Why WILL BYERS is the Key to STRANGER THINGS 5
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- Опубликовано: 8 июл 2022
- Stranger Things 4 set up the final confrontation between Eleven and Vecna...but it also hinted at how WILL BYERS is going to be the key character in the final season. His hidden secret, connection with Vecna...all of it is going to be key in season 5.
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Written by Adam Loyd
Hosted by Ryan Arey ( / ryanarey )
Edited by Sean Martin and Srinidhi Rao
Welcome back Screencrush. Stranger Things Season Four has just released season four-volume two, and before we dive into our theories, and speculations on where season five might be headed…there seems to be something that Vecna’s BFF Will Byers wants to get off his chest. [clip] [clip]
In today’s video, we’re going to make an assumption that has been widely adopted and accepted throughout the entire Hawkins fanbase. An assumption that is strongly hinted at on several different occasions. Towards the end, we’re even going to go out on a limb and make a prediction on how that assumption might be the key to closing that pesky upside-down door, forever.
Will Byers is gay.
And we love that. Good for you Will! But what some viewers might be confused about, is WHY Will has been struggling for years to bring himself the bit of peace that he deserves. I mean, come on, this kid has gone through it again…
First and foremost, it is not our job here at ScreenCrush to out certain characters. Especially a teenager. We are simply here to help certain viewers understand WHY this particular moment might be put on hold for the final season, and why Will Byers might be the one character in the series that encompasses the show's theme of fear and bravery. Shout out to our nerdy gay contributing writer Adam Loyd for the perspective.
Stranger Things is set in the 80s at the height of the Reagan/Bush AIDS Crisis. [broll]
This was a period of time in the United States when AIDS took the lives of thousands of homosexuals who seemingly had no help from their government or fellow citizens. In fact, in the 80’s/early 90’s being HIV positive or having AIDS in America meant that you were treated as an outcast. This has nothing to do with Will, just a reminder of the times the show is set in. This is the world that Will currently lives in.
Throughout the series, we have seen several 80’s easter eggs and newscasts that show us that Hawkins Indiana isn't the most friendly place. Even in this last season, we heard a newscast speculating that locals are even beginning to believe that their town is cursed. [clip]
All of that being said, men living out and proud in the mid to late 80s in Hawkins Indiana was probably not something Will ever saw or believed was possible. Also. we can't forget that even as a younger child, Will was shamed by his own douchebag father. [clip]
Coming out of the closet is a time in a queer person's life when the stakes couldn't be higher. They have no idea how the world will accept them - IF they'll accept them, and if the love of their friends and family will remain intact once they expose their true selves. Put all of this in the perspective of Will Byers, and the kid has a lot to lose. [clip]
Growing up with no example or guidance in the community you belong to can be HELLA lonely. Will does belong to a tight close-knit group of friends who have literally helped save his life and the world from an other-worldly demonic entity. To think that the thing hiding inside of him might drive a wedge between himself and the ones he loves the most is probably more terrifying than being chased by a six-legged mind flayer. [clip] 
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There are specific reasons why Will, not Eleven, should and will be the one to defeat the Vecna.
1) The entire plot is centered around him. His disappearance is the reason why Eleven got out of the lab in the first place and Henry Creel/Vecna/001 chose to abduct him for a reason that we'll eventually find out in season 5
2) It's heavily hinted that one of the reasons why Henry might've latched onto Will in an attempt to use him as his vessel is because of their similarities: both are described to be sensitive and both feel broken (homosexuality)
3) He survived the Upside Down world far longer than anyone who has ever been trapped there, including Eleven herself
4) He's the only character who has actually seen the Mind Flayer's true form, not the proxy version
5) He's also the only character who can sense the Vecna's presence
6) Mike makes an allusion to him having to save the day in a Stranger Things comic book
7) His role in Dungeons and Dragons is that of a cleric, making him some kind of a divine agent between the mortal world (Hawkins) and the distant plane (Upside Down). In addition, the role gives him the power to seal portals where demons come from (again, the Upside Down world)
8) It just makes for a poetic and beautiful conclusion for Will to end the story that started with him
nicely threaded, although as to point 1, I think we're seeing more and more a theme of group effort, rather than a single hero. Even El who has amazing powers can't do everything alone. Mike, when he got sense spoke to Will about 'working together', so while I think Will is going to play a much bigger role, thematically there will be an emphasis on support and solidarity and empathy. I also suspect that either Will or El will reach into Henry's mind and pull out a memory of his mother that will knock Henry off balance, similar to how El pulled a happy memory for Billy, that broke him out of this sadistic killing mode.
