Stranger Things
Barbara Holland became an insistent fan favourite inStranger affair , but her death was hide in a bit of arguing . The character get laid as " Barb " was played by Shannon Purser in the debut season of the Netflix series . As Nancy Wheeler ’s ( Natalia Dyer ) good friend , she was throw into the most popular societal circle atHawkins High Schooldespite her more low - primal personality . Unfortunately , her trueness to Nancy result in her disappearance and demise , forcing fans to exact DoJ for the character .
Barb was concerned about Nancy ’s emerging popularity , especially when it make out to her budding relationship with Steve Harrington ( Joe Keery ) . Not require to hurt the friendship , Barb match to advert a political party at Steve ’s house . She wound up offend her hand while attempt to shotgun a beer . While Barb was off tending to her wounding , nobody seemed to care about her wellbeing . Even the ordinarily loyal Nancy brush her off by say her to go home . Instead , the Demogorgon targeted Barbas she sat alone by the Harringtons ' pool .
Related : Stranger Things 4 Repeated S3 ’s Tragic Ending ( & That ’s capital For Max )
The teenager was dragged into the Upside Down and apace kill by the beast . Nancy later spent time searching for her friend until the verity about her death was excavate . Seeing as Barb served as a symbol of innocence , viewing audience were upset about her sudden death . A " Justice for Barb " movement came together after the role was killed , and seemingly forget by the town by the terminal ofStranger Thingsseason 1 . Though the outcry was justifiable , some fans thought it got out of hand , and a few even hold Barb an overrated theatrical role .
The “Justice For Barb” Movement Split Stranger Things Fans
Those who press for justice when it came to Barb argue that she was only used as a game machine to further Nancy ’s arc . Seeing as Barb was already in Nancy ’s shadow as the stereotypical nerdy friend , looker thought it did a disservice to the lineament . On the other hand , another section of viewers believed thatthe " Justice for Barb " movement was insultingand view Barb as a boring , minor character who did n’t add much to the bigger picture . The thrust to bring Purser back or clue at her selection made the discussion even more controversial .
Purser injure up gaining an Emmy nomination for her short stint as Barb . Despite her death early on in the series , Stranger Thingsseason 2 seemed to stop the contestation by giving Barb justice without pose too much focus on her , specifically . Nancy carried the guiltiness of Barb ’s death , wedge her to take action at law . She successfully made Hawkins Lab publically take obligation for Barb ’s death as a way to give the Holland family resolution . It seems likeStranger Thingshas a riding habit of presenting lovable innocent characters and then kill them off . Bob Newby ( Sean Astin)went through a similar arc before his tragical end , but his demise did n’t trigger off much of a fan military campaign .
How Stranger Things 4 Finally Gave Justice To Barb
standardized to the direction Nancy ’s guilty conscience is handled duringStranger Thingsseason 2 over Barb ’s death , Stranger Thingsseason 4 provides another moment of justification for the character . InStranger Thingsseason 4 , Nancy is transported into the Upside Down and has a run - in with the season ’s main antagonist , Vecna . In this scene he tortures Nancy over Barb ’s demise , forcing her to look at her acquaintance ’s decay body and asking her if she has already forgotten that she left Barb all alone to exit a painful demise . This callback was more than fan Robert William Service ( although # JusticeForBarb exponent would no doubt agree with the sentiment):Stranger Thingsseason 4 justified Barb ’s deathby progress to it matter more , picture that Nancy still is stalk by the tragical incident and that Barb is far from forget .
Related : Every Stranger Things Season 5 Reveal From The Duffer Brother
Barb ’s abbreviated return also make real stake justly beforeStranger Things ' first ever mid - time of year fracture , leaving Nancy trapped in Vecna ’s mind and the audience pin down in an agonizing calendar month ’s wait to happen out whether she escaped . While Barb ’s funeral in time of year 2 did provide some closing for Barb in the town ’s long - sought acknowledgment of her existence and death , Stranger Thingswas right to drive home the point once again that Barb ’s acrid destruction deserved more attention than it initially get . The Duffer brothers let viewers recognize that even though Barb is go , she ’s still affect the tale , and season 4 emphasize that her death was n’t in vain .
