Sam Owens

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Do-Gooder
Full Name	Samuel Owens
Alias(es)	Dr. Owens
Origin	Stranger Things
Occupation	Director of Operations at Hawkins Lab (formerly) Government agent
Powers / Skills	Gifted Intelligence Scientific Expertise Tactician Skills Marksmanship Leadership
Hobby	Reading books Conducting scientific experiments
Goals	Cover-up the attack of the Demogorgon in the previous year (failed). Help Will Byers exorcise the Mind Flayer. Help Jim Hopper adopt Eleven. Stop the invasion of the Mind Flayer in Hawkins (all succeeded). Prevent the Soviet Army from getting the Demogorgons (failed). Help Eleven re-awaken her powers (succeeded).
Family	Cathy Owens (wife) Peter Owens (son)
Friends / Allies	Hawkins Lab Martin Brenner † (formerly) Jim Hopper Joyce Byers Will Byers Bob Newby Mike Wheeler Nancy Wheeler Jonathan Byers Murray Bauman U.S. Army Eleven
Enemies	Martin Brenner † Soviet Army Vecna Demogorgons Lt. Colonel Sullivan
Type of Hero	Benevolent Scientist

Dr. Samuel "Sam" Owens is one of the main characters of the Stranger Things franchise, appearing as one of the main characters in Season 2 and Season 4. He also appears as a cameo character in Season 3.

He was a high-ranking member within the US Department of Energy. Owens was tasked with containing the strange events that took place in Hawkins, Indiana in 1983, replacing Dr. Brenner as Director of Operations at Hawkins Lab.

He is portrayed by Paul Reiser.

Personality

Owens shares his predecessor's stubbornness and commitment to science, as evidenced by his refusal to believe the poisoned pumpkins were connected to the Upside Down and his choice to threaten Jonathan and Nancy into silence regarding Barb's death.

However, he makes a legitimate point about the need for secrecy: that the deadly nature of the Upside Down portal, if replicated in the hands of an authoritarian government would create even greater disaster, which is why it must be kept secret. However, Owens is much more amiable and open-minded than Dr. Brenner, showing good manners to Will during their exams and refusing to immediately put the Upside Down tunnels through a full burn if it meant killing Will in the process. He is never shown treating anyone with cruelty unlike his predecessor.

He puts himself at grave risk of death in staying in the Labs during the lock-down to keep an eye out on the security cameras for Joyce, Mike, Will, Hopper, and Bob and guide them out of the lab, ultimately becoming injured in the process, as he mourns for Bob passing in the lab due to the Demodogs attacking him. Following the closure of the Hawkins Laboratory, he cheerfully greets Hopper as "Chief-O," and helped arrange his adoption of Eleven by providing him a birth certificate of her, suggesting that despite their previous adversity due to Owens's position as the director, they have become friends.

Biography

Directing Hawkins Lab

Analyzing Will

When Dr. Martin Brenner's fate was left unknown after the events of 1983, Dr. Sam Owens was appointed the Director of Operations at Hawkins Lab where he mostly spent his time investigating and preventing the Gate to the Upside Down from spreading. His other objective was also to cover up the events to prevent a mass panic.

Owens admitted Joyce and Will Byers after Joyce informed him about Will's visions of the Mind Flayer. After taking some tests, Owens assured her the results were normal. He then asked Will several questions about his zombie drawing, not believing the visions. Owens stated that Will's fascination with zombies was normal.

The day before Halloween, Will had an appointment with Dr. Owens to check his health due to him having more episodes. After a small chat to make him comfortable, Owens asked Will about the episode at the arcade, who was unaware that their conversation was being recorded and monitored by lab personnel. As Will tried to explain to Owens about feeling an evil force, Will's brainwaves started to increase activity. When Owens asked him about the force's desire to kill, Will revealed that it intended to kill not him, but everyone else. Owens reported to Joyce and Hopper that the visions were the result of the Anniversary Effect, and assured them he's on their side.

Will was hospitalized at the lab after his severe convulsion and was brought to Dr. Owens. When Will woke up, he seemed to have no memory of Bob. Owens tested Will's memories and found that he couldn't recognize him, Hopper, Bob or the events regarding him saving Hopper, but could only recognize his best friend, Mike and his mother, Joyce. He also remembered that the soldiers hurt him when they burnt the tendrils. Owens tested a theory by burning a tentacle to observe Will's reaction, to which Will reacts in pain. Owens then concluded that there was a hive mind virus that connected all the hosts and that, Will was somehow connected to it.

At a meeting between Owens and several other scientists, they discussed the reason behind Will's brain being altered by the monster from the vision. The doctors all argued that it was impossible for them to save Will and suggested to start the burning to control the spread. Owens refused and let Will use the photos of his map to locate a place that the monster was trying to hide from him.

Unbeknownst of Owens, the place Will marked was a trap. The soldiers were horrifically massacred by a group of Demodogs, commanded by the Mind Flayer who decided to invade Hawkins with earnest. They also witnessed the Demodogs uniting and heading towards the lab. Dr. Owens sounded the alarm, warning everyone at the lab, and took Hopper with him through the stairs to escape. As the Demodogs began to close in, Hopper took Joyce, Mike, Will, Bob and Owens to a security room, where they were trapped due to a power outage. After Bob successfully restored the system, Dr. Owens decided to stay behind, and guided Hopper, Joyce, Mike and Bob out of the lab.