I think in the season 5 either vecna or vecna's spirit(if vecna died) will posses will since he's very connected to the upside down and then there will be Mike vs will at the end of the finale. At last will might get killed by Mike to save his other friends. Because if u see the previous season they didn't gave much importance to Mike and they used his as a side character in season 4. And if they let eleven and venca fight with their telekenasis power in the last battle then it won't be nice. So there should be a fight without magic powers that would be more emotional and good. So this is my theory.
@@Vignesh-xr7rf I think vecna will try to manipulate Will, but I don't think Will be Vecna's new body. He clearly spoke about making a new form for himself to go into, and we were shown him turning that flock of things into the Mindflayer, so I think in S5 the Mindflayer won't just be his servant, it will be his vessel.
The biggest threat to Vecna is this group working together. None of them on their own can take him out.
I think Vecna will try to forment a lot of conflicts between characters. Eg. I don't think El knows that in S1, Hopper did a deal with Brenner to give up El's location in return for Hopper and Joyce getting into the Upside Down to find Will.
He could also try cause a split with the whole Nancy, Johnathan and Steve triangle.
Agreed with absolutely everything you said.
Watch the writers do exactly opposite of this to make the ending more easily digestible
I’m so glad to hear anyone else say Will is actually the heart of the group. Mike is the inspiring paladin leader but he is definitely not the heart.
Edit: And for those saying Dustin is the heart: sure, he HAS heart, but when it comes to the group dynamic, he’s definitely the brains of this operation.
Literally what I thought. Will was all “Mike your the heart,” and I was like are you sure?!
right cuz everytime will said “mike your the heart” i cringed and was like “nah but ok buddy”
He told Mike what he did to inspire him, to make him feel better and to profess his love for him. Not like Will was trying to be right about anything. The kids in love w his straight best friend. Thats why he said what he said.
I KNOW I KEPT THINKING THAT IT'S WILL NOT MIKE!
I think he meant to him more so tbh bc mike was the person he’d call for help so will loves him for that best friend and as crush. Also fuvking knew Noah was lying about will being gay. They probably told him no then finally told him he’s gay so he wouldn’t snitch before the show began lol
Also let us not forget this seemingly random, but, I suspect, very important, revelation: The Upside Down is frozen on the date Will originally entered.
This HAS to come into play eventually.
Somehow, some way, Will influenced the very nature of the Upside Down.
They literally said that this fact will be the key plot next season
I thought the up side down was frozen on that day bc it’s when 11 made contact with the demogorgan and opened a gateway and basically copied Hawkins but Id like it if will might have something to do with it as well
Gateway between the 2 worlds
@@dwigton4233 Nancy specifically says it's the date Will went missing.
Did Nancy know what 11 did that day though? I can’t remember.
Someone said that Will acts like a horcrux, he still feels the presence of the upside down and Vecna as soon as he was in Hawkins
I definitely hope they do something with his character
I haven’t heard that theory before but oh gosh as soon as I read this it clicked. Will reacts to Vecna in the same way Harry reacts to Voldemort
I'm no DnD expert, but there's literally a precedent for this and DnD's version of Vecna. He's what's called a Lich, and Liches have the ability to store part of their soul in an external object which must be destroyed before they can be killed (they're called phylacteries). I can see them steering clear of this kind of story since it might come off like a Harry Potter ripoff, but given the lore they're working with it's entirely possible that Will could be a phylactery.
