Season 4 of Stranger Things has some memorable scenes. One of them comes in episode 8, when Will (Noah Schnapp) and Mike (Finn Wolfhard) exchange a few words in Argyle’s (Eduardo Franco) van. A very touching scene shows young Byers encouraging his best friend while hiding his true feelings from her.
Although not explicitly stated in the show, Will’s sexual orientation is one of the unanswered questions, at least for now. However, this sequence semi-affirms the love the hero has for his childhood friend. Under the sympathetic gaze of his brother Jonathan (Charlie Heaton), Willy is unable to express his feelings, causing him deep sadness and many tears.
While the moment upset many viewers, others criticized the creators for not fully embracing their character King.
“The Duffer brothers say they will discuss Will’s sexuality in Season 4. In the end, he doesn’t even come out and talk about his feelings. It’s a terrible thing to do and lie. He deserves better.“
However, the way in which the Duffer brothers perceive this issue is much more realistic than one might think. It is important to remember that the series takes place in 1986. At that time, it was even more difficult for a person – even more so for a 15-year-old – to reveal his homosexuality.
The showrunners are ignorant of all the issues and prejudices of the period, choosing subtlety over verbal revelations. They also highlight Will’s evolution as Jonathan. The plain-looking elder comes across as a commanding character and is sensitive to his little brother’s questions.
Will (Noah Schnapp) and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) in “Stranger Things” episode 9.
In the next episode, the last of season 4, the two Bayer brothers find themselves in the kitchen of a pizzeria. Isolated, they hold back with self-confidence. Jonathan uses an old anecdote to open up the topic. “You asked for my help more often. You used to come and talk to him, but you don’t do that anymore“, he admits. The pole set up by Jonathan is obvious, but Will still finds it difficult to speak.
Matt and Ross Duffer confirmed in a recent interview that the fifth and final season Stranger Things will focus on Will. There is no doubt that the creators will be able to further explore the character’s search for identity.
Stranger Things Available on Netflix.
Source: allocine
Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.
