The Saddest and Most Impactful Deaths in Stranger Things, Ranked

Summary

• Each death in Stranger Things deeply impacts the characters, adding complexity and emotional depth to the storyline.
• The tragic fates of characters like Max, Benny, and Eddie contribute to the show’s gripping and reflective nature.
• The losses of beloved characters like Alexei and Bob serve as stark reminders of the dangers present in the TV show.

Stranger Things is one of the most famous and impactful series of recent times, captivating a legion of fans with its ’80s revival and pop culture references. Surrounded by mystery and loaded with drama, the show introduced several villains who left chaos in their wake, including deaths that moved viewers with each occurrence.

These losses aren’t merely narrative devices; they truly affect the surviving characters on a profound level, shaping their emotional development in an intense, devastating way. Each loss adds a layer of complexity to the story, with consequences that linger across seasons, making the TV Show even more gripping and reflective for fans.

Honorable Mention: Max Mayfield Has One of the Saddest Deaths in Stranger Things, But It’s Still Unconfirmed

Max has some of the most emotional, high-risk scenes in the fourth season of Stranger Things. Traumatized after witnessing her brother Billy’s death, her guilt places her in Vecna’s sights. Attacked more than once, she’s saved by her friends, but her last confrontation leads to a devastating fate in one of the TV Show’s saddest moments, leaving her future uncertain in the fifth season.

As one of the show’s best characters, Max fights the villain with courage and sacrifice, while grappling with trauma, loss, and guilt to survive and protect her friends. Gravely injured and nearly dead, she’s saved by Eleven but falls into a coma. The impact of her loss directly affects the storyline, which ends on a dark note in a world that’s almost overtaken by Vecna.

10

The Other Numbers

The Other Experiments Stand No Chance When Confronted By The Power Of The Villain Vecna

Project MKUltra is an experiment led by Dr. Brenner at the Hawkins National Laboratory, aiming to develop children’s psychic abilities through inhumane tests. After meeting Henry Creel, Dr. Brenner tried to replicate his powers in other children, forcing them to take experimental drugs and endure harsh training sessions – causing traumas exemplified by Eleven, the show’s protagonist.

When Eleven frees One, who turned out to be Vecna (and, before that, Henry), he attacks scientists and test subjects but fails to do the same to Eleven. She sees the bodies of the Other Numbers scattered around the lab and witnesses Two’s death. Though the group appears briefly, their demise is visceral, reflecting what was done to Eleven, who manages to trap Vecna.

9

Benny Hammond

Benny Is Eleven’s First Glimpse Of Humanity Before His Sudden Death

In a short appearance in the first season, Benny runs a diner where Eleven seeks refuge. Kindness, surprising to the protagonist, leads him to offer her food and assistance, hoping to find out who she is. Concerned about her condition, he calls social services, which results in his tragic death.

His demise reveals the threat the lab poses, marking only the beginning of a mystery-laden, tense storyline. After the call, a woman posing as a social worker, an agent from the Hawkins National Laboratory, shoots Benny to keep the truth about Eleven hidden.

8

Chrissy Cunningham

Despite Her Brutal End, Chrissy Was Beloved By Fans During Her Brief Time On Screen

In one of the darkest moments of Stranger Things, Chrissy faces a grim death when Vecna attacks her. A popular student at Hawkins High School, she starts having horrifying visions of the villain, who preys on those with deep trauma. Meanwhile, she develops a bond with Eddie, making her end even more devastating.

Searching for something to ease her visions, she visits Eddie’s trailer, where Vecna attacks her in one of the most shocking scenes of the TV Show. In a trance, she confronts her worst fears while Eddie witnesses her body being gruesomely mutilated. This event shows the vastness of a new menace and kicks off the central mystery of the fourth season.

7

Alexei

A Fan-Favorite Character Meets A Tragic End On The Tv Show

The death of the Russian scientist Alexei was an unpleasant surprise in Stranger Things. Captured by Hopper and Joyce, he’s introduced as an antagonist because of his work on the secret Soviet Union project. The experiment, aiming to open a stable portal to the Upside Down, is exposed when he decides to cooperate. Over time, he becomes a charismatic and engaging presence.

