Eddie Munson and 8 Stranger Things characters who didn’t deserve to die

With a threat as foreboding as the Upside Down, death is inevitable in Stranger Things. But we still really wish these characters didn’t have to go.

Across four seasons and almost ten years, Stranger Things has captivated viewers across the globe and become one of Netflix’s biggest blockbuster hits. What makes the show so infectious? The action, mystery, and sci-fi elements are part of it, but the heart of this show has always been its characters.

Unfortunately, since they’re up against a horrific parallel dimension brimming with monstrous creatures, not all everyone has made it out alive. Some deaths, like Eddie Munson’s, are still a fresh wound for many fans, while others, like Barb’s, have remained a topic of debate since the show began. Now we’re looking back at some of the other particularly painful deaths.

Stranger Things characters who didn’t deserve to die

Eddie Munson

When Stranger Things season 4 premiered in 2022, no one could have predicted just how big of an impact newcomer Eddie Munson would have on the world. Since premiering, Eddie actor Joseph Quinn has blown up and is now adored by millions of fans worldwide.

Eddie was undeniably one of the biggest breakout characters of the entire show, maybe in pop culture as a whole, and that is owed all to Quinn’s endearing portrayal. His death at the end of season 4 devastated fans, but one thing is for certain: Eddie lives on in the Stranger Things fandom.

Chrissy Cunningham

Chrissy tends to get overlooked since she was only in one episode, and her death is commonly overshadowed by some of the other big season 4 deaths like Eddie’s, but Chrissy was such a valuable contribution to the show, even with her limited screen time. Grace Van Dien made something exceptional out of a character that could have been very one-note and cliché.

It helped that she and Joseph Quinn had great chemistry together, and their forest scene has become one of the most memorable and beloved of the show, helping to characterize both Eddie and Chrissy further. At first, you might have expected Chrissy to be the stereotypical mean high school cheerleader—the fact she was a genuine sweetheart and her terrifyingly gruesome death scene helped establish the darker tone of season 4.

Barbara “Barb” Holland

I’m not a hardcore Barb stan like some folks in the Stranger Things fandom, but I don’t think anyone can argue that it’s sad when someone so young is killed. However, like Chrissy, Barb’s death served an important purpose in the Stranger Things world.

She was the first notable on-screen death, and it came as a shock to many people who anticipated her survival. At least she didn’t die in vain, as Nancy is shown to still be deeply affected by Barb’s death in the fourth season.

Bob Newby

Played by the beloved actor Sean Astin, Bob Newby was one of the most lovable characters on Stranger Things, which seemed to foreshadow his demise.

Introduced in the second season as Joyce’s new boyfriend, Bob’s death was one of the most significant on the show in the early days. But, like Eddie, at least he went out a hero, sacrificing himself in the Hawkins lab after they were attacked by Demodogs so that Joyce and the others could escape.

Dr. Alexei

Alexei was one of those characters that could have been rather forgettable if not for the charming performance delivered by Alec Utgoff. He quickly became a fan-favorite in season 3, and you probably saw tons of memes about him and his slurpee on the internet after the season aired.

Alexei is one of the few characters on the show killed by a regular human antagonist and not anything supernatural from the Upside Down. Still, RIP Alexei; he gave us a lot of entertaining moments with Hopper and Murray.

Dart

Justice for Dart! The tiny Demodog that emerged from the Upside Down in season 2 and became Dustin’s pet for a while was surprisingly wholesome. How cool would it have been if the gang was actually able to keep a full-sized Demogorgon around? It would probably never happen, but at least Dart never really turned on Dustin and even refused to attack him in the end. Sadly, he would have died when Eleven closed the gate to the Upside Down.

Mews

Poor Mews. I love Dart, but why’d he have to eat Dustin’s cat!? Although, to be fair, Dustin didn’t seem as cut up about Mews’ death as his mom, and at least now they have Tews? Still, #JusticeForMews.

Which Stranger Things deaths are you still mourning?