Stranger Things’ Darkest Death Was Nearly Twice as Horrifying

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Over its four seasons, the show has seen many characters meet their end. People in Hawkins, Indiana have been victims of monsters from another dimension, and those working at the Hawkins National Laboratory and in Russia have faced even greater dangers – both from the creatures and from the experiments they were involved with. While these characters weren’t always central to the main story, the show’s strong writing and talented actors made us care deeply about them. Deaths like those of Barbara Holland and Eddie Munson were particularly upsetting, but Bob Newby, played by Sean Astin, stands out as one of the most shocking and painful to watch.

Bob Newby was introduced in Season 2 of Stranger Things as Joyce Byers’ kindhearted, though somewhat awkward, boyfriend. While he remained unaware of the supernatural dangers facing Will and the town for much of the season, viewers quickly liked him for being a genuinely good person who cared deeply for Joyce and her sons. This made his death in the episode “Chapter Eight: The Mind Flayer” – where he was tragically killed by demodogs – particularly upsetting. The scene was so graphic that the show’s creators, the Duffer brothers, shared in an interview with Time Magazine that even their mother thought it was too intense. Interestingly, they also revealed that Bob’s original fate in earlier drafts of the script was even more gruesome.

Bob Newby’s Original Fate Was More Disturbing Than His Canonical Death

As a huge Stranger Things fan, I was shocked when Bob died, but the Duffer brothers recently shared something even more unsettling! Apparently, they always planned to kill him off, but originally it was supposed to happen way earlier – in Episode 3! They admitted early drafts of the character were a bit rough around the edges, even a little annoying, and they thought killing him off quickly might not have had the same impact. But here’s the really wild part: the initial plan had him dying while under the Mind Flayer’s control. As terrible as his actual death was, that sounds even worse! Even though this earlier version of Bob might not have been quite as lovable as the one we got, he still seemed like a genuinely good guy who didn’t deserve such a fate. Honestly, knowing how quickly fans connected with characters like Benny Hammond and Chrissy Cunningham, I think he still could have become a fan favorite, even with less screen time.

Even for a show as dark as Stranger Things, having a child—even one possessed—directly kill an innocent person felt like a step too far. The series has previously shown children committing violent acts, like Eleven killing the lab agents, but those characters were clearly villains who deserved their fate. Similarly, Season 4 showed a young Vecna committing violent acts, establishing him as the show’s antagonist and justifying his eventual defeat. However, Will and Bob were genuinely good people. Given everything Will had already endured by Season 2, forcing him to kill someone kind would have been devastating to his character and potentially alienated viewers. While Will may have indirectly caused deaths while possessed, a direct act of murder would have had a profoundly negative impact on how audiences perceived him.

Sean Astin Prolonged Bob’s Life in Stranger Things

The Duffer brothers originally planned for Bob to die much earlier, but Sean Astin’s performance was so good they kept delaying it. They ended up letting his character live for most of the season, which allowed the audience to really connect with him and see how much he cared for Joyce and her family. This also gave him a chance to be a hero when he helped everyone escape the lab. Because of this, his death was much more heartbreaking for both the characters and viewers than it would have been otherwise. It was especially sad because Bob had just started a new relationship and was still being so kind and supportive. He truly acted like a hero by volunteering to restore power, making his final moments even more painful to watch.

Let’s talk about Bob’s death in Stranger Things. The Duffer brothers actually changed how it went down, and I think it was a smart move. Originally, Will was going to be the one directly responsible, but they worried about how fans would react. You see, even when Will was under the Mind Flayer’s control, he wasn’t a complete puppet – he fought back, trying to warn everyone. If that had been the case with Bob’s death, it would’ve raised a lot of questions. Would Will have been able to resist the Mind Flayer? Would he have blamed himself? Honestly, considering everything Will’s already been through, especially at such a young age, it felt like piling on. I can easily imagine a segment of the fanbase being really upset with Will, while those sympathetic to him would’ve found the whole situation unnecessarily harsh. Ultimately, changing it to a direct attack on Bob, rather than by Will, felt like the right call for the character and the story.

Stranger Things Finds New Ways to Keep Bob Alive

Though Bob Newby died in Season 2 of Stranger Things, the show continues to honor his memory. We see Joyce still grieving him at the start of Season 3, which affects her relationship with Hopper and eventually leads her to follow through with Bob’s idea to leave Hawkins. The comic book series, Stranger Things: The Tomb of Ybwen, featured Will solving a final puzzle left by Bob while coping with his death. More recently, a prequel play explored Bob’s past, showing him as a classmate of Joyce and Hopper in 1959 as they investigated strange events. The play also revealed details about Bob’s family, including his father and sister, Patty. While fans don’t need to see the play to understand Season 5, the creators have confirmed there will be connections between the two. Given Patty’s significant role in the play, it’s possible the final season will revisit Bob and the impact of his death on those who knew him.

Thankfully for fans, Bob Newby’s fate wasn’t as grim as initially planned. Sean Astin brought a lovable, quirky quality to the character, making him a fan favorite throughout the season. While the original idea was to kill him off much earlier, his death at the hands of a possessed child might have been even more upsetting than his actual demise involving the Demodogs. Though heartbreaking, Bob’s death felt manageable for the characters and viewers. Had Will been responsible, the consequences would have been far more intense and complicated. Ultimately, Bob’s death, though undeserved, served a purpose: he died a hero, inspiring others to defeat the Mind Flayer. His sacrifice resonated with both the characters and the audience, and continues to be remembered.

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2025-11-06 01:37