Stranger Things is Netflix’s flagship supernatural saga, and the show has never shied away from featuring emotional complexity through monsters and mayhem. Amidst all the horror and coming-of-age drama, there’s also some poolside flirtation and almost-sinful connection between Billy and Karen.
The steamy tension between the town’s troubled bad boy and Hawkins’ glossy-haired suburban mom caused a lot of buzz. But while there was undeniable chemistry, the potential of their affair was cut short, and turns out, it was a bit different than planned! So, let’s dive into the journeys of these two characters and the dynamic they shared.
Billy Hargrove and Karen Wheeler in Stranger Things
Billy Hargrove, played by Dacre Montgomery, wasn’t just a heartthrob with the swimmers, but also one of Stranger Things’ most layered and controversial characters. He was introduced in season 2, and we knew him as Max’s violent and unhinged stepbrother. Billy embodied the school bully trope, plus he was racist, aggressive, and unpredictable.
But as we peel back the layers, things aren’t so simple because his brutal behavior can be traced back to the trauma he endured due to his abusive father. The glimpses into his past turn him from a one-dimensional villain to a deeply tragic figure who ultimately sacrificed himself.
Cara Buono’s Karen, on the other hand, was Hawkins’ poster mom who was more concerned with casseroles than conspiracies. She seemed to be dissatisfied with a deep sense of longing and was tempted by Billy’s flirtatious remarks. But then her arc shifted towards exploring themes of personal agency and desire.
The Stranger Things Billy and Karen scene that never happened
The chemistry between Billy Hargrove and Karen Wheeler lit up the screen, especially during the infamous poolside scene. It featured Karen, lounging with her fellow Hawkins moms, as she catches Billy’s eye when he struts in as the new lifeguard. He offers to give her private swimming lessons, and the tension only escalates as the two set a date to meet at a motel.
But here’s the twist: the scene was never meant to end the way it did. Originally, the Duffer Brothers had decided that Karen would not go through the affair after she sees her husband in the living room, but that wasn’t enough. Cara Buono felt the need for a deeper reason to back out, and she explained the same while speaking to Glamour.
When we inch toward each other at the pool and things become more intimate, it was a real line to toe because it’s still a family show.
She asked the showrunners to include Karen’s youngest daughter, Holly, asleep in her father’s lap, and that one detail simply changed everything. It suddenly reminded the character of her role not just as a wife, but as a mother, and so she walks away from the motel room fantasy.
I immediately said to them, ‘You have to put Holly in there.’ If not, it might give her pause. But to see Ted with their daughter, it’s like, ‘That’s my family
This slight change depicted how family can be a person’s quiet strength. Where one can choose safety over excitement, and integrity over an affair. The actress gave Karen the depth and dignity she deserved, reminding us that the scariest and most transformative choices aren’t supernatural, they are personal.
You can now watch Stranger Things on Netflix (USA).
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