Stranger Things' Worst Death Trend Is Finally Broken In Season 4

Warning: SPOILERS for Stranger Things season 4, volume 1!

Stranger Things season 4 finally ended the show's worst death trend, at least through volume 1. Season 4 of the Netflix hit series comes almost three years after season 3's release on July 4th, 2019. Rather than release all episodes at once, the streamer decided to drop episodes 1-7 for volume 1 on May 27th and episodes 8-9 for volume 2, set for July 1st. In total, Stranger Things season 4 will span over 13 hours, which is risky considering the immense threats the characters continue to face.

Before Stranger Things season 4 was even released, the series confirmed that Jim Hopper survived what looked to be his demise in the previous installment. This reiterated that the show was still willing to shock viewers when it came to character fates, even if that meant taking big risks. Granted, Stranger Things season 4's villain, Vecna, is unlike any antagonist the characters have faced. Though the Demogorgon, Mind Flayer, and other Upside Down monsters were dangerous adversaries, Vecna can kill his victims without being in their direct presence. Season 4 has already proven to be much darker and gorier than previous seasons, and unfortunately, there's still time for the victim list to grow.

That said, Stranger Things season 4, volume 1 has broken a bad death trend by not restricting the newest victims to characters whose first names start with a "B." In Stranger Things season 1, there was Barb Holland, the Demogorgon's very first victim. The next season was Bob Newby, the dorky but lovable boyfriend of Joyce, who died during the mission to save Will. Then there was Billy Hargrove, a secondary antagonist in Stranger Things season 3, who, after becoming a host for the Mind Flayer, sacrificed himself to stop the monster from killing Eleven. Based on the major deaths in season 4 thus far, the "B" trend seems to have ended for good.

How Vecna's Victims In Stranger Things 4 Break A Death Trend

Not counting the Hawkins Lab massacre victims seen in flashbacks, the first major death in Stranger Things season 4 is Chrissy Cunningham, a cheerleader who becomes Vecna's first victim. After investigating her death alongside Nancy Wheeler, Hawkins High newspaper reporter, Fred Benson, emerges as Vecna's second cursed victim. Thankfully, Max Mayfield narrowly escapes being the next one killed, but Vecna doesn't stop with her. The dark entity kills basketball player Patrick McKinney next, proving that there's no real pattern or trend in existence any longer.

Hopefully, the Stranger Things death trend doesn't shift to "B" last names to account for Fred Benson. If that's the case, Robin Buckley, Murray Bauman, and the entire Byers family could also be in danger. That said, Stranger Things season 4 hasn't seen a major character death through the first volume, and it's unlikely all members of the core characters will make it out alive, whether it be a death at the hands of Vecna, the Russians, or "The Nina Project." The lack of a trend and no more major "B" characters makes it hard to predict who will meet their demise. Max has already escaped death this season, and it's uncertain if Nancy will also survive Vecna's curse. But, in all honesty, any character seems to be fair game to kill off at this point of the series, as predictability and trends have been traded for shock and surprises.

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