One of the show’s favourite villain is not returning in Stranger Things Season 5: Here’s what we know

Since Stranger Things Season 5 is coming to its concluding chapter. The audience is getting ready for a thrilling and emotional conclusion. However, one thing is for sure: Billy Hargrove, the villainous character from the show, will never return. Since his tragic and heroic death at the close of Season 3, there have been stories about him returning, particularly following his ghostly visit in Season 4. However, loyal fans who are hoping for Dacre Montgomery's return will be left in dismay.

In Stranger Things Season 5, danger becomes darker, and the tone of the entire story is more in-your-face than ever. Billy's storyline on the series is over. Actor Dacre Montgomery has now come forward to say he wouldn't be returning, closing down most of the bulk rumors about whether and when Billy would return to the series. According to ScreenRant, he said,

"Guys, you haven't had the bandwidth to make this project." So, that's my most exciting thing… Secondly, I'm not in the last season, unfortunately… Thirdly, Max, I want to digress from your point into going towards Sadie as an actress. And I just think she's such a talented actress that's had some amazing opportunities over the last few years."

Let's break down what has been confirmed and why his exit is important.

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Billy's death was final and intentional

Billy Hargrove's Season 3 demise was not accidental but rather a dramatic plot device. He killed himself to protect Eleven and the rest from the Mind Flayer at Starcourt Mall. It was his redemption after being established as violent and unhinged earlier. This way, his arc had closed the loop emotionally and thematically.

Given the show's trend of leaving a door open for some characters to come back (as they did with Hopper), everyone kept their fingers crossed about Billy returning. Stranger Things Season 5 will likely be based on current issues only. Billy's death was made final, gory-appearing, and emotionally fulfilling, and that's a good indicator that his story did actually conclude in Season 3.

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His Season 4 Episode was not a return

Perhaps some of the confusion regarding Billy's return is caused by his stopover during Season 4, when Max has a terrifying vision of seeing her brother. That was a symbolic scene, though, and was taken as a device to develop the baggage of Max. That was not Billy's physical return to the show. Interestingly, the sole appearance of Dacre Montgomery was in this single scene, and it was not followed by a new development for Billy's character.

As Stranger Things Season 5 will address how Max is a hero now and the attack by Vecna, there is a possibility that Billy can be resuscitated, but there is no suggestion that Dacre Montgomery has shot or will be shooting any form of new material for the last season.

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What to expect from Stranger Things Season 5

Hawkins is in ruins, Vecna is still a threat, and the emotional and physical strain on the group is mounting. The narrative will probably delve into open character arcs rather than continue from closed ones, particularly those already resolved.

While Billy's influence, especially on Max, remains most important, it will be done internally from her struggle instead of by means of some amount of direct participation on the part of the character himself. With all these loose ends to be tied up for the series' finale episode, there simply isn't the space creatively to bring in a return of a character like Billy in Stranger Things season 5.

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What Billy's absence means for the final Season

Billy's absence from Season 5 of Stranger Things concludes a character who, at one point, shook up the group dynamic within Hawkins and left a messy legacy. His dynamic with Max will still impact her story, particularly after she has endured some sort of trauma. But the emotional impact of that dynamic will be seen in how Max heals and grows, and not through Billy showing up.

The fans will be let down, but from a narrative perspective, his arc was brought to an end in a meaningful and irreversible way. As the show is building towards an emotional finale through a string of setup seasons, it is left with only the characters necessary for the resolution of the central conflict.

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The verdict is cut and dry: Billy Hargrove will not return on Stranger Things Season 5. Dacre Montgomery's own confirmation, lack of production teasers, and storyline development of the last season all verify his never-coming-back status. His redemption and demise in Season 3 were a full circle, and the flash vision of Season 4 was the final visual flashback of his character.

As fans prepare to welcome the third and last season of the popular series, they are in for an abundance of drama, tension, and emotional closure, but not with Billy around. Stranger Things Season 5 is underway, but this time without one of its most divisive and iconic villains.

Also read: Stranger Things: What to remember from seasons 1-4 before watching the final chapter