We’d really love the vanishing officers from Stranger Things to come back

Jim Hopper’s sidekicks from the Hawkins Police Department have vanished. We’d love to see the officers return in Stranger Things 3 and live up to their famous namesakes.

Something’s a little strange in Hawkins, Indiana, and it’s not the Demogorgon or the Mind Flayer. Officer Powell and Officer Callahan of Stranger Things were featured all throughout season 1, yet they both disappeared without a trace.

They haven’t been seen since episode 3 of season 2, “The Pollywog.” Powell and Callahan weren’t necessarily vital to the upside down supernatural hunting crew, but their conversations aided in building Jim Hopper’s backstory.

They were both earnest in their search for missing child Will Byers. As Powell and Callahan both needed direction, they served to give Hopper credibility as a leader and police chief, despite Hopper’s preoccupation with addictive substances and misery.

Officer Powell, played by Rob Morgan, delivered a sprinkling of dry one-liners that added levity to a show that often errs into taking itself too seriously. His namesake is the fabulous Sergeant Al Powell from Die Hard. Played by Reginald VelJohnson, Powell is the LAPD cop that aids Bruce Willis’ John McClane as he wipes out the terrorists in the Nakatomi Plaza.

Officer Callahan, played by John Reynolds, was starting to morph into a comical stooge, even going so far as to sport a cool cop mustache when we last saw him on screen. The most famous police officer named Callahan was, of course, Inspector Harry Callahan, aka “Dirty Harry.” Callahan was immortalized by Clint Eastwood in four Dirty Harry movies of the ’70s and ’80s as the antihero cop who doesn’t mind bending the rules to clean up the streets of San Francisco.

The younger kids of Stranger Things provide the comic relief that grounds the show. Over season 2, Joe Keery’s Steve Harrington stepped up to plate to bring joy to the miserable teenager group. Meanwhile, the demeanors of the lead adults were in danger of becoming as gloomy as the shadow monster in the sky.

Thankfully, Bob Newby in season 2, played by Sean Astin, added lightheartedness to the adult contingency. Bob, the Radio Shack manager, was the brains of the group who was eagerly solving puzzles and wooing Joyce. Meanwhile, a distracted Hopper was off plying Eleven with Eggos.

Now Bob is gone, and we’ll wait to see who’ll provide the adult comic relief in the next season. We’d love to see Powell and Callahan return.

It’s a shame to have gifted the duo with such iconic names, only to have them disappear into a pumpkin patch.

If not, then perhaps Flo, the secretary at the Hawkins police station, or Mr. Clarke of the AV lab could be given greater opportunities to add levity.

Related Story: Stranger Things 3 rumors: Who’s making their way to Hawkins?

Stranger Things 3 plans to introduce a few new characters in 2019. Here’s hoping the new season allows for a few background characters reach their potential.