Warning: The article contains major spoilers for Stranger Things season 4.
With Netflix dropping the final two episodes of Stranger Things season 4, critics are already calling it the best finale yet, which had the most shocking and heartbreaking deaths by far from any season. But, if there is one thing that's true and consistent about Stranger Things is that no character is ever truly safe from an untimely death. Season 4 has proven this testament with the season's fan-favorite Eddie Munson, who died a hero.
Since season 1, several loveable and minor characters were killed to propel the story into action, and it soon became a staple to kill off good, bad, and morally grey characters every chance they got. While not all the deaths on Stranger Things have a big effect on fans, there is a handful that has truly gutted them over the last four seasons. Even the villain's death, like Billy's, has been tinged with sadness. Of course, characters like Eddie and Bob didn't deserve to die, and their deaths truly pushed fans to tears.
Dr. Brenner
Dr. Brenner was one of the main antagonist in season 1 and was presumed to be dead at the mouth of a Demogorgon at the inaugural season's finale. However, it turns out he wasn't actually dead and, instead, came back in season 4 to help El regain the powers she lost after season 3.
Unfortunately, Dr. Brenner seems to have met his actual demise this time when he is shot multiple times by the US government while trying to escape the lab with El. While there's no denying Dr. Brenner is an evil, manipulative man, some fans felt his death to be sad since he spent his last breaths begging El to understand and forgive him for the things he's done.
Billy Hargrove
Billy Hargrove had one of the better character arcs in Stranger Things, and the sadness of his death in season 3 is still one of the most debated topics amongst diehard fans. Billy was introduced in season 2 as Max's verbally abusive and racist step-brother, and in season 3, he became a full-fledged villain when he became a vessel for the Mind Flayer.
While Billy is a monster literally and figuratively for most of his time on the show, he spends his final moments sacrificing himself to protect El, who has been the first person to show him kindness since his mother's death. For some, they think Billy deserved to die. Other fans think his sacrificial death was enough to redeem his character and thus was sad because his character could have been so much better.
Benny Hammond
Stranger Things kicked off its pilot episode with Benny Hammond's unnecessary death which should have been a sign to fans that no one is safe. While not a lot was known about Benny's character aside from the fact that he was the owner of the local diner, he made quite an impression on fans when he took El and kept her safe after she stumbled into his kitchen looking for food.
His death came at the hands of a Hawkins Lab employee who was searching for El. Benny didn't even have time to process what was going on before he was shot dead. To make matters worse, the Department of Energy framed his death as a suicide and left his body in the diner for several hours before the police are called.
Chrissy Cunningham
Chrissy Cunningham is one of the first new characters introduced in Season 4, volume 1 and was the first of Vecna's victims which helped establish the tone and mystery of season four. After having terrible visions of Vecna chasing her, Chrissy seeks out Eddie, so she can buy drugs to hopefully stop the nightmares. While Eddie searches for what she needs in his apartment, Chrissy is summoned by Vecna and is grotesquely murdered in Eddie's trailer as he watches helplessly.
While Chrissy's death was sad because fans didn't get enough time to spend with her character, it's even sadder because it propels Eddie's storyline into motion as the entire town thinks he killed Chrissy in some satanic ritual.
Alexei
Alexei joined the cast of Stranger Things in season 3 when the entire Russian plot was introduced into the world of the show. As a Russian scientist, Alexie was one of the main people working underground Starcourt Mall in an attempt to open the gate to the Upside Down. However, he's quickly kidnapped by Joyce and Hopper and held captive until he tells them what exactly the Russians are doing in Hawkins.
Over the season, Alexie proves to be a comedic, slurpie-loving character who primarily communicates through Murray since he doesn't speak English. He ends up showing remorse for what he's being forced to do only to be shot dead at the Fourth of July carnival when he's finally having fun. Though his death didn't have a major effect on the plot, many fans mourned the goofy character and found his death unnecessary.
Barbara Holland
Barb was one of the Demogorgon's first main casualties in season one, and her death not only haunts fans but also her best friend Nancy Wheeler. She meets her end while sitting alone by Steve Harrington's pool in the middle of the night, waiting for Nancy to finish with Steve, so they can get home. Unbeknownst to her, the Demogorgon is stalking her in the woods and quickly snatches her, dragging her into the Upside Down to feast.
Barb's death was terrifying because no one knew what had gotten her yet. It's also sad because she died while trying to be a good friend although Nancy told her to leave and go home. The effects of her death lingered for the next four seasons as Nancy dealt with grief and guilt.
The Hawkins Lab Children
One of the most graphic and unnerving deaths of Stranger Things is the massacre that happens at Hawkins Lab in season 4. Nearly every child in the Lab is shown with broken limbs and bleeding eyes at the hands of Vecna. In fact, the scene was so graphic that Stranger Things added a warning to the episode that featured the attack.
While it's true some of the children in the facility were bullies toward El, many fans agree that they didn't deserve to die such a gruesome death. That's especially true for the younger patients who didn't even interact with El or Vecna. However, it's the realness of seeing bloody, dead children inside a school-like facility that truly makes this death so tragic because it feels the most real.
Bob Newby
Stranger Things made killing off fan-favorite new characters a tradition in season 2 when they introduced Bob Newby in the first episode. Since he was dating Joyce, Bob quickly got wrapped up in the Upside Down. When they get stuck in the Lab with demodogs on the loose and no power, Bob attempts to be the hero since he's the only one who knows how to reboot the system - thanks to his love of technology. Bob nearly makes it home safely but stops to catch his breath to be attacked by a demodog right in front of Joyce.
Bob's death was one of the first Stranger Things character deaths that truly annoyed and saddened fans because it was entirely unavoidable. Had Bob kept running he would have made it out safely. Instead, Bob died and became the superhero he always wanted to be but left a gaping hole in the hearts of fans and Joyce.
Max Mayfield
Max Mayfield's death is the hardest to rank because the season 4 finale left her fate very much up in the air. After effectively running from Vecna the entire season, he gets his hands on her and begins to break her limbs as he suspends her in the air. While Max briefly comes to in Lucas's arms, it's revealed that her heart stopped for an entire minute before El revived her to a coma-like state.
While Max could still make a recovery, she did die for an entire minute which turned fans into sobbing messes. Not only is her death sad because she survived so much, only to die right when she began to open up about her nightmares to heal her inner wounds, but it's also heartbreaking to watch Lucas clutch her body in his arms while screaming for help.
Eddie Munson
Of all the fan-favorite characters who have been introduced in Stranger Things, only to die in the same season, Eddie Munson's death is the most tragic. Determined not to be cowardly anymore and run from danger, Eddie chooses to stay in the Upside Down and take on the demobats by himself to buy Steve, Nancy, and Robin more time. While he holds them off for a bit, the bats eventually get the upper hand attacking Eddie until he bleeds to death.
He eventually succumbs to his demobat injuries in the arms of Dustin. Before passing, he shares his final words to Dustin to take over and watch out for the Hellfire Club. Like Bob, Eddie's death was entirely avoidable had he followed Dustin to safety. But, in the end, the year 1986 was his year, and he died a hero, making it the most impactful death in the series by far. Sadly, many fans also feel he died in vain since Hawkins still thinks he was behind the murders.