Stranger Things Season 5's Mind-Blowing Promise Takes the Show to New Horizons

Summary

Will Byers will have a key role in Stranger Things season 5, tying the whole series together and exploring his sexuality and growth as a young man.

Will, who had played a central role in past seasons, has unfortunately been marginalized and lacked character development, with his significance only becoming apparent towards the end. However, his link to the Upside Down and the Mind Flayer renders him vital in preventing the crossover and locating Vecna, which may ultimately result in his unfortunate fate in the last season.

Despite the anticipation for Stranger Things season 5, details about the story and characters have been gradually unveiled. For instance, it has been revealed that Will Byers will play a significant role in the final season, which exacerbates the disappointment regarding his previous lackluster portrayals. Season 3 left viewers on a cliffhanger and the subsequent two-part fourth season, released in 2022, provided more insight into the Upside Down and resolved some of season 3's greatest mysteries, including the fate of Jim Hopper and Eleven's loss of powers.

In season 4, the young characters of Stranger Things underwent transformative experiences that tested their strong relationships. These changes included Lucas joining the basketball team and Mike visiting Will and Eleven in California. While Will had a lesser presence in season 4, with much focus on Eleven and Vecna, it was revealed that Will is gay and has romantic feelings for Mike. Additionally, the season concluded with Will sensing the return of the Mind Flayer, setting the stage for an expanded role in season 5, which has now been confirmed. Consequently, the shortcomings in Will's portrayal in previous seasons become even more glaring.

If Will Byers Is Key To Stranger Things Season 5, Past Seasons Should've Used Him More

In a recent interview with Variety, Matt Duffer, the creator of Stranger Things, revealed that Will's character will play a crucial role in season 5, ultimately serving as the linchpin for the entire series. Duffer further explained that the upcoming season will not only explore Will's sexuality, but will also depict his journey from adolescence to young adulthood. In previous seasons, Will's character primarily highlighted the growth of other characters, remaining relatively stagnant himself. This fear of change and reluctance to mature can be attributed to the traumas he endured in the earlier seasons. Unfortunately, Will's importance and development were not fully realized until now, despite his pivotal contributions to the initiation and progression of the plot. Noah Schnapp's exceptional performances in the series have been overshadowed by his character's marginalization, with the exception of season 2. The belated recognition of Will's significance and the utilization of Schnapp's talent in the final season only exacerbate the writers' previous neglect of the character.

How Will Stranger Things Season 5 Use Will Byers To Tie Everything Together?

As mentioned before, the finale of Stranger Things season 4 hinted that Will still maintains a connection to the Upside Down and the Mind Flayer. He experienced a tingling sensation on the back of his neck as the Upside Down began to invade the human world. Will, along with Eleven, is the only character who directly ties to the Upside Down and survived days in that alternate dimension. With the Upside Down now crossing into the human realm, Will could play a crucial role in preventing this from happening or even tracking Vecna, who is believed to be still alive.

Although Eleven is also human, she underwent intense experimentation, whereas Will is an ordinary child who was unfortunate enough to be kidnapped and taken to the Upside Down, resulting in an involuntary connection to the Mind Flayer. Will, therefore, could potentially unite all parties involved in the conflict: Eleven, the Hawkins crew (including the adults), Hawkins Lab, and the Upside Down. Regrettably, Will's increased involvement in Stranger Things season 5 only adds to the speculation that he may meet his demise in this final season. However, it is important to note that at this point, no character is guaranteed to survive.