Stranger Things’ David Harbour Explains Why Season 2’s Saddest Death Had to Happen

Stranger Things star David Harbour opened up about Season 2's most tragic death and why it was necessary.

Speaking to Variety, Harbour explained why he needed to know the show's ending ahead of time, saying, "I think that I needed to know as we were shooting early on, because I needed to know where he ends up and for what reason he ends up there. I think there is going to be somewhat of a morality — or at least responsible storytelling — to what the Duffers are doing." This led into a discussion surrounding one of Stranger Things' most devastating losses, Bob Newby. As Harbour explained, "There's a reason in Season 2 why Bob dies. He's too innocent. You can't go up to that monster and say, like, 'Get away from me, get away!' You just can't be that person in this world. That person dies. So I think there's a responsibility in terms of how Hopper ends up that I'm eager for people to see, and I had to know that going in so I knew where to arc it."

Premiering on Netflix in 2016, Stranger Things introduced audiences to the small town of Hawkins, Indiana and the dark truths hiding within the mystery of young Will Byers's disappearance, which became the catalyst for a sprawling supernatural saga. Before long, fans of the series were embroiled in a world of telepathic preteens, government conspiracies and a dangerous alternate reality named the "Upside Down." Stranger Things Season 4 is set to follow the rest of the cast after they have broken up in the wake of Hopper's apparent death during the prior season's finale.

Bob Newby is portrayed by Sean Astin during Stranger Things' second and third seasons, albeit only in flashbacks during the latter. A fan-favorite character, Bob lost his life to a swarm of monstrous Demodogs from the Upside Down during the Season 2 episode "The Mind Flayer." Harbour's character, Jim Hopper, watched Bob die alongside Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder).

When asked about which characters might actually survive Stranger Things' eventual ending, Harbour replied, "I think it varies from person to person, from character to character, and I'm such a harassment specialist that I think I’ve gotten it out of them. It's been back and forth about like, 'What happens to Hopper? Is he a character that's able to survive Hawkins or does he die?" Harbour added, "I know what happens and it's quite moving, and quite beautiful." Fans have already been given a glimpse of what to expect in the upcoming season courtesy of Netflix's official Twitter account, which posted the first eight minutes of the premiere episode on May 20.

Stranger Things Season 4 Volume One premieres on Netflix on May 27, followed by Volume Two on July 1.

Source: Variety