Even all these years later, Stranger Things fans can’t quit Barb.
Stranger Thingsrabid internet fandom leads to some fascinating places.
But oneStranger Thingscharacter from season 1 has had an uncommon staying power in the fandom.
Why is this benign, barely visible side character a vital part of the shows legacy?
How does her death still impact the remaining Hawkins residents all these years later?
To get to the bottom of these questions, one must look at Barbs life through multiple literary angles.
Barb is a human memento of Nancys potential.
While a flat character, Barb represents hope and morality in a world overrun by evil and morbidity.
She is an ingenious plot unit more than a character.
Forgetting about her would mean that Hawkins residents arent actually valued.
Hawkins is a beacon of human nature over horror.
Barb wont go away because that would mean the beloved Indiana settlement would cease to own its true meaning.