Look, we were as sad as you when Barb ended up being trapped in the Upside Down world while little Will Byers escaped 'scot-free'.
Joking, we bet he's totally screwed in Season 2. The boy was throwing up mud-coloured goo into sink in the last episode, for crying out loud. He's doomed as doomed can be.
Besides, Barb was the queen of the show – the girl who rocked Eighties, Daria-esque, thick-rimmed glasses like a mega-nerd, who knew Steve Harrington had more in his quiff than between the ears, and was loyal to BFF Nancy until her untimely demise.
Barb was the Bambi of the hit show. And what did the show's creators do to this Bambi?
They went and shot the defenseless animal, didn't they?
(Okay, so there weren't any guns involved, more a weird underworld creature than trapped her in a topsy turvy, dust-filled world, but you get the drift.)
As a result, fans of the hit sci-fi show coined the phrase 'justice for barb' – a modern plea that gave hope to all the nerdy best friends out there than would rather open up a dictionary than a Bud Light by the pool.
However, as co-creator Matt Duffer told Variety: 'It was sad to lose her, but some people have to go.'
And, I suppose that's true.
If you think of all the great characters we've lost over the years from our favorite shows (*SPOILER ALERT*) – Game of Thrones' Ned Stark, Gus from Breaking Bad and Richard Gilmore from the Gilmore Girls – there's a reason the scriptwriters decide to write them off; to create drama, suspense and keep the viewers on the toes with the realisation that nothing is sacred.
Nothing is to be expected.
However, Netflix has just flipped that whole concept on it's head as it's rumored the streaming service has started working on technology that will one day soon allow viewers to decide the fate of their beloved television show characters.
According to the Daily Mail, the company is developing 'ways to give viewers control of key plot decisions' with their remote controls.
It gives the example of Orange Is The New Black viewers having the power to decide whether an inmate joined a gang or not and The Crown fans being allowed to decide whether Princess Margaret marries Peter Townsend.
A source told the publication: 'We're doing work on branch narratives so you are actually making choices as you watch. All the content will be there, and then people will have to get through it in different ways.
'We'll see how it plays out. It's an experiment. We'll see if it gets much success. For creators, it's new territory,' they added, revealing they'll first test-out the new technology on a choose-you-own-adventure show for children later this year, 'based on an established character'.
While some viewers might revel in the power to create their own Netflix storylines, we have a feeling the shows' actors might not be so partial to filming several plots during shooting.
After all, they might be out of a job if enough viewers want to kill-off their role.
However, Netflix president Reed Hastings thinks the ability to construct your own narratives is beneficial for all those involved.
'Once you have got interactivity you can try anything,' he told the Mail Online.
Look, we're all for Barb's justice, but do we really want her to come back in Stranger Things Season 2 and see her best-friend is a total nincompoop/Judas and is still dating Harrington?
Let's be honest, justice for Barb would be sending her a hoover and a damp cloth to spruce up the Upside Down world and a premium subscription to Spotify, so she doesn't have to listen to The Clash's 'Should I stay or should I go' on repeat.
Katie O'Malley is the Site Director on ELLE UK. On a daily basis you’ll find Katie managing all digital workflow, editing site, video and newsletter content, liaising with commercial and sales teams on new partnerships and deals (eg Nike, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc), implementing new digital strategies and compiling in-depth data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports. In addition to appearing on the radio and on TV, as well as interviewing everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Rishi Sunak PM, Katie enjoys writing about lifestyle, culture, wellness, fitness, fashion, and more.
