WARNING! Spoilers ahead for Stranger Things season 4, vol. 1!

The trend of characters with “B” names being killed off hints at a major death twist in Stranger Things’ season 4 finale. Every season of Stranger Things features the devastating death of a significant character, with season 1’s big death being Barb, season 2’s being Bob, and season 3’s being Billy. Since then, any Stranger Things character whose name starts with the letter “B” is risking death, but this rule may not only apply to first names.

After the loss of Billy, it seemed Stranger Things’ “B” death trend wouldn’t continue into season 4. None of the new Stranger Things season 4 characters have names that start with a “B,” with fan-favorite additions like Eddie, Dmitri “Enzo” Antonov, and Argyle all appearing safe by these standards. Even Stranger Things’ new bullies like Angela and Jason don’t fit into the series-long death trend, suggesting this unwritten rule could instead look back to one of the series’ main protagonists.

Related: Got A Name Beginning With B? Stranger Things Wants To Kill You

While Stranger Things doesn’t have any more main characters with a “B” first name, there are several with a “B” last name – most notably, the Byers family. While Joyce’s survival seems guaranteed after Stranger Things season 4, this isn’t necessarily the case for her sons Will and Jonathan Byers. In fact, Stranger Things season 4 has largely demoted Jonathan Byers to a side character, suggesting he could have one last sacrificial hero moment in the finale. Characters in past seasons have referred to Jonathan simply as “Byers,” so if the Duffers are intent on continuing the series’ biggest death trend, Jonathan dying in Stranger Things’ season 4 finale isn’t too big of a stretch.

Stranger things season 4 billy tease risks repeating huge barb problem

Although it’s still possible that the “B” death trend is officially over in Stranger Things, the Duffer brothers and the cast have teased that major deaths are coming in Stranger Things’ season 4, volume 2 finale. The co-creates have hinted that nobody is safe in Stranger Things’ season 4 ending, which suggests a twist death from at least one of the show’s most significant characters. Steve Harrington and Eddie Munson seem to be at the top of the chopping block, but Jonathan or Will would be a far more shocking death in the battle against Vecna and the Upside Down.

Stranger Things’ “B” death rule – if also applying to last names – could hint at a fatal twist for Murray Bauman in season 4. While the character provides some of the greatest comedic relief for the adults in Stranger Things, his time in Russia with Joyce, Hopper, and Dmitri isn’t apt to end in a happy homecoming. Stranger Things’ season 4, volume 2 trailers have already teased that Murray and Hopper will use fire to fight the Demogorgons at the Russian prison, but codename “Bald Eagle” may not be able to escape the Upside Down creatures’ attacks. Whether it be Murray Bauman, Will Byers, or Jonathan Byers, Stranger Things’ death trend could mean the shocking end to one of the series’ best characters.

Next: Why Everyone Is Afraid Steve Will Die In Stranger Things 4 Volume 2

Stranger Things season 4, volume 2 arrives on Netflix on July 1.

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