Is Dacre Montgomery in Stranger Things season 4 as Billy? (spoilers)

Stranger Things season 4 is here in full, but some fans are feeling understandably bittersweet because that means Billy will no longer be around. Of course, Max’s older stepbrother played by Dacre Montgomery met his maker in the Battle of Starcourt in Stranger Things season 3.

Montgomery first appeared as Billy Hargrove in the second season of Stranger Things, and he was an immediate antagonist for Max and Lucas. However, the following season helped flesh out and humanize the character as he became one of the Mind Flayer’s flayed.

Thanks to Dacre Montgomery’s performance, the polarizing Billy wound up a favorite among some fans, which made his brutal death in season 3 a little bittersweet. After all, Billy ultimately did the right thing and sacrificed himself to save Eleven, Max, and their friends.

But as we well know by now, some things that seem dead in Stranger Things don’t always stay dead. Does Billy rise from the dead in Stranger Things season 4 volume 1 or volume 2, or will the character make a reappearance in a flashback sequence of some sort?

Warning: Major spoilers ahead from Stranger Things season 4 part 1 and part 2!

Does Dacre Montgomery appear in Stranger Things season 4 part 1 as Billy?

Yes! Billy makes a comeback in the new season of Stranger Things, but not in the way you’re expecting. While Billy doesn’t come back to life, Dacre Montgomery does, in fact, make a special appearance in Stranger Things season 4 part 1.

In episode 4, aptly titled “Dear Billy,” after Max reads a letter to her late stepbrother at his gravesite, she’s encompassed in Vecna’s curse. Billy appears to her in his bloodied state from the Battle of Starcourt and says things, such as she wanted him to die, in order to hurt her.

It’s a chilling scene, and it’s hard to see Max deal with her grief for her brother in such a twisted manner thanks to Vecna. Thankfully, her friends save her from Vecna’s grip with a little help from her favorite song. (Shout out to Kath Bush!)

Prior to this scene, which actually features Dacre Montgomery, there had been plenty of flashbacks to his death scene. Obviously, that doesn’t count, and we’re glad to have seen Montgomery back as Billy even for this short amount of time.

Is Billy in Stranger Things season 4 volume 2?

Again, yes! Technically, Dacre Montgomery returns once again for Stranger Things season 4 volume 2, though Billy’s appearances appear to mostly be reused footage from his scenes in Stranger Things season 3.

When Max is put under Vecna’s curse once again, the villain takes her through past memories, some of which are more haunting than others. Vecna continued to use Max’s feelings about Billy’s death against her and showed her memories from when he was flayed.

What did you think of Billy’s short returns? Sound off in the comments, and watch Stranger Things season 4 part 1 and part 2 on Netflix now!