The universe of Stranger Things is not one in which you can take everyday logic for granted, which is why you'd be forgiven for wondering if we've really seen the last of Shannon Purser's fan favorite Barb. After all, Will Byers was presumed dead for most of Season One and still made it out of the Upside Down alive—why couldn't Barb do the same, having unexpectedly become a breakout character despite her untimely death midway through the season?
While the show's creators have promised "justice for Barb" in Season Two, it looks like an actual return from the grave is definitively off the table. During a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, executive producer Shawn Levy confirmed that Barb is really, really dead. "We are going to do things that fans will be disappointed in, but I think they will be more satisfied, " Levy said, offering Barb's fate as an example. "People still think Barb's alive, because you think you want that, but you wouldn't really want that. I've had some huge celebrities come up to me at awards show and be like 'Between us... Barb's coming back, right?'
"No!" Levy continued. "She had a creature... slug, worm, snake... coming out of her mouth. I don't know that there's a bounce back from that! We are not going to cravenly service the wish-list of fans, we're going to service the Duffer instincts, and what they feel is the right story to tell."
Which doesn't rule out Purser making a return in flashbacks. Just saying. Stranger Things will return for season two on October 31, so be sure and factor a solid nine hours of bingeing into your Halloween plans.
