Barb: The Level-Headed Best Friend We Still Miss
When discussing deaths that hit hardest in Stranger Things, there’s an almost universal consensus: Barb, portrayed by Shannon Purser, still haunts the audience. Season 1 introduced her as the voice of reason, the cautious counterpoint to Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer)’s high school bravado. Barb’s charm was understated but crucial—her concern over Nancy drifting into popularity gave her an immediacy that made her relatable and grounded.
Her death was both sudden and hauntingly preventable. After a heated argument with Nancy at a party, Barb inadvertently invites danger by wading into a pool, leaving a trace of blood after cutting her hand on a beer can. The proximity of the Upside Down monster means that something as minor as a cut could pull her into an entirely different dimension. For the rest of Season 1, fans were left waiting as all attention focused on rescuing Will Byers. Barb’s fate lingered in the background, creating a sense of injustice and frustration among viewers.
It wasn’t until Season 2 that Hawkins Lab officially acknowledged her death, culminating in a quiet but emotionally resonant funeral. Yet, even with this closure, the emotional scar remains. Nancy’s guilt permeates subsequent seasons, and fans continue to echo the rallying cry “Justice for Barb” on social media. Her legacy embodies the sense of loss that underpins the show: even secondary characters can leave indelible marks, shaping the emotional world of Hawkins.
Billy Hargrove: A Bully Who Found Redemption
Few characters provoke as complicated a response as Billy Hargrove, played by Dacre Montgomery. Introduced as the quintessential 1980s high school bully, Billy’s aggression and reckless behaviour immediately set him apart as a source of tension for the main cast. Yet the Duffer Brothers layered him with depth, revealing the trauma of an abusive upbringing that shaped his volatile personality.
Season 3 transforms Billy from antagonist to reluctant hero. Under the control of the Mind Flayer, he becomes a pawn in the supernatural chaos, and his final act of defiance cements a brief redemption arc. During the climactic finale at Starcourt Mall, Billy risks everything to save the kids he once tormented, culminating in a poignant moment with his sister Max (Sadie Sink). His apology before death underscores the Duffer Brothers’ knack for blurring the lines between villainy and heroism.
Fans have long debated the impact of Billy’s death: some mourn the loss of a deeply complex character, others are struck by the narrative payoff that makes his sacrifice unforgettable. Max’s grief reverberates across Season 4, and Billy’s brief redemption continues to spark discussions about morality in Hawkins. His story demonstrates the show’s commitment to making death matter—every choice carries weight, and even antagonists can be heroes in their final moments.
The Innocents: Bob, Benny, and Dart
While Barb and Billy represent central and morally complex figures, other deaths tug at the heartstrings through their pure innocence. Bob Newby, portrayed by Sean Astin, epitomises goodness in a world besieged by supernatural threats. In Season 2, Bob’s courage comes to the fore as he aids Joyce (Winona Ryder) during the Demodog chase. His intelligence and selflessness ultimately cost him his life, leaving an aching void in the series. Bob’s final moments are both heroic and heartbreaking—he dies providing crucial information, embodying a narrative of sacrifice and love that resonates long after the scene ends.
Benny (Chris Sullivan) offers another heartbreaking example. As Eleven’s first connection to the outside world beyond Hawkins Lab, his kindness provides a glimpse of normalcy in her turbulent life. His death at the hands of a shadowy government agent, while tragic, illuminates the stakes of Eleven’s story: innocence is vulnerable, and heroism comes with cost.
Even the show’s forays into playful horror tug at the heart. Dart, Dustin’s beloved Demodog, illustrates how innocence can transform into danger. What begins as a seemingly harmless creature quickly escalates into a deadly presence, leading to the loss of Dustin’s cat, Mews. This layered storytelling reinforces the series’ recurring theme: nothing in Hawkins is ever quite safe, and even the most innocent lives are at risk when the Upside Down intrudes.
Stranger Things wields death with narrative precision, transforming loss into character development, suspense, and emotional resonance. Barb’s disappearance catalyses Nancy’s growth, Billy’s sacrifice tests Max’s resilience, and Bob and Benny’s demises underscore the stakes for everyone involved. Even Dart’s evolution reminds viewers that the world of Hawkins is unpredictable, where innocence and danger are inseparably intertwined.
As Season 5 approaches, these deaths remain a lodestar for fans—a reminder of why Stranger Things continues to captivate audiences. Each loss resonates not merely as a plot point but as a defining moment in the tapestry of friendships, family bonds, and heroic sacrifices that shape the series. Fans might never forgive Netflix for some of these untimely departures, but in doing so, they acknowledge the depth of storytelling that makes the Upside Down feel real, terrifying, and emotionally consequential.
The heartache and heartbreak caused by Barb, Billy, Bob, Benny, and Dart are enduring, forming the emotional undercurrent that elevates Stranger Things from a nostalgic thriller to a deeply affecting narrative. In Hawkins, survival is never guaranteed, innocence is fragile, and every loss echoes through the lives of those left behind—just as fans continue to feel each heartbreak long after the screen goes dark.
