It all began with Barb.
As “Stranger Things” approaches its conclusion after nearly ten years, the actress behind the show’s first significant death reflects on her journey. Shannon Purser, who is now 28, shared with the Post, “After Season 1 was released and the whole Barb movement started, I think some folks at Netflix wondered, ‘What if the Duffer brothers are interested in bringing me back?’”
Netflix’s beloved sci-fi series, created by Matt and Ross Duffer, debuted in 2016 and will wrap up with its fifth season, with Volume 1 premiering on November 26.
Set in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, “Stranger Things” follows a group of friends, including Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), Nancy (Natalia Dyer), Steve (Joe Keery), and Hopper (David Harbour), as they confront supernatural threats from a terrifying dimension known as “The Upside Down.”
With each season, the show has made bold choices, killing off characters like Billy (Dacre Montgomery), Bob (Sean Astin), and Eddie (Joseph Quinn).
But it all started with Barb, Purser’s first acting role, which garnered her an Emmy nomination.
“I was just 18 and in my senior year of high school,” Purser recalled. “It felt really surreal being part of this project, especially since at the time, nobody really knew what it would become. When it was announced, people started asking, ‘What were you doing before this?’ and I thought, ‘I told you it was cool!’”
In the series, Barb is Nancy’s friend who tragically gets left alone at a party and is ultimately attacked by the Demogorgon, the creature from “The Upside Down.”
Purser mentioned that she watched “a few seasons” of the show after her departure but didn’t manage to stay fully updated. Yet, she doesn’t hold Steve responsible for Barb’s demise. “I think it’s fascinating how all the characters have been developed. Steve is definitely one of my favorites—he really transformed into a hero throughout the series.”
Fans quickly rallied for justice for Barb following her death, launching the viral campaign #JusticeForBarb back in 2016.
Now with nearly a million followers on Instagram, Purser reminisced, “I remember watching the premiere and thinking how amazing it was. Overnight, my follower count skyrocketed. I mean, I used to have about 200 followers and then suddenly it exploded. It was like, whoa, having that many followers when you’re 18 is a big deal.” She also noted that some celebrities even tweeted about Barb.
For instance, John Stamos shared support online using the hashtag #ImWithBarb.
Purser expressed her surprise at the unexpected attention. “I was just excited to work professionally for the first time, especially alongside Winona Ryder. I honestly thought no one would care about my character since she only appeared in a handful of episodes.”
“It was definitely flattering” to see the support for Barb, she added. “I think I’m still processing it, but it seems like what I did resonated with people.”
There was some talk about her potentially returning after the first season, but the Duffer brothers decided against it, believing it was crucial for the story’s stakes. Purser admitted she understood their reasoning. “If everyone could survive every danger, then what’s the point of fear?” she said.
“Honestly, filming my death scene was such a blast. It was one of my best days on set.”
Purser mentioned there was a moment in Season 3 where they considered bringing her back for a flashback, though she remains unsure of how it would have been executed.
Despite not being part of the final season, she humorously reflected on her ‘corpse’ from Season 1, noting, “It’s my body, but not me. It’s strange knowing that my fake body is lying around somewhere in Atlanta.”
The fifth season of “Stranger Things” will include eight episodes, released in three volumes on Netflix on November 26, December 25, and December 31.
