Stranger Things fans think these two emotional scenes confirm Will Byers’ sexuality
Fans of Netflix’s Stranger Things believe the show has now confirmed Will Byers’ sexuality after two emotional scenes in the fourth series.
The show’s fans have long speculated that Will (played by Noah Schnapp) might be gay due to his close friendship with Mike (Finn Wolfhard). However, a scene in which he bears his heart to his friends in a car has seemingly confirmed his sexuality.
In the scene, Will and Mike are driving around looking for Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), and Mike confesses to Will his fears that Eleven may not love him anymore.
Attempting to comfort him, Will claims Mike makes her feel “better for being different”.
“When you’re different, sometimes you feel like a mistake. But you make her feel like she’s not a mistake at all. Like she’s better for being different and that gives her the courage to fight on,” he said.
In the following episode, Will’s older brother Johnathan (Charlie Heaton) tells him that he loves and accepts him, and “there is nothing in this world, absolutely nothing, that will ever change that”.
Although Will never explicitly “comes out”, fans believe these heartfelt scenes may mean that the writers have intended Will’s character to be seen as gay.
One fan wrote on Twitter: “I think the way they handled Will’s storyline was so perfect. Will doesn’t have to say ‘I am gay’ because there is NO other way to interpret his scenes other than that.
“That scene in the car told us exactly how Will felt about him and how he feels about himself.”
🤘LET THE SHOW BEGIN. VOL 2 IS NOW STREAMING 🤘 pic.twitter.com/QDO89bnNay
— Stranger Things (@Stranger_Things) July 1, 2022
Despite rumours surrounding Will’s sexuality, the cast of Stranger Things have fended off speculation, with Brown stating in a previous interview: “It’s 2022 and we don’t have to label things.”
Executive producer and director Shawn Levy has said that there “aren’t many accidents” on the show, suggesting that these moments have been deliberate.
Brown, however, said in an interview with Variety that it’s “OK not to know” when it comes to sexuality.
“I think what’s really nice about Will’s character is that he’s just a human being going through his own personal demons and issues,” she said.
“So many kids out there don’t know, and that’s OK. That’s OK not to know, and that’s OK not to label things.
“It’s such an amazing role for Noah to play… and to be that role model for kids out there who don’t know what they’re going through growing up.”
Stranger Things series four was split into two parts, with Volume 1 out on 27 May and Volume 2 released on Friday (1 July).