He wasn't exactly a hero. Most of the time, he was a total nightmare. When we first meet Billy Hargrove in Season 2, he's the quintessential 80s antagonist, complete with a denim jacket, a cigarette dangling from his lip, and a Camaro that sounds like a thunderstorm. But if you’re looking into the story of Stranger Things Max brother, you know it’s way more complicated than just a guy being a jerk to his younger sister. Billy is one of the most polarizing characters in the entire Netflix series because he shifted from a grounded, human villain to a literal monster, before eventually finding a shred of redemption that still has fans arguing today.
Billy didn't choose Hawkins. He was dragged there from California. That move is basically the catalyst for everything that goes wrong for him. Dacre Montgomery, the actor who brought Billy to life, has talked extensively in interviews about how he viewed the character as someone fueled by a deep-seated insecurity and a history of abuse. It wasn't just "angst." It was a cycle of violence passed down from his father, Neil Hargrove.
The Brutal Reality of Billy Hargrove as Max's Brother
The relationship between Max and Billy is toxic. There’s no other way to put it. From the second they appear on screen, the tension is thick enough to cut with a Kate Bush record. Billy treats Max more like a burden than a sibling. He blames her for their move to Indiana, and he uses his physical size and erratic temper to keep her in a constant state of fear.
Why was he like this?
Context matters. We see a flashback in Season 3 that changes everything. Billy wasn't always a monster. He was a kid on a beach with his mom, happy and safe. When his mother left to escape Neil’s abuse, Billy was left behind with a man who used his fists to communicate. It’s a classic, tragic cycle. Billy takes the pain he receives from his father and redirects it toward Max. It doesn't excuse his racism toward Lucas or his borderline sociopathic behavior, but it explains the "why" behind the rage. He was a victim who became a victimizer.
Honestly, the show handles this with a surprising amount of nuance. Usually, TV bullies are just there to be obstacles. Billy was an obstacle, sure, but he was also a ticking time bomb. When he’s not revving his engine or lifting weights at the pool, he’s simmering. That simmer eventually boils over when the Mind Flayer picks him as its vessel.
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The Mind Flayer’s Perfect Puppet
Season 3 is where the story of Stranger Things Max brother takes a turn into pure body horror. The Mind Flayer didn't pick Billy by accident. It picked him because he was already broken. He was isolated. He had no real friends in Hawkins, and his relationship with his family was a wreck.
Being "flayed" is a gruesome process. Billy becomes the leader of the Flayed, kidnapping residents of Hawkins to be melted down into a giant, fleshy meat-monster. It’s disgusting. But through it all, Dacre Montgomery delivers a performance that reminds you there’s still a person trapped inside that shell. The scene in the sauna? Chilling. The way his voice cracks when he tells Max he's sorry, even while he's trying to kill her, shows the internal war he's losing.
Key Moments in Billy's Downfall:
- The car accident outside the steel mill that leads to his infection.
- The "Sauna Test" where Eleven realizes the Mind Flayer has a host.
- The terrifying speech Billy gives to El in the hospital, speaking with the collective voice of the Flayed.
- The final showdown at Starcourt Mall.
It’s easy to forget how much of a threat he actually was. He wasn't just some guy in a mask. He was a powerhouse. He nearly beat Steve Harrington to a pulp in Season 2, and by Season 3, with the Mind Flayer's strength, he was essentially an unstoppable force. Yet, the writers didn't let him stay a mindless drone.
Redemption or Just a Sacrifice?
The big debate among the Stranger Things fandom is whether Billy actually redeemed himself. In the finale of Season 3, Eleven uses the memories of his mother—that sunny day on the beach—to break through the Mind Flayer's control. It works. For a few seconds, Billy is Billy again.
He stands up. He stares down the beast. He protects Max and her friends.
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He dies a brutal death, being impaled multiple times by the creature he helped build. Is that redemption? Some people say no. They point out that one good act doesn't erase years of being a racist, abusive bully. Others argue that in the world of Hawkins, where the stakes are "the end of the world," giving your life to save the planet is the ultimate penance. Max’s reaction in Season 4 tells us which side she’s on. She’s devastated. Even though he was terrible to her, he was her brother. He was the only person who understood the mess of their domestic life.
The Haunting of Max Mayfield
If you thought Billy’s story ended at Starcourt, Season 4 proved you wrong. Stranger Things Max brother becomes the central theme of Max’s entire arc. She suffers from massive survivor's guilt. She wonders if she's a bad person because, deep down, a part of her was relieved he was gone.
Vecna preys on this.
The image of Billy—sometimes bloody, sometimes mocking—is what Vecna uses to break Max’s spirit. The scene at Billy’s grave is arguably one of the best in the entire series. It’s raw. Max reads a letter she wrote to him, admitting all the things she couldn't say when he was alive. It shows that grief isn't linear. You can hate someone and still miss them. You can be terrified of someone and still wish they were there to protect you.
Why Billy’s Character Works (Even If You Hate Him)
Most shows wouldn't take the risk of making a character this unlikable. Billy has almost no "save the cat" moments until the very end. He’s mean to El. He’s a jerk to Dustin. He’s a nightmare to Steve. But that’s what makes the writing so effective. He feels real. He feels like a person who actually grew up in a violent household in the 80s.
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Dacre Montgomery actually wrote a whole back-story for the character to help him understand the role. He didn't want Billy to be a caricature. He wanted him to be a person who was constantly on the edge of a breakdown. That intensity is what makes him so memorable. You can’t look away when he’s on screen, even if you’re rooting for someone to punch him in the face.
The Impact on the Larger Story
- Billy’s death is the reason Max withdraws from her friends, leading to the "Dear Billy" episode.
- His role as the Flayed showed the Mind Flayer's ability to corrupt humans, not just monsters.
- The Hargrove family dynamics highlighted the "human" monsters that exist outside of the Upside Down.
The show makes a point to show that while the Demogorgons are scary, people like Neil Hargrove are the real villains. Billy was a product of his environment. He was a monster made by another monster.
Moving Forward: The Legacy of the Hargroves
As we head into the final season, the shadow of Stranger Things Max brother still looms large. Max is in a coma. Her mind is a blank slate. If she wakes up, she still has to process the trauma of seeing her brother die twice—once in reality and once in her Vecna-induced nightmares.
Billy served a specific purpose. He was the bridge between the human drama and the supernatural horror. He proved that even the most "evil" people have a spark of humanity left, even if it’s buried under layers of trauma and Upside Down sludge.
For fans trying to piece together the full timeline, remember that Billy was only in the show for two seasons, but his presence is felt in almost every episode of the fourth. That's the sign of a well-written character. He wasn't just "Max's brother." He was the catalyst for her growth, her pain, and ultimately, her bravery.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Rewatch Season 3, Episode 6: Pay close attention to the cinematography during the "memory trip" Eleven takes into Billy’s mind. It provides the most factual evidence of his childhood trauma.
- Analyze Max’s Letter: Read the transcript of Max's letter at Billy's grave from Season 4. It's a masterclass in writing complex, conflicting emotions regarding sibling abuse and grief.
- Look for Parallelism: Watch how Billy’s aggression mirrors his father’s body language in Season 2. The Duffer Brothers were very intentional about showing how Billy "learned" his behavior.
- Explore Dacre Montgomery’s Interviews: Search for his "Beyond Stranger Things" segments where he discusses the psychological preparation for the role. It adds a lot of depth to the "villain" archetype.
The story of Billy Hargrove is finished, but the ripples of his life—and his death—are still moving through the town of Hawkins. Whether you see him as a redeemed hero or a tragic villain, there’s no denying he changed the show forever.