Stranger Things has officially finished its five-season run. While we all know Stranger Things is no Game of Thrones or The Walking Dead, there were some devastating deaths in the series, especially in the Stranger Things finale.
In every single season, there was at least one huge death, one character that we had to say goodbye to, and it never got easier. In fact, I would argue that the most devastating death in the show's history happened in the series finale, and I will.
We have many other deaths to talk about first. Let's get the ranking started with Billy Hargrove.
7. Billy Hargrove
Killed: "Chapter Eight: The Battle of Starcourt" (season 3, episode 8)
Billy, played by Dacre Montgomery, is Max's stepbrother. He was introduced in season 2 as a key antagonist and bully-type figure at Hawkins High School. Quickly, it's clear that Billy has no problem pushing Steve Harrington (Joe Keery) around, which sets up their huge altercation at the end of season 2 at the Byers' house.
In season 3, Billy becomes the main villain for most of the season, as he does the work of the Mind Flayer to build the Spider Monster that nearly kills Eleven at the Starcourt Mall. Instead, Eleven, who earlier walked through some of Billy's happy memories, taps into the part of Billy that remains good, and he's able to fight back against the Mind Flayer, giving time for Hopper and Joyce to close the gate. Unfortunately, Billy dies a gruesome death in the finale.
To me, Billy is a terrible person, but he also suffered a fate that no person ever should. He didn't have much control over his actions after he was flayed in the season 3 premiere until the very end of the season. And, even though we hated him, it still wasn't fun to watch him killed by the Spider Monster.
6. Chrissy Cunningham
Killed: "Chapter One: The Hellfire Club" (season 4, episode 1)
We barely knew Chrissy Cunningham, played by Grace Van Dien, before she suffered one of the most brutal and violent deaths in Stranger Things history.
In the season 4 premiere, Chrissy is being tormented by Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower), and she tries to buy some ketamine from Eddie Munson, played by Joseph Quinn. At Eddie's house, Vecna finally catches her once and for all. We see Chrissy lifted to the ceiling, and her bones break as she's killed.
Even though we didn't get to know Chrissy much, her death is the catalyst of season 4. It's a key turning point in the whole series, and it opens Stranger Things up to a whole new horrific world. Obviously, it was disturbing watching Billy's death in the season 3 finale, but it's nothing compared to Chrissy's death, simply because we hadn't seen anything like it in the series to date.
5. Alexei
Killed: "Chapter Seven: The Bite" (season 3, episode 7)
Before Billy's devastating death in the season 3 finale, the season also featured another shocking death in the penultimate episode. While attending the Fourth of July celebration, also known as the Fun Fair, looking for the kids. Instead, they find the Grigori and the Russian assassins, who kill Alexei, played by Alec Utgoff, while he's having some good ol' American fun with corndogs and carnival games.
While Alexei started as a villain in the series, it's clear that he was never a bad guy, just another expendable manipulated into the service of a corrupt government with big plans.
Alexei's death is easily one of the most devastating in the series because he was just starting to show his personality. He clearly connected with Murray, played by Brett Gelman, and they could have had such a great partnership moving forward. Unfortunately, we were robbed of that with the Russians killing Alexei.
4. Barb Holland
Killed: "Chapter Two: The Weirdo on Maple Street" (season 1, episode 2)
The death of Barb Holland, played by Shannon Purser, is one of the most discussed deaths in the entire series, and it happened in the show's second episode. After getting dragged to Steve's party, Barb waits at the pool for Nancy (Natalia Dyer) to finish changing her clothes after a dip in Steve's pool. Unfortunately, Barb cut herself earlier in the episode, which attracted the demogorgon. Barb is dragged into the Upside Down and killed.
And, no one really cares, except for Nancy. While the whole town is looking for Will, everyone, except Nancy and Barb's parents, basically forgets that Barb is a person, too. That's the most devastating aspect of her death. Obviously, dying alone while waiting for your friend, who you don't think is on the right path, is also tough, too, but the lack of justice for Barb is what makes her death especially devastating.
3. Bob Newby
Killed: "Chapter Eight: The Mind Flayer" (season 2, episode 8)
Bob Newby, played by Sean Astin, is one of the best characters in Stranger Things history, which made his death that much more devastating. When the Mind Flayer uses Will (Noah Schnapp) to attack the Hawkins National Lab, Bob volunteers to override the security system to unlock the doors and allow Hopper, Mike, Joyce, and Will to escape. Bob, with Dr. Owens' help, nearly makes it out before he is attacked by a demodog and killed.
There's a strong argument that Bob's death is actually the most devastating death in the series. It was the first time that a beloved main character was killed in the series. I would also argue that Bob's death, along with the mayhem at the Hawkins Lab, was a turning point for the series. It definitely leveled up the darkness. The third season was a little bit brighter, but the horror elements of the series continued to get bigger, darker, and more horrific following Bob's death in season 2.
2. Eddie Munson
Killed: "Chapter Nine: The Piggyback" (season 4, episode 9)
Eddie Munson is one of the most beloved Stranger Things characters in the show's history. Some fans cared more about Eddie than the characters we'd spent three full seasons with before his introduction.
Eddie was killed in the season 4 finale while trying to buy enough time for Steve, Nancy, and Robin (Maya Hawke) to kill Vecna in Creel House in the Upside Down. Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) arrives just in time for Eddie to die in his arms. Honestly, this was the hardest scene to watch for me in the show's history. We can see what Eddie means to Dustin, and Dustin means to Eddie, in his final scene, and that's so devastating.
Unfortunately, Eddie was always a dead man walking in Stranger Things, basically from the moment Chrissy was found dead in his house. Part of me still wonders about how they could have kept Eddie alive, but it makes no difference now.
1. Eleven
Killed: "Chapter Eight: The Rightside Up" (season 5, episode 8)
Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) is the best character in Stranger Things, and it makes sense that her death was the most devastating death of the series. We spend so much time getting to know Eleven, and by the fifth season, fans care so much about her. Seeing Eleven sacrifice herself in the Upside Down in the series finale was truly devastating to watch. I feel like we all saw it coming, but it still hurt all the same.
Eleven's death is the most heartbreaking because we have to consider everything she's been through. She was lost all alone when she was found by Mike, Dustin, and Lucas. Now, she's saved their lives over and over and over. She's saved everyone's life, but she can't live a normal life with the government hunting her. So, she's forced to make the worst choice possible, to leave the best part of her life behind, to stop a cycle of violence. I can't think of anything more heartbreaking.
Fortunately, at the very end of the series, the Duffer brothers and the writers threw the fans a bone to chew on forever. Following the final D&D game in the show, Mike reveals that Eleven might have lived through the events of the Upside Down's destruction, but because she's a risk to everyone she loves, she can't contact them.
Fans have gone back and forth about whether Eleven is actually alive. Personally, I do think Eleven lived, but the ending remains ambiguous. It's still so difficult to watch Eleven's final scene as she pushes Mike away one last time and stays behind.
Those are the most devastating deaths in Stranger Things, ranked. We'd love to hear what you think of the ranking in the comments.