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Nowadays it's all "Vecna this," "Hellfire Cub that." But I remember a time - as you do too, faithful reader - when there was one topic that reigned above them all in Stranger Things fandom: #JusticeForBarb. yes, Nancy's nerdy friend Barbara Holland was an early casualty of the Upside Down (spoilers? It came out in 2016), and it just seemed like the rest of the Hawkins gang just... didn't care. It was maybe the biggest point of frustration for the beginning days of Stranger Things fandom, and now, nearly a decade later, series creators the Duffer Brothers are going on record to say they were warned about just that happening.

The revelation comes out of a discussion Matt and Ross Duffer, who created Netflix's blockbuster sci-fi hit, had with TIME Magazine ahead of the final season airing. Long before the #JusticeForBarb moment starting trending on social media (giving Stranger Things its first viral moment, they argue), Netflix wanted to see more of Barb, eventually played by Shannon Purser.

"As we were turning in the scripts for season 1," said Ross, "The one note that we consistently got back was, like, ‘What about Barb? Is anyone thinking about Barb?’ And we’re like, ‘It’s a show about Will, and so much else going on.'"

"'So, well, what about Barb’s family?'" Matt chimed in, further explaining the Netflix notes the pair was getting "I’m like, ‘We just don’t have time. We don't have the bandwidth to start to introduce Barb's Mom and Dad.' But Netflix kept harrassing us about it."

Fast forward nine years from the moment Barb died in Stranger Things season 1, episode 3, and the Duffer brothers are willing to admit that, perhaps, they should've given the streamer's pleas more thought.

"Turns out they were right," aid Matt, "That maybe we should've included a bit more Barb. But that was part of the reason she became a phenomenon, was how little the town seemed to care about her, which is part of the point of that character."

"We neglected her," said Ross, "And as such Hawkins neglected her. And it made her that much more famous, so I think it all worked out at the end of the day."

But did it, Ross? Did it?

Stranger Things season 5, volume one debuts November 26 on Netflix, followed by volume 2 on December 25, and the ultimate finale of the series on December 31.  

As we all collectively wait for Stranger Things season 5, here's the keys to getting ready:

• How to watch Stranger Things in chronological or release order
• Getting to know the Stranger Things season 5 cast
• There needs to be more death in Stranger Things, says co-star Gaten Matarazzo
• The Stranger Things time jump between season 4 and 5 has been confirmed by Netflix - and it raises some serious questions
• "They land the plane," David Harbour describes the Stranger Things finale, which he calls its "best episode"