Warning: This article contains spoilers from Netflix’s “Stranger Things” season three.
It turns out Sean Astin wasn’t finished with “Stranger Things” after all.
In the brand new season, that debuted Thursday, the “Goonies” alum’s fan-favourite character Bob Newby returns twice in the first three episodes.
Astin’s Newby was a huge part of the second season of the hit ’80s-based thriller season as the sweet love interest for Joyce (Winona Ryder) and a new father figure for her sons Will (Noah Schnapp) and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton).
In the first episode of season three, while Joyce watches “Cheers”, alone, Newby appears beside her. After throwing his arm around her they laugh along to the sitcom on the TV.
As fans of the series might remember, Newby died during season two protecting Joyce and Will from a demodog.
But in episode three of the new season, Newby appears again. This time when Joyce and Hopper (David Harbour) return to the place beloved Bob was killed. And while walking through a dark room, Joyce sees his death happen over and over again.
Back in 2017, when Astin learned about his characters death, he believed it was over for good.
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“The Duffers [Matt and Ross] and [director] Shawn Levy were so insistent that you have no idea how much people are going to like Bob. I’ve been around a long time, and I’ve done a lot of things, and sometimes things hit when you don’t realize it and sometimes things you think are going to hit don’t,” he told Variety. “The positive response to Bob has been heartwarming for me, but it also kind of forced me to think about what it was that they liked so much. And what I’ve kind of appreciated way more after watching the response is how much people want and need for there to be nice, decent people in the world. And that a stepfather or a wannabe stepdad who can come into your life and may be a little bit awkward but just wants to make it work — there’s no hesitation from Bob. Bob isn’t questioning where the relationship is going. Bob is all in.”
“Stranger Things 3” is now streaming on Netflix.