@@robbiesmith8055 that's exactly what I was thinking but couldn't remember the words (lich and phylactery), it describes perfectly what the situation is
@@ZrodyApo I'll understand if they want to distance themselves from such a Harry Pottery ending, but given the precedent in DnD lore I fully buy this theory.
I was actually wondering if other people would also pick up how similar this series is to Harry Potter:
- There is a war going on between powers with magical capabilities. Check.
- This war occurs covertly and underneath normal people's experience and only breaks out into the open in the penultimate book/film/season, when all gloves come off? Check.
- Main person does not feel ready to face the main adversary in the penultimate book/film/season, even though it's clear that only they can fight him and that they will have to grow in the last book/film/season? Check.
- A main character and the the main adversary are somehow connected and the can read each others thoughts and feelings? Check
- Somebody important dies in the penultimate book/film/season? Check, even if El gets her back.
So I would not be surprised if they bring horcruxes back. I just hope, they don't spent most of the last season camping, with the final battle happening only in the last episode...
I feel bad for Will. That scene in the car when he turns his head and starts crying, gets me emotional. I like Will.
Oh my god, I know! That scene was so good but so sad too.
Same
@@maryatwood1497 there’s a interview with hopper saying he’s not I don’t see how people keep thinking this🤦🏾♀️🤦🏾♀️🤦🏾♀️
I was literally shaking it was so painful. I relate with Will a lot.
@@maryatwood1497 Ummm No!
The people who are complaining about Will not coming out in season 4 obviously didn't live during the 80's.
That's probably most the viewing audience, captain obvious.
And they may be saving his coming out for the final season. People need to be patient. It wasn’t queerbaiting, it’s 100% clear Will’s in love with Mike.🤷🏽♀️
Oh, I so, so, so agree. Will is only 15. And it’s 1986.
I think people who are complaining about it are literally watching the show only just to see mike and will get together. because we all watched this video, and if they actually analyzed the show for what it is they would realize they might actually get that moment in order for him to defeat vecna and it’s incredibly frustrating.
and as someone who is queer myself and caught onto this in s2- i was actually extremely happy with what we got in s4, i wouldn’t ask the writers for anything more blatant unless they wanted to. i mean, he really did come out, it doesn’t have to involve saying the word ‘gay’, i think people are just being greedy.
I'm so glad you also saw the parallel between Will and the young Henry Creel and why Vecna targeted Will in Season 1. His own mother even called young Henry a "sensitive" child. Your theory could be right in what's in store for Will in Season 5.
Joyce tells hop when describing will in S1 she says he’s a sensitive boy just like victor describes Henry to Nancy and robin
They are and it’s gonna break us
We're days removed from a month of trash theories and nonstop fanfiction and you're right back to it? And enjoying it? Lol just enjoy the show. People, you're not going to guess the remaining plotlines, and it's not much of an achievement to have noticed something they... Intentionally showed us. Come on. Not a theory. You just... Saw the scene. Yeesh
@@dwigton4233 season 1 came before season 4, I can't believe the passage of time needs to be explained here.
You guys are grasping at minute nonsense and patting yourselves on the ass for making the connections the writers want you to make with their retcons. And yes, they are retcons. The show was obviously originally planned as a single-season show. This is all an afterthought -- a brilliant one, nonetheless. But none of these similar lines are "connections" that were buried there the whole time. The writers simply... Knew what happened in earlier seasons WHEN WRITING THIS ONE.
Guys come on. English class was good for a lot more than watching movies
@@davemccombs could it possibly be that the script written for S4 refferenced a line from season 1? Could maybe the writers be doing do intentionally? We're all just speculating, and it's not wrong to do so. Beyond that, it's not a far reach that both characters share many parallels and have a canonical link between them after one possessed the other.
Maybe in Season 5 Will and Robin will get a chance to talk.
That would be nice. I would love that for Will
I hope not. This is Stranger Things not Gayer Things.
