Vecna is one of the most celebrated characters among the ensemble inStranger Things, but the show’s best villain was in an earlier season.Stranger Thingsis one of the rare TV shows that not only benefits from iconic leads like Hopper and Eleven but also has an extensive cast of compelling supporting players. Between the show’s four seasons, there’s a plethora of well-defined, unforgettable characters, but only a select few that could be classified as villains. WithStranger Thingsseason 5on the way, now is the perfect time to discuss.
Stranger Thingsseason 4 is one of the most-viewed Netflix shows of all time, and there’s a reason why it was such a massive success with audiences. Season 4 expanded the fantastical world of the Duffer Brothers' series in a profound way, with thebackstory and ultimate conflict with Vecnabeing one of the most moving storylines in the entire saga, fusing much of the show’s narrative together. Jamie Campbell Bower was fantastic as Vecna, both as the human Henry Creel and the humanoid creaturealigned with the Upside Down.
Billy Is Stranger Things' Best Villain
Billy Hargrove Is Much More Human Than Vecna
Steve Harrington was the arrogant, popular high school kid ofStranger Thingsseason 1, but he turned out to have a heart of gold and became a beloved fan favorite. When actor Dacre Montgomery was brought onto the show in season 2 as Billy Hargrove, it seemed like it could tread much of the same ground.Billy’s abusive relationship with Max jumps out at the start, with him also proving to be a racist bully throughout his time. All of these negative qualities made him perfectly susceptible to the Mind Flayer.
While Henry Creel’s backstory demonstrates something of a sympathetic upbringing for Vecna, the quintessential difference with Billy is that we get to see the latter as an everyday human functioning in society before the darker turn.We see Billy for all his faults, and he truly has a terrible streak of actions that could make audiences hate himon their own. However,Stranger Thingschallenges the audience to sympathize with Billy, revealing his trauma and the upbringing that shaped him into the young man he was becoming.
Unlike Vecna, whose character is inherently evil,Billy isn’t just a senseless, emotionless monster; he’s a real person. Both types of characters work as compelling villains, but Dacre Montgomery’s performance allowed Billy to demonstrate shades of humanity, showing that he had the potential to be good. This makes his acts of unpredictable anger and villainy all the more powerful.
Billy Being Such A Great Villain Is What Makes His Redemption So Complicated After His Death
It’s Still Hard To Process Billy’s Impact On The Show
To take Billy Hargrove and then have him manipulated and ultimately destroyed by a horrific creature is devastating in a way. Sure, he was awful, but he was also just a kid. That doesn’t excuse his actions, butStranger Thingsmakes a point to suggest that he could have changed; that he could have been a better man. Instead of growing up and having that opportunity, however, he died young, and what audiences and the characters in the show were left with were his horrible actions.
Max is left to grieve for a brother who committed such morally varied actions, and it’s impossible to understand how to feel in that situation.
Billy redeemed himself by sacrificing himselffor the others, complicating Max’s feelings after his death. Hate is a complicated emotion, but it’s even more difficult when someone dies, as those poignant emotions become unresolved. Max is left to grieve for a brother who committed such morally varied actions, and it’s impossible to understand how to feel in that situation. Likewise,audiences are left to form their own opinions on his life and whether there was actually hope for him. Neither opinion is correct, either, which adds to the beauty of his character, providing him a unique legacy inStranger Things.
Dacre Montgomery Gave One Of The Best Performances In All Of Stranger Things
In two seasons,Dacre Montgomery gave one of the strongest acting stints we’ve had inStranger Things. This is a show with legends like Winona Ryder, Matthew Modine, and Sean Astin, and yet young stars like Montgomery constantly find ways to flourish. Honestly, I’m shocked that the 30-year-old Australian actor hasn’t found more success following hisStranger Thingsstint. His two main blockbuster roles since have been thePower Rangersreboot film and a supporting role inElvis, but there was a moment where it seemed like he could have been one of the biggest stars in the world.
With actors like Sadie Sink, Millie Bobby Brown, and Joseph Quinn launching movie star careers from this TV show, Dacre Montgomery’s outstanding performance should have gotten him a little more mileage. He’sone of the few younger characters who isn’t primarily limited to comedic relief, and he was also allowed to play with some of the darkest material the series has had.Stranger Thingshas its dark moments, but it’s a lighter-toned show all around. Montgomery got to play with some of the most complex writing the Duffer Brothers have delivered.