Enjoying himself at the 4th of July Fun Fair, his sudden death occurs when Grigori arrives unexpectedly and shoots him. Dying in Murray’s arms, Alexei’s loss becomes more emotional because he was finally experiencing freedom and joy. Initially an enemy, he grew on fans, making his death even more painful.

6

Sam Owens

From Villain To Hero, This Scientist Strives To Undo Past Mistakes

Believed dead until the fourth season of the TV Show, Sam Owens is last seen chained in the observation room. During a military attack, the facility is destroyed, and anyone who escapes is eventually killed. With no further sightings of this scientist, it’s likely he died, unfortunate, considering his late development in the show.

As a high-ranking official at the Hawkins National Laboratory, he takes over as director after Brenner leaves. He shows concern for the events caused by the Upside Down and seeks to help the kids, especially Will, who was directly harmed. Seeing the effects on the town, he tries to correct and atone for past errors.

5

Martin Brenner

Martin And Eleven’s Paternal Relationship Leads To His Brutal End In Stranger Things

The director of the Hawkins National Laboratory, Martin is responsible for the Project MKUltra experiments. Introduced as one of Stranger Things’ main antagonists, he is killed after being shot in a clash with the military, who intended to flee with Eleven. His death marks the end of one of the show’s most manipulative and morally ambiguous figures, as well as the conclusion of his complex relationship with the protagonist.

During the fourth season, he helps Eleven regain her powers after her confrontation with The Mind Flayer. Throughout training, he acts controlling and authoritarian, though he shows worry for her well-being. Before dying, he asks for forgiveness and tries to justify his actions, but his final moment allows Eleven to break free, choosing not to forgive him.

4

Barbara Holland

Barb’s Death Was Traumatic For Both Characters And Fans

Considered one of the most unjust deaths among TV Shows, Barbara stands out as a memorable character in Stranger Things. Early in the plot, she vanishes mysteriously after being taken by the Demogorgon and dragged into the Upside Down while waiting for her friend, Nancy Wheeler, at Steve Harrington’s party.

Her death shook the series and viewers, leading to the #JusticeForBarb movement because her disappearance was initially overlooked. Once gone, her body is found by Eleven, who confirms her fate in an emotional, traumatic scene.

3

Bob Newby

Bob’s Death Was One Of The Most Striking Moments In Stranger Things’ Second Season

Bob shows up as Joyce Byers’ love interest, working with her at a RadioShack store. He’s kind, helpful, and smart – qualities that help unravel some mysteries that season. While trying to restart the power system at the Hawkins National Laboratory, he’s attacked and killed by Demodogs.

His demise is one of the show’s most shocking moments, especially since fans had come to appreciate him through his interactions with Joyce and the kids. In a tense, emotional scene, he’s killed by Demodogs after a chase, serving as a stark reminder of the dangers lurking in the TV Show.

2

Billy Mayfield

Billy Finds Redemption In A Tragic, Heartfelt End For Him In The TV Show

Near the close of Stranger Things’ third season, Billy dies in a stirring scene at the Starcourt Mall. During the season, he’s possessed by The Mind Flayer, a creature from the Upside Down. Under its control, he helps abduct people to further its plans, becoming one of the show’s antagonists.

Initially, Billy tries to kill Eleven by strangling her, but she accesses his memories, reminding him of his mother figure and briefly restoring his free will. In his moment of clarity, Billy sacrifices himself to save Eleven and everyone else, finding a tragic yet redemptive end.

1

Eddie Munson

One Of The Saddest And Most Memorable Deaths In Stranger Things

Eddie, a beloved figure in the fourth season of Stranger Things, meets a tragic fate in one of the TV Show’s most moving episodes. As the leader of the Hellfire Club, the high school Dungeons & Dragons group, he quickly became a fan favorite thanks to his charisma and love of music and Tabletop RPGs.

During a battle against Vecna and the demobats in the Upside Down, Eddie delivers one of the show’s most iconic scenes by sacrificing himself to protect his friends. His final moment with Dustin- his closest companion – shows him proud of no longer running from problems, capping off a brief yet unforgettable story arc.