I would love that
@@monk4ever 🤨
@@monk4ever you're overcompensating
Will is definitely the heart. Always has been. It's been frustrating to watch his character somewhat sidelined the last couple of seasons. I'm glad he will be critical to the final season. Noah is such a good actor, and it's time for him to shine.
I feel Will character is very similar to Harry Potter in a way with his connection to Vecna as Harry had connection to Voldemort. I think Vecna has left a part of himself inside Will which explains why Will knows he’s still alive. I feel they have to kill Will to defeat Vecna as they did when Harry sacrificed himself to Voldemort where in the long term helped in defeating the man himself
Please no I pray the don't kill off will 💔
Harry and Will also share the same childhood haircut
@@jjhurstinen 🤣🤣🤣
@@Fetltox95 Nah I don't think he was. What evidence of that is there?
@@Onslaught-rob13 I mean fair enough, there's no evidence to support him being gay. But where's the evidence he's straight either? Building up the theory that he and Will have something else in common because they're both gay is a bit of a reach, but with what little we know about him there's really no harm in headcanoning him to be literally anything.
I always wondered why Will was allowed to live when he was taken to the Upside Down. I mean, grown men used to fighting didn't stand a chance against Demigorgans (as we've seen time and again). Yet, tiny, defenseless Will Byers not only escaped, hesurvived quite some time without being eaten by Demigorgans or Demidogs. (This was before he was possessed, so that doesn't play into it.) It just seemed odd to me. Then, like you mentioned, in later season (2? sorry, 2 and 3 are blur) he said he didn't want to kill him, just everyone else. And he still has MindFlayer particles in him because he can feel Vecna and is connected to him/hive mind in some ways.
Could he have some sort of natural (undiscovered) power that Vecna realized? Is that how the Upside Down became Hawkins when he was taken? Or, because Vecna wanted to keep him, did Vecna reimagine the Upside Down to make Will more comfortable and keep his creatures away from him/from eating him? And if so, why? What does Vecna see in Will that makes him show any kindness (not killing him is kindness as he hates any humans). The only other time we've seen that is when he was grooming El to be his protege in recreating the world as he thought it should be.
I may go back and rewatch this season soon. Most especially the scenes between One and El in the lab, when One showed kindness. Yes, he was grooming her to be his protege, but he was almost kind. Because he saw something the same in them. Is that why he was semi-kind to Will, allowing him to live, even now? The Duffer Bros don't do many things by accident or know how to fuse seemingly random things into a running thread (the clock is a good one). So, is there something in those conversations that would explain the Will/Vecna connection that we haven't noticed yet, though it's right there?
I don't know how they will explain it all and can't wait to find out. Like most of the Scoop crew, Will is a beautiful and complex character from the very start with his child faith in his friends and his heart to protect and encourage others. He is stronger than he believes (anyone watching the chair tapping scene would know that immediately). And even being in love with his best friend, he is so selfless that he just wants Mike's happiness and encourages him to pursue it and even gives him hope and encouragement in pursuing El (in that heartbreaking scene in the van with the painting)--demonstrating the depths of true and unconditional love.
I believe they will create a very emotional season for Will and give him a chance to shine and show everyone his full self and heart. He has great love for all of them and I believe that their love for him will be what frees him from feeling like a mistake. Someone else said they hope that the crew accepts him as easily as Steve did Robin. I think most, if not all, will accept. I think they already know (like when Mike told him he couldn't help it if Will didn't like girls), but (especially in that time period) don't know how to give him the emotional support he needs. Maybe this is when they learn and Will will blossom into embracing his full self. (Someone else said having Robin on the team may come into play and I hope so. It would help both of them not feel so alone and as she is a little older, she could be there for him.)
I read someone's comment on a different video somewhere, and they were saying how they thought will survived through the use of music (like Max) by singing "Should I stay Or Should I Go" Seeming as he made that connection to his family (Brother) before he went missing.
It's definitely an interesting thing I hope too will be explained next season!