Later, Hopper returned with Eleven back to the lab in order to close the Gate and found Dr. Owens badly wounded by the Demodogs. He was patched up by Hopper who revealed that he had been protecting Eleven for a year and convinced Dr. Owens to help her lead a better life.

A month after the Gate had been closed, Hopper met Dr. Owens at a bar. Owens provided him a forged birth certificate for Eleven, which stated that she's now officially Hopper's daughter, named "Jane Hopper" from Eleven's original first name, though he reminded Hopper to wait another year to be safe. However, Hopper ultimately managed to convince him to give Eleven a night out to go to the Snow Ball with her friends.

Independence Day

During Independence Day 1985, in response to a distress call made by Jim Hopper and Joyce Byers about the Soviets' endeavor in reopening the Gate at Starcourt Mall, Dr. Owens brought the U.S. military at the mall, arriving quite late. By the time they arrived, however, the Soviet Army in charge of the portal have already escaped. After taking over the Russian base beneath the mall, Owens checked the Gate, which was closed earlier by Joyce and Hopper.

Recruiting Jane

He reappears to squash the charges against Eleven by Angela, as he warns her the events of the previous year has brought the world into greater danger. He gives Eleven the choice to join him to regain her powers, as she always followed orders from other people before, to which Eleven accepts.

He is revealed to be working with Martin Brenner, who survived the Demogorgon attack in Season 1, because Brenner knows how Eleven's powers work, although this partnership is strained due to Brenner's previous crimes. Owens advises Brenner to behave more gently when experimenting with Eleven, often arguing with each other regarding their conflicting approach.

Gallery

Dr. Sam Owens's first appearance.

Owens being cordial with Will Byers.

Owens beginning his session with Will.

"Back in the Upside Down?"

Owens listening to Will describe an episode he had last night.

When Will describes an evil that wanted to kill, Owens asks if the evil wanted to kill him, but the boy answers the evil wanted to kill everyone.

After his appointment with Will, Owens tells Joyce and Hopper about how Will's mental state will get worse.

Owens describing the effects of post traumatic stress disorder to Joyce and Hopper.

Seeing how uneasy Joyce and Hopper, Owens tries to reassure them he's on their side and that they can trust him.

Owens greeting Nancy Wheeler and Jonathan Byers after they were brought to the lab.

Owens walking with Nancy and Jonathan through the lab.

Owens talking about the death of Barbara Holland and the disappearance of Will to the two teens.

Owens showing Nancy and Jonathan the portal to the Upside Down.

Owens confessing his predecessors' crimes to Nancy and Jonathan where they secretly record his confession.

Owens explaining why he wants the Upside Down to be kept a secret.

"So we understand each other now, don't we?"

Owens and his lab partner going over samples of soil from the pumpkin patches.

Owens listening to his colleague say he didn't find any poison or pesticides in the soil.

Owens going to see a test run on the soil.

Owens shocked to see the soil moving up in the air when it reacts to heat.

Owens seeing the other samples react to the burning soil, making him realize Hopper was right about the dying plants being connected to the Upside Down.

Owens and his fellow doctors going to treat Will who is screaming in extreme pain.

Owens and a female doctor examining Will before they sedate him.

The next day, Owens listens to Joyce explain Will being affected a shadow monster from the Upside Down.

Owens being berated by Joyce for labeling Will's symptoms as post-traumatic stress disorder.

Owens and his colleagues unsure how to answer Joyce's questions as they don't know what's wrong with Will.

Owens checking up on Hopper after he had been cleaned off the Upside Down's toxic chemicals.

"How are you doing?"

After Hopper confirms he's good, Owens says he wants him to come with him as he wants to show him something.

"Watch your step."

Owens, Hopper, and a scientist descending down on an elevator.

Looking at the gate, Owens explains to Hopper how living organisms develop defensive mechanisms to survive.

Owens and Hopper reaching the bottom of the gate.

Owens showing Hopper how the Gate has been spreading underneath Hawkins.

Later, Owens and his scientists have a meeting.

Owens and his team going over Will's symptoms.

Owens looking at and comparing pictures of Will's brain from last week, last night, and today.

Owens and his team silent after seeing the current photograph of Will's brain.

"I don't hear any suggestions."

Owens hearing one of his colleagues propose they need to proceed with burning the tunnels.

"And if it kills the boy?"

Owens glancing at his colleague who points out whether or not burning the tunnels kills Will, they can't let them reach Hawkins.

Owens and his team in deep thought.

(Scientist: "Where are you going?") "I'm gonna think."

Owens in his office.

Owens pondering on what to do.

Owens watching some agents going to descend to the bottom of the gate.

Owens glancing at Hopper.

Owens witnessing El wake up from her heart attack after being brought out of the Nina Project.

Owens, Brenner, and two other doctors surrounding El.

Owens watching El run off after she angrily smacks Brenner in the face with an automated external defibrillator.

Watching Eleven regain her memories in Nina, Owens remarks they should tell her what they're up against, but Brenner reminds that they'll risk everything by doing so.

Trivia

• Owens's actor, Paul Reiser, has also played Carter Burke, the secondary antagonist of Aliens, from which Season 2 is inspired from. The choice was said to be deliberate in order to throw Owens's true purpose for the Hawkins Lab into doubt.

External Links

• Sam Owens on the Stranger Things Wiki
• Sam Owens on the Inconsistently Admirable Wiki