Overview of Deaths in Stranger Things Volume 2
Stranger Things Volume 2, released in October 2017, expands the Upside Down threat and raises the death count beyond the first season. This verified character breakdown lists who is confirmed dead by the end of the volume, who is absent but alive, and which demises are directly shown. Key confirmed fatalities include Barb Holland, Ben Hawthorne, Chrissy Cunningham, and several unnamed victims tied to Hawkins Lab’s experiments. Below, we organize the casualties by context to serve as a durable reference for how the season reshapes the town’s stakes.
Characters Confirmed Dead in Volume 2
- Barb Holland — Friends with Nancy and Jonathan; dies off-screen in the Upside Down after being trapped while escaping a tunnel. Her death is confirmed when her body is not found and her family reports her missing.
- Ben Hawthorne — Lab technician killed by a Mind Flayer-controlled soldier in a brief but pivotal scene at Hawkins Lab.
- Chrissy Cunningham — Popular student who encounters the Mind Flayer’s shadow virus; dies in an alley after a public breakdown, shown on-screen.
- Unnamed Hawkins Lab Personnel — Several scientists and security guards are killed by the Mind Flayer’s creatures or in containment breaches.
Screen-Time and Narrative Weight of Key Deaths
| Character | On-Screen Death | Narrative Purpose | Verified Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barb Holland | No (off-screen) | Demonstrates the Upside Down’s indifference and isolates Nancy emotionally | Confirmed missing; no body recovered; treated as deceased |
| Ben Hawthorne | Yes | Shows immediate danger within Hawkins Lab | Direct victim of Mind Flayer assimilation attempt |
| Chrissy Cunningham | Yes | Illustrates the virus targeting popular, socially connected teens | Public, visible death; triggers town panic |
| Lab Staff (multiple) | Mixed | Raises stakes inside the facility and emphasizes institutional risk | Referenced and shown in fragments; part of broader casualties |
Missing or Ambiguous Fates in Volume 2
Some characters are unaccounted for by the end of Volume 2 but are not shown dead. Notable examples include supporting figures whose absence creates tension without confirmed death. Clarifying these cases helps avoid confusion about later-season reveals. Treat the following as missing rather than deceased until further evidence appears.
- Jim Hopper — Falls into a crevasse; status unknown through Volume 2, not confirmed dead until season 3.
- Joyce Byers — Departs Hawkins; missing at season’s end but not deceased.
- Will Byers — Recovering at home; alive and central to ongoing mysteries.
How Volume 2 Expands the Death Toll for the Series
Volume 2 raises the baseline body count from the first season and introduces civilian casualties, making the Upside Down threat feel more pervasive. Barb’s off-screen death adds emotional heft for Nancy’s arc, while Chrissy’s on-screen death brings horror into everyday life. Ben’s death underscores the lab’s cruelty and experimentation. These losses narrow the survivor network and justify the season’s darker tone, setting up future sacrifices and confrontations.
Key Takeaways: Who Is Gone for Good After Volume 2
- Confirmed on-screen deaths: Ben and Chrissy.
- Confirmed off-screen/missing treated as deceased: Barb.
- Lab casualties: multiple unnamed staff, reflecting institutional collapse.
- Major adult leads remain alive, though missing or in peril (Hopper, Joyce).
Why These Deaths Matter to the Larger Story
The casualties in Volume 2 shift the group from wary locals to a targeted community. Each death serves a function: Barb’s absence pushes Nancy into independent action; Chrissy’s death broadens the horror beyond the core teens; Ben’s death signals that no institution in Hawkins is safe. This raises the cost of resistance and prepares viewers for higher stakes in Volumes 3 and 4.
Common Misconceptions About Deaths in Volume 2
Fans sometimes conflate disappearances with deaths, especially for minor characters. Hopper and Joyce are easy points of confusion, as both are missing early in Volume 3 but not dead. Similarly, some assume additional unnamed townspeople die on-screen, but confirmed fatalities remain limited to those clearly shown or explicitly stated as deceased by authorities.
Conclusion
In Stranger Things Volume 2, the core confirmed deaths are Barb Holland, Ben Hawthorne, and Chrissy Cunningham, with several unnamed lab personnel also lost. These losses define the season’s tone, narrow the survivor circle, and escalate the mystery around the Upside Down. By separating confirmed on-screen deaths from missing persons and later returns, viewers can better appreciate how each casualty advances the overarching narrative.