TL:DR
I agree with everything you said except your interpretation that Henry/1 was showing kindness to El ... he was gaslighting her and using her to his own advantage. Will survived either because of the should I stay or should I go music or because Vecna decided he could gaslight him and use him in the future. I expect Vecna in Season 5 to try and gaslight Will into turning on his family, friends and Hawkins and teaming with him and I think he might come close to succeeding but in the end Will will choose his family and friends over whatever Vecna tempts him with ... I think Jonathan might be the key reason for this because after what Jonathan told Will in Episode 9 I expect Jonathan to be the first person Will come out to and I'm pretty sure Jonathan will have a very loving and compassionate reaction.
Will better not die
I think Vecna was still recovering at the time Will was taken in the Upside down by the demogorgon so i don't know about his favorite song theory that is circulating around I think it was the mind flayer which was actively controlling the demogorgons and the vines from the very beginning. Yes it may have been under the control of Vecna at that time too but I think the mind flayer did most of the job till vecna became strong. The mind flayer probably let Will live to shape the upside down further, expand it with the help of his memories of Hawkins. Why did the mind flayer show this special interest in Will can be because of the many parallels drawn between Will and Henry. I really think Will's connection is not just with the creatures of the Upside Down its with the Dark dimension itself.
The Duffer brothers mentioned that Will’s coming of age will be his arc for s5 , for both supernatural and personal reasons. I think Will coming into his own and being comfortable and in tune with himself will play a big role in the overall plot.
I also believe he will be the next ¨heartthrob¨ of Hawkins High School or some kind, just like Steve Harrington, Jason Carver, etc. Actually if this happens he will get more confidence in himself, this could help him a lot.
The acting of this young boy is incredible... anyone who has gone through something similar will feel his words, this guy demostrated amazing acting skills in those scenes is incredible... way too real, when he watches to the window and breaks... that is such a heart breaking moment, he is suffering and thinking he can't talk to anyone about it, thank God that Jonathan realized about it and gave him support I would love to have a brother like him, even if Mike is the one leading the party, Will is the heart, Will is the guy who has been suffering since the beggining, the one who had the most rough time and his character is so brave, Will is amazing and I hope he gets the spotlight he deservers in season 5.
All I know is that Will needs a happy ending. He’s been through too much.
80s with happy ending.. good luck
If he dies, the story would make much more impact
Indeed
poor kid needs lots and lots of therapy :’(
Same! If that poor child didn't get his happy ending with mike that would be.... Tragic
Will is definitely the heart.. even after the problems that have been going on hes been the one trying to glue the group together time and time again
So cute when Will tells Joyce "yes, you may enter" 😂💕
Will is just constantly breaking my heart in the show. I hope that in the end he will get some happiness (and the world's best most amazing boyfriend because if anyone deserves that it's him).
Great theory! The Duffer's did say that Will has a big role in season 5.
Stranger Things is just a "Bizarro Goonies" reboot for Sci-Fi fans.
@@FidgetyGuy yet, you’re still here. 🤷♀️
@@FidgetyGuy A lot more than just Sci fi fans like Stranger Things. It has a little of everything. It also brings back that goodies and Stand by me type film we been missing for a while.
@@chelseagatien7413 I think the series is super lame. I only watched to see what all the hype was about. The actors sit still while being attacked by sci-fi creatures. In real life people would run. Fight or Flight. In B movies, they stay in place to save on camera men. The acting and directing are super lame, but whatever.
@@cjstats1514 Maybe just go back and watch some of the classics?
I absolutely agree that Will is the heart of the group and the key to defeating Vecna. I'm looking forward to how season 5 will reveal Will's inner truth and power. He's a great character!
Thank you so much for making this video! As someone who was a gay kid during this time I can confirm it was a very lonely and scary existence. I felt like this show perfectly encapsulated what it felt like to have feelings for your friend that you know most likely does not feel the same and if you ever shared it with anyone especially them it your whole world could come crashing down. The more realistic happy ending for Will is not that he ends up with Mike but rather that he has an amazing support system in his family which he obviously already has in his brother (probably my favorite scene in the entire show of all the seasons).
