Probably. But the weird thing was that he's supposed to be from California, though he is portrayed more like Joe Dirt than someone from California in the 80s (I grew up in Northern California during the 80s).

@Theother said:

Do any of you guys think that Billy is actually racist?

Definitely. The kiddyish tone of the show wouldn't allow for him to be blatant about it with slurs - it would probably turn off a lot of fans of the show, particularly parents, who would complain that it may encourage racism in the kids who watch it.

@styXXX said:

@Theother said:

Do any of you guys think that Billy is actually racist?

Definitely. The kiddyish tone of the show wouldn't allow for him to be blatant about it with slurs - it would probably turn off a lot of fans of the show, particularly parents, who would complain that it may encourage racism in the kids who watch it.

Well, they did have Troy call Lucas "midnight" in Season 1. Indeed, the term "midnight" is not considered as offensive as the infamous slur "n-gger". But it still shows that the show does not entirely shy away from offensive slurs.

Also the show heavily used words (especially in the early episodes of Season 1) that are considered homophobic today, such as "queer" and "f@ggot". But that was meant to show "values dissonace", as the concept of homosexuality was not well accepted back in the 1980s.

My guess is that Billy's not actually racist - his father is.. Maybe when he was younger he had a black friend and his Dad beat him up, so he's trying to protect Max and Lucas by scaring Lucas away from her? Just a guess, I have the feeling we're gonna get the back story on this misunderstood villain thing lol..His Dad seems like the real asshole

I was just about to say this.The dad kind of reminds me of the father in American Beauty. It would be way too obvious that Billy is a racist.

@mountaingirl said:

My guess is that Billy's not actually racist - his father is.. Maybe when he was younger he had a black friend and his Dad beat him up, so he's trying to protect Max and Lucas by scaring Lucas away from her? Just a guess, I have the feeling we're gonna get the back story on this misunderstood villain thing lol..His Dad seems like the real asshole

Actually, I had the same thought. But I just meant that the fact Lucas was black was the reason he didn't want Max hanging around him.

Also I didn't realize he'd be back for season 3, for a back story like that to unfold. Either way, I won't be watching this anymore.

@styXXX said:

Actually, I had the same thought. But I just meant that the fact Lucas was black was the reason he didn't want Max hanging around him.

Also I didn't realize he'd be back for season 3, for a back story like that to unfold. Either way, I won't be watching this anymore.

You're seriously going to boycott the show over this one character? Seems silly to me. Unless of course you don't like it in general.

The Duffer brothers said that the scene with his father was not an attempt to portray him as a basically nice guy being bullied by his old man. Some abused children grow up to be just as bad as their parents. Billy is one of those. They just wanted to show us where it came from. So for anyone expecting a redemption story - that's unlikely.

I actually don't see Billy as racist. I just imagine him as just a very controlling prick that wants to have complete dominance on Max's social life. In my head-canon, the reason why Billy targeted Lucas so much was because he was simply a friend that she made without his "approval". Racism might have been a factor, but I don't think it was the primary reason. Unfortunately, "unapproved" friends in Billy's eyes are just about any kid that dares to warm up to Max. In other words, he does not want her to have any friends whatsoever.

That's just my interpretation of Billy's behavior towards Lucas. Feel free to disagree with me.

@Theother said:

I actually don't see Billy as racist. I just imagine him as just a very controlling prick that wants to have complete dominance on Max's social life. In my head-canon, the reason why Billy targeted Lucas so much was because he was simply a friend that she made without his "approval". Racism might have been a factor, but I don't think it was the primary reason. Unfortunately, "unapproved" friends in Billy's eyes are just about any kid that dares to warm up to Max. In other words, he does not want her to have any friends whatsoever.

That's just my interpretation of Billy's behavior towards Lucas. Feel free to disagree with me.

His dad is a total dick who doesn't seem to vent his anger on his new wife or her daughter, instead taking it out on his son. That only increases Billy's resentment of them. Now he's been forced to move away from his life in California to this little nowhere town. A few times he grabbed Max by the arm so she couldn't leave while he was talking. Otherwise he doesn't beat on her. He gets his jollies by sabotaging her life (just as be blames her and her mother for doing to him). I think he'd prefer his stepsister have no friends, so that she'll be just as miserable in Hawkins as he is.

@chrisjdel said:

@styXXX said:

You're seriously going to boycott the show over this one character? Seems silly to me. Unless of course you don't like it in general.

No, i'm bailing because the show has gotten too lame and kiddy-like now. Season 1 started out with promise but got increasingly goofy.My gf (who hadn't seen it before) wanted to check out the show because people had told her it was good, so i gave it a second chance, hoping it would get better, but it got worse. Neither one of us will be watching season 3.

@styXXX said:

No, i'm bailing because the show has gotten too lame and kiddy-like now. Season 1 started out with promise but got increasingly goofy.My gf (who hadn't seen it before) wanted to check out the show because people had told her it was good, so i gave it a second chance, hoping it would get better, but it got worse. Neither one of us will be watching season 3.

Fair enough. Nothing appeals to everyone.

@styXXX said:

No, i'm bailing because the show has gotten too lame and kiddy-like now. Season 1 started out with promise but got increasingly goofy.My gf (who hadn't seen it before) wanted to check out the show because people had told her it was good, so i gave it a second chance, hoping it would get better, but it got worse. Neither one of us will be watching season 3.

If you find out that your gf watched Season 3 behind your back, will you break up with her? She probably secretly liked Season 2 but didn't speak up so she wouldn't incur your wrath.

@mountaingirl said:

My guess is that Billy's not actually racist - his father is.. Maybe when he was younger he had a black friend and his Dad beat him up, so he's trying to protect Max and Lucas by scaring Lucas away from her? Just a guess, I have the feeling we're gonna get the back story on this misunderstood villain thing lol..His Dad seems like the real asshole

Billy is such a jerk his Dad should beat him every night.

@Innovator said:

Probably. But the weird thing was that he's supposed to be from California, though he is portrayed more like Joe Dirt than someone from California in the 80s (I grew up in Northern California during the 80s).

Not every Californian is from LA. :) You get out of LA and most of California is no different than the Midwest or South --- as far as the "redneck/hillbilly" types go.

@tlm550 said:

@Innovator said:

Probably. But the weird thing was that he's supposed to be from California, though he is portrayed more like Joe Dirt than someone from California in the 80s (I grew up in Northern California during the 80s).

Not every Californian is from LA. :) You get out of LA and most of California is no different than the Midwest or South --- as far as the "redneck/hillbilly" types go.

I wouldn't say most. I've lived in both north and south California from Sacramento to LA, and been practically everywhere in it. I've only ever met one "redneck/hillbilly" type from California, and he was often made fun of when other Californians discovered that he's from Fresno.