Warden Melnikov, portrayed by Vaidotas Martinaitis, was a supporting antagonist in the fourth season of Stranger Things. He was the warden of a Soviet-run prison camp in Kamchatka, Russia. He imprisoned Jim Hopper after he destroyed the Soviet Union's U.S. secret operation at Starcourt Mall in Hawkins, Indiana in 1985.
History[]
1985[]
Melnikov had been working as the warden of the prison camp since before the arrival of American prisoner Jim Hopper in 1985. Melnikov tortured Hopper to give up any information he held on Joyce Byers who helped him destroy the Key at the Soviet Union's operation at Starcourt Base in Hawkins, Indiana. After Hopper survived the latest torture device, "The Elephant," he was sent to Melnikov's prison in Kamchatka, Russia in order to deny Hopper a "peaceful death".
1986[]
On March 24, Hopper was able to successfully escape the prison after killing several guards. However, Melnikov was tipped off by Yuri Ismaylov, who told him that one of his guards, Dmitri Antonov, was trying to break Hopper out of prison. Hopper was recaptured and Dmitri was arrested. Both of them were subsequently beaten by Melnikov and the remaining guards.
The following day, Melnikov ordered several guards, including Ivan, to take Hopper and Dmitri to the cell overlooking the pit holding the Russian Demogorgon. He then ordered his guards to give his prisoners a hearty meal in order to fatten them up so the Demogorgon could devour them once Melnikov decided to have them fight the monster.
On the night he decided to have his prisoners fight the Demogorgon, Murray Bauman, an ally of Hopper, arrived in the facility pretending to be Yuri (who was pretending to be Murray), with Joyce as herself. Melnikov failed to see through Murray's disguise, believing him to be Yuri. He showed Murray, Yuri and Joyce the battleground in the center of the facility where prisoners Hopper, Dmitri, and Oleg among others were fighting against the Russian Demogorgon. Melnikov gleefully watched the prisoners before Murray revealed his true identity and threatened Melnikov at gunpoint with Joyce revealing their ruse. They led Melnikov to the controls room where Murray threatened to shoot Melnikov if the gates were not opened to allow the prisoners to escape. The workers refused to do so, and Murray attacked them all, while Joyce opened the gate and the surviving prisoners, Hopper and Dmitri, escaped. The Russian Demogorgon rampaged the facility, killing several prison guards including Ivan.
The next night, the surviving prison guards attempted to kill the beast with gunfire, but it was not defeated. Instead, gunfire released an isolated part of the Mind Flayer, which then possessed several dormant demodogs. Either these demodogs or the Russian Demogorgon massacred much of the prison, and mauled Melnikov. He survived long enough to tell Murray what had happened, before he succumbed to his wounds.
Personality[]
Being a prison warden, he was extremely oppressive and antagonistic to the prisoners. He was devoted to the Soviet Union and did not tolerate enemies of the Motherland, especially Americans as he was extremely antagonistic towards Hopper. In addition, Melnikov was very sadistic and cruel where he enjoyed torturing his prisoners where he made them work in terrible conditions and gave them false hope in order to deny them peaceful deaths. Melnikov also showed a bloodthirsty side as he allowed his prisoners to fight an imprisoned Demogorgon like a gladiator game. However, when he was on the verge of dying, he does give information to Murray Bauman, presumably because he thought that Murray, Hopper and Joyce may be able to stop the Demogorgon and the possessed Demodogs after they massacred everyone in his prison.
Appearances[]
| Season Four appearances | |||
| Vecna's Curse | |||
| The Nina Project | |||
| The Massacre at Hawkins Lab | Papa | The Piggyback | |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Melnikov shares similarities to Ozerov as both of them were Russians and tortured the protagonists ruthlessly for information. Ozerov tortured Steve Harrington and Robin Buckley, while Melnikov tortured Jim Hopper.
- Melnikov having his prisoners fight the Demogorgon is very similar to how the Roman Empire used to have gladiator games in the Roman Colosseum.