There’s no denying that the death of Billy Stranger Things was one of the most dramatic moments of Stranger Things 3. After making a name for himself as a bully in season 2, the Dacre Montgomery character gets a redemption arc in season 3. However, he also becomes an unwilling host for the Mind Flayer and the season ends with him sacrificing himself to save Eleven.
As a result, people guessed that Billy would not appear in Stranger Things 4. However, the media spotted Dacre at the season 4 premiere. So fans began to wonder if Billy would return to the show in some capacity and now we have answers.
Is Billy in Stranger Things 4?
Yes! Dacre Montgomery does return as Billy in Stranger Things 4. However, he is not alive. At the start of season 4, we see that Max is sad and still mourning the death of her stepbrother. In the months since Billy’s passing, she has broken up with Lucas and pushed her friends away from her. It’s clear that, mentally, she’s in an emotionally fragile place.
As a result, Max becomes the perfect target for season 4’s new supernatural villain Vecna. Vecna lives in the Upside Down and he has the power to inhabit the minds of people. As they are struggling with their mental health. Not only that but he also kills his victims by eventually possessing them. For lifting them into the air and snapping their bodies apart limb by limb.
During the season, Max realises that Vecna has begun infiltrating her mind. As a result, she begins preparing for her death by writing letters to her loved ones, including Billy. Max then visits Billy’s grave in episode 4, ‘Dear Billy,’ and she reads her letter aloud to him. While speaking, Max cries and apologises to Billy for not saving him.
Everyone Who Was Flayed Died
As we learned early on in the season, all of the Flayed die when the Mind Flayer does. Billy was Patient Zero, so even if he hadn’t been stabbed through the abdomen. He would have been killed with the rest of the Flayed anyway. As CornholioRex pointed out on Reddit, Billy “ingested too many chemicals. So his blood was all flayer”. And indeed, by the time Billy stood up to the Mind Flayer in the Starcourt Mall. His body was hardly human anymore, which is why it’s good that they removed the small creature from El’s leg before things got too bad.
He Got His Redemption Story
“[N]o one is just bad,” Montgomery told Bustle. “There’s always a reason, right? And in this season, the ending is fantastic in the same way. Billy is humanised and redemption is very evident. And that was a nice arc for me to go dark.”
But while the Billy Stranger thing may have killed a hero, he’s no Bob Newby. As many fans pointed out on Reddit, saving El didn’t cancel out Billy’s aggressive, violent, and mean-spirited behaviour. It’s nice that he was able to redeem himself a bit in the end. Also, it’s fitting to leave things there.
Also read: The Last of Us season 2 release date, trailer and plot at HBO
