would really benefit from an anthology format. New location, new story, new cast members.