Sorry, Vecna Fans: Billie is Stranger Things' Greatest Villain Still
When Stranger Things Season 4 introduced Vecna, he was portrayed as the greatest villain the show had had so far – and for many he still is. However, many Redditors would argue that Billy (Dacre Montgomery) is/was a much greater villain than Vecna. Let's see why.
Billy arrived on the Stranger Things set in Season 2 as the 17-year-old, California-raised stepbrother of Max Mayfield. From his first introduction, he was seen to mistreat his younger stepsister, and he was a bully in general.
By Season 3, Billy became possessed by the Mind Flayer but, unlike others who had succumbed to possession, he became almost superhuman while being possessed.
When it came to Billy dragging Eleven to the Mind Flayer, she managed to tap into the little humanity he had left by talking to him about who he was before his mother left and before he was raised alone by an abusive father. This meant that Billy sacrificed himself to save Eleven and his departing words were an apology to Max.
Why was he a great villain according to Reddit?
First things first, Dacre Montgomery is a fantastic actor. According to Redditors, he managed to be charismatic despite being a baddie. Also, his complex backstory allowed viewers to sympathize with him.
His bullying tendencies are very much down to being raised in an abusive household by a bigoted father. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, as they say. Despite being this obvious bullying and bigoted villain, he's also portrayed as a tragic abuse victim that has, unfortunately, continued the cycle of abuse due to a lack of positive parental support.
The role of his character in the show
Billy's character in Stranger Things meant that the audience could see how relationships and friendships can affect how a person responds to a situation. His character enriches the series as he is a contrast – and a warning – as he has gone through something that others have but hasn't been 'saved.' However, his self-sacrifice also shows that no matter who you are and what you've done, redemption is still an option. His death, therefore, is compelling, dramatic, and somewhat poignant.
Are Redditors right? Is Billy the greatest villain?
A villain and antagonist, he certainly is. The greatest? Perhaps. Billy's presence in Stranger Things gave us a lot of emotional and significant moments in the series, particularly concerning Max. Unlike Vecna, he's certainly a villain you can get behind to some degree. It shows him as being conflicted, flawed as well as interesting. And, as many Redditors have pointed out, you can like his character and his role in the series without liking him as a person. Billy's character makes us question: who would he have been if he'd had an Uncle Wayne like Eddie?