Bob Newby (Sean Astin) is one of the kindest characters on Netflix’sStranger Things, and his season 2 death is heartbreaking. While many people come and go in Hawkins, Indiana, there was something special about Bob. He is immediately endearing and takes an interest in Joyce Byers’s (Winona Ryder) kids Will (Noah Schnapp) and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton).
Like several other minor characters onStranger Things, Bob only appears in one season and yet makes a great impression. His season 2 death scene is emotional and scary, and since Bob is a likable character, it would be tough to watch him die no matter what happened. But the particular way that he is killed proves that living in Hawkins is a dangerous idea, which sets up the next few seasons where the stakes are even higher.
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What Happened To Bob On Stranger Things?
Bob dies in season 2 when Will is being looked into at Hawkins National Lab, one of the most interestingStranger Thingsfilming locations. Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard), Jim Hopper (David Harbour), and Joyce go with Will. This is an important storyline as it becomes clear that Will has a special tie to The Mind Flayer and the Hive Mind. This will come into play throughout the next few seasons as Will and his friends discover even more dangers in Hawkins.
Bobdies aStranger Thingshero’s deathwhen the lab’s power goes out and everything shuts down. Since he works at Radio Shack, he knows a lot about technology, and he tries to use his knowledge to help everyone around him. But when Bob goes to the basement, Demodogs lunge for him and kill him. It happens incredibly fast and is a pretty violent and brutal way to go.
One of thememorable monsters inStranger Things, the Demodogs are lethal and terrifying. It was a smart move to have one of them kill Bob, despite how sad the moment is. Even though Dustin Henderson (Gaten Matarazzo) thinks that one of them is adorable and could even be a pet, he learns pretty quickly that this isn’t the case. The scared and innocent look on Bob’s face as he realizes what is about to happen is unforgettable.
Why Bob Was Such A Popular Character
Joyce and Hopper are a favorite couple among fans, and it’s hard to picture her ending up with anyone else whenStranger Thingsends with season 5. But it was still sweet watching Joyce and Bob start a relationship in season 2. After dealing with the sadness and fear of Will’s season 1 disappearance, Joyce needs a comforting presence in her life. Bob offers her love and support at a time in her life when it really matters.
While it’s likely that something would have broken up Joyce and Bob if Bob hadn’t died, their relationship is still sweet and memorable. They have a nice, uncomplicated bond. Joyce and Bob’s relationship is a compelling contrast to Joyce and Hopper’s. While Joyce and Bob are able to enjoy a fairly calm domestic life, with quiet evenings at home, Joyce and Hopper never get that opportunity. There are always too many terrifying things happening.
Bob is also a popular character thanks to Sean Astin’s performance. After starring inThe Gooniesas a child and appearing in countless movies and TV shows, Astin is known as a lovable actor who is always a friendly face. He was definitely the right actor to play this character. The entireStranger Thingscast is great, including Astin.
What Did The Stranger Things Writers Say About Bob’s Death?
According toDigital Spy, theStranger Thingswriters tweeted about how Bob could have died: “Crazy sh*t that almost happened #1: In season 2, a possessed Will was going to kill Bob.”
This is fascinating to hear about, and it was the right move to have Bob die as a hero.Bob’s death is similar to Eddie Munson’s(Joseph Quinn) as they both want to have an important purpose. They read the writing on the wall and know that there’s no way for them to survive. But they know that they can make sure that their friends make it.
In a 2017 interview withVariety, Sean Astin explained that he could tell that Bob would die. He said that the Duffers Brothers wouldn’t give him an answer when he would inquire about what would happen to the character in the future. Astin said that he knows Bob is a kind person: “A lot of people online were thinking that Bob was going to be a spy for the government. But for me, there was never any doubt that Bob was just 100% pure, through and through.”
