Jacks!

but the second a character shows signs of mental illness that aren't romanticized by the media they're suddenly 'poorly written' with 'bad development'

both like rock music/metal heads, and use music as a form of escapism. both have big permed hair. both style themselves in layers of denim and leather. both live in the poorer end of town/trailer park. both don't fit in with the norm (metalhead newbie vs d&d nerd). both have had awful childhoods/home lives. both have a necklace they wear throughout that means something to them. both have a strange opposing friendship with steve.

both end up being used as a pawn by the upside down (billy, as a vessel, turned from a town bully into a monster by the upside down, and eddie framed for the murders the upside down has caused).

both sacrificed themselves for the group.

eddie was innocent of the upside down murders in season 4. billy was guilty of being a bully but innocent of the upside down actions of season 3.

billy sacrificed himself out of pain. he had nothing for him in the real world. he had become a monster, and had hurt everyone around him, so he sacrificed himself as a way of attempting to atone. eddie sacrificed himself out of pain. he had nothing for him in the real world, as the town saw him as a monster. and he blamed himself for running, so he sacrificed himself as a way to prove that he didn't always run.

We have one more day till the show airs, and people have been spamming that tag with constant negativity. So much bad faith takes over a children's cartoon, y'all. Praying for more normal people to start posting once the actual show airs cause those peeps are exhausting.