Stranger Things Season 3: What Does The Ending Really Mean?

4. Billy Is Gone, But He Died A Hero

While nobody in Hawkins had a particularly great summer, few had it quite as rough as Billy Hargrove. The moody lifeguard spent the whole season at the mercy of the Mind Flayer, doing its bidding and recruiting new meat for it to eventually feast upon - and he was nothing short of unstoppable as he did so.

That is, until a surprising last-minute heart-to-heart with Eleven changed everything, reminding him of the love he had for his mother, and ultimately forcing him to do the right thing and stand up to the beast from the Upside Down - a sacrifice that cost him his life.

Make no mistake about it, Billy was no angel during his run on the show. He was a vindictive bully that derived a troubling amount of pleasure from causing pain, but this sacrifice redeemed him in just about every way possible - righting the wrongs he had done to those who loved him and ultimately providing his arc with a fulfilling conclusion.

Dacre Montgomery's incredible performance made it even more bittersweet, because now we have to deal with the fact that Billy is gone for good.