Stranger Things’s Randy Havens Knows Mr. Clarke Saved the Day

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Fans were excited to see Mr. Clarke return! Randy Havens, who plays the kind and helpful science teacher and AV Club advisor in Stranger Things, hadn’t been seen since the end of season three. This was simply because the characters aged and moved on to high school, dealing with more urgent problems involving Vecna. Now, with Erica joining his group of students, Mr. Clarke—known as “the biggest nerd in Hawkins”—is brought back into the story to help find the missing Dustin.

Woken before dawn by Erica and Murray, Mr. Clarke—who was surprisingly in bed with the school librarian—initially thinks his tracking device will pinpoint Dustin’s location somewhere in town. However, Dustin isn’t simply hiding or trapped underground. The group comes to trust Mr. Clarke enough to show him Eleven’s powers and even expose him to the terrifying Upside Down. Remarkably, he stays calm and helps lead the search for Dustin in the dark. Back in Hawkins, he even contributes to planning their rescue operation, dubbed “Operation Beanstalk.” It helps that he’s a huge fan of Dungeons & Dragons, and he cleverly names the Upside Down “a realm of pure chaos and evil” after a place in the game.

In the second volume, the last time we see Mr. Clarke – or “Snookums,” as he’s playfully called – he works with Erica to open a gate, allowing the group to enter the military base and return to the Upside Down to finally defeat Vecna. Gavan Havens, who previously thought his character wouldn’t return to Stranger Things, was happy to reprise the role and show off Clarke’s scientific contributions. Havens jokingly suggests Clarke will likely write a book about everything once it’s all over.

It’s been almost six years since we last saw Mr. Clarke, as he wasn’t in season four. Did you think he wouldn’t come back, or did you trust the Duffer brothers to have a good plan for him? I honestly thought he was gone, especially after missing the entire fourth season. I figured the show had moved on and his time had passed. So, I was thrilled when they asked me to return! I found out the day after the writers’ strike ended. The Duffers called and asked me to do a table read, but I wasn’t available right away, which meant I had to wait even longer to find out what was happening with my character.

As Erica’s teacher, Mr. Clarke always struck me as a pretty oblivious guy, and I often wondered if his scientific mind ever picked up on the weirdness happening in Hawkins. Honestly, I doubt it! He seems so innocent. I mean, remember season two? A Demodog practically breathed on him, and he just thought the kids built a cool ghost trap! I really don’t think he suspected anything supernatural until he actually saw something with his own eyes. He just wasn’t tuned into that frequency, you know?

Mr. Clarke is initially annoyed when Murray and Erica wake him up early to ask for help with a tracker, but he immediately springs into action when they mention Dustin is in danger. Their relationship isn’t a typical friendship; Mr. Clarke usually maintains a professional boundary with the kids, setting clear limits like no late-night calls or early morning visits. However, Dustin’s situation changes everything. Seeing someone he cares about in trouble, and having another adult involved, motivates Mr. Clarke to investigate and help. It’s interesting to see him frustrated by their unexpected visit, as it’s unusual for his normally kind and patient personality, creating a noticeable shift in his demeanor.

I really liked how they teamed Mr. Clarke up with Murray and Erica! It felt like a fun dynamic. Thinking about it, it totally makes sense – Erica and Murray are the super-smart ones, so Mr. Clarke just fit right in with their intelligence. They’re basically a brain trust, aren’t they? Murray’s knowledge of Russian and physics proves he’s more than just a conspiracy guy, and Erica is a straight-up genius. Putting all three of them together? You knew they’d figure things out!

When Mr. Clarke witnesses Eleven using her powers on the security cameras – and then breaking them – it’s the first concrete proof that the ideas he’s been teaching as theory are actually happening. I was interested in how the script described his reaction and how that translated to the scene.

I don’t remember the exact script details, but it felt right for him to have a strong, surprised reaction – something like, “Wow, I just saw someone use telekinesis! This is unbelievable!” While theoretical physics suggests it’s possible – we’re all just vibrating atoms, after all – it’s still a huge moment for Mr. Clarke. I even considered having him swear, but I decided against it. He wouldn’t overreact like I might; his response would be more subdued. The most he’d probably say is, “Gosh!”

He immediately enters the Upside Down without a second thought. It’s a dream come true for a science teacher – what is he thinking? He’s both thrilled and apprehensive. Any scientist would jump at the chance to witness another world, a mirror universe like this. For Mr. Clarke, a middle school teacher fascinated by theoretical physics, actually experiencing something he’s only studied is incredibly exciting. And then to see all the strange things there, like the vines and floating particles… it’s amazing.

I’m wondering if Mr. Clarke ever thought about how much his teaching influenced the group’s journey into the Upside Down. He’s been a supportive science teacher for years, and I’d like to believe he didn’t fully realize how important he was to them until now. He just seems like a genuinely kind person. I suspect he was bullied as a child and never felt valued for his intelligence and curiosity. As an adult, he probably dedicated himself to creating a safe, encouraging learning environment where kids could explore and be curious without judgment. He doesn’t seem like someone who would ever take credit for their accomplishments. He likely just sees his classroom as a place where kids can freely explore science and the world around them, and he wouldn’t expect to be thanked for helping them save the universe.

Let me put it this way: if it weren’t for this person, Hawkins would likely be completely gone right now. Mr. Clarke definitely deserves some major recognition – like the key to the city, at the very least.

Filming in the Upside Down was a really strange experience! It was surprisingly hot, even though the set was supposed to be this dark, eerie place. What’s amazing is how much of the show is actually filmed practically, not just created with CGI. They had these huge, flashing red lights set up to simulate lightning, so it felt very real. All the vines you see are actually real props, and they add movement to them in post-production. It was totally surreal. Even our green room was decorated with vines – you practically had to battle your way through them to get a snack!

In a previous season, we saw Mr. Clarke woo a hot date at his house with a John Carpenter film, and now he’s sleeping with the school librarian. Did his bachelor status delight you?I was wondering who Mr. Clarke would be aligned with this season. I loved that he found a fellow big brain with the librarian.

I’d be remiss not to mention the greatest scene in Stranger Things history, which is when Mr. Clarke opens his garage and has his badass figurine moment while “My Bologna” plays. Would Weird Al be his Vecna-fighting music?
It would absolutely be “Like a Surgeon.”

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2025-12-29 15:55