I don't think we've fully unpacked the levels of hilarity that could come from Hopper clocking Byler. After season 4, Hopper and Mike hugged out their beef so in season 5 I could only assume the dynamic will remain peaceful. Hopper's emotionally matured and should be very supportive to his relationship with El. HOWEVER, he doesn't know about season 4's Ily fiasco.
Imagine if even once, El mentions it.
Imagine him going like,
But y'know, character development and all. He just questions Mike a bit.
Mike: Yes- sorry. She just, thought I didn't love her anymore...
Hopper: Seems like an easy fix.
Mike: Yes- Well, she was taken. Before I could, um, patch it up.
Hopper:
Now he's acting all nice like a good guy but he was fucking with his daughter and hides why. This actually needs to be investigated. At a dinner with the Byers, he reaches for a 3rd party opinion.
Hopper: So I heard from El Mike was avoiding saying he loved her. Pfft. Anyone knows what that was about?
Jonathan: *Drops fork*
Will:
Joyce: Oh, did he? Seems very unlike him.
Will: He was just...
Jonathan:
Will: Just scared of losing her...
Hopper: Hah, so he made it worse?
Joyce: Hey, at least he snapped out of it.
Hopper: Right...
Jonathan:
Hopper: So what did it? Did El threaten to dump him? Pfft.
Will: Well, I made this painting...
Joyce: Oh yes! The DnD one! Hopper, it was so beautiful... So what about it?
Jonathan:
Will: I gave it to Mike.
Joyce: Aw,
Hopper: And that convinced him El won't leave him?
Will: She commissioned it, so...
Joyce: *Glances at Jonathan* She did?
Hopper:
Jonathan: Crazy story... almost as crazy as these noodles,
Everyone: ...?
Jonathan: Did you use anything special for the sauce?
Joyce: It's takeout.
If he ever got his claws on the painting lie he'd at best end like this
Later he talks to El to follow up on the lead.
Hopper: About that, by the way, I talked to Mike. Still very weird of him, but I'm glad you're okay.
El: Yes... *Nods*
Hopper: Did he, like, act off to you beforehand?
El: No. He was very nice. He did everything I wanted. He was just, paying attention to me all day. I think he didn't even want to hug him at the airport [...]
Hopper:
El: [...] he just, kind of... fist bumped him.
Hopper: And tomorrow he couldn't say it?
El: Yes.
THEN comes the part where Hopper has the realization. He solved the mystery. They will break up. Everything makes sense now. But that fucker Wheeler will still date his kid.