In the D&D game they roll an 11 on first roll to defeat vecna and fails (like El in S4pt2) they need 20 to win. Will Byers has 9 letters in his name. El with Will will equal the 20 they need to win in S5
Holy hell.
Damn, I hope this is true. But I wonder what powers Will has. Since Season 1 I was expecting him to have powers like El, so I hope they actually do something with his character.
Or 11 + 8 plus 1 (turns good at the end).
Jesus Christ, these theories get more and more ridiculous. The number of letters in their names? Really? Ffs 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
I actually felt really bad for Jonathan too this season, he seems like he’s going through a lot and can’t deal.
Vecna stole some of Eleven’s powers in 3. I think that Will has absorbed some of Vecna’s powers in 1 & 2. They are unrealized right now but he will be the key to defeating Vecna.
Right, perhaps Will’s own traumatic experiences are blocking his access to Vecna’s powers. This would also imply that Will already has some latent psi abilities and that’s why he was targeted.
I like this theory. I picture a scene with 11 almost dead, and suddenly Will discovers some powers and you see him with a bloody nose or something
I like this that will steal vecnas powers like he stole 11’s that’s good
I hope Will's friends accept him as quickly and easily as Steve did for Robin. Next season, I think they will use Will to track Vecna. Maybe Venca is possessing different people's bodies and Will can tell who's who, with his goosebumps/neck tingle thing.
Oh and the fact that will always plays dungeon master is mad foreshadowing to his importance in season 5
I get the Feeling Both Eleven and Will are the Only Ones that can Stop Vecna and they are Saving it to the Finale and Once They Faced their Fears the can Put a End to Vecna/Henry/One Once and for All,Plus it's Clear what Will Is and Maybe Robin can Help Him with the Huge Time Jump possibly be either 1989 or 1990.
I don't expect that much of a jump personally I'm thinking maybe just late into 1987, or 1988.. 1989 maybe.. don't see them going into the 90's until maybe the ending
@@garrybrown2627 Maybe,it's just Clearly Obvious that the Series Will End up in the 90s Somehow.
Without going TOO fanfic-y, I feel that there's a chance that once Will let's his guard down, he may be able to unlock some abilities that can be used against Venca/One/Henry. This could even be something that was gifted to Will by Vecna/One/Henry in hopes that Will would take his side against his own friends and family.
i could def see some sort of moment where vecna tries to get a lonely will to join the dark side
@@EM-mn3nz same here
Or like another person said will could steal vecnas powers like vecna stole 11’s in season 3
Makes you wonder why will was never killed, the first thing the demigorgon did was kidnap will in a way that was still unexplained since season 1 ep 1
When the door opens when Will tries to run out of the house into the back yard is opened by someone with powers. Demogorgans would have just ripped the door opned... instead it was turned by an unknowns entity.
@@lilymae7516 I saw another video where they said it may have been Vecna who opened it
Vecna controlling the demogorgan
@@Jaycayo yeah, the lock moved by itself, seems like telekinesis which means...Vecna
Reading the comments and seeing ppl still doubting Will is gay... Oh my god, go buy glasses you guys need it really bad
It's just completely unreal at this point, huh?
I feel like while Will was put through so much hardship and was seemingly being shunted to the side by his friends (mostly in season 3 anyway) I think that the Duffer brothers were just building up his character the whole time behind the scenes and where preparing his big moment that he deserves. As someone who’s also had to question my own sexuality at a younger age, I can understand how scary it is, especially for Will and the time period he’s living in. And it is, it’s scary to find out that there’s something about you that isn’t the norm found in most other people. Will is scared and confused and rightfully so. So I think for that reason alone that him learning to come to terms with who he is and understanding that it’s OK to be the way he is would be such a special and beautiful and important thing.
I also think Will has his own link to the Upside Down, since we saw buildings there are fixed in time from the time Will was taken into it. So like One/Vecna, he has affected the landscape there, linked to it deeply. That may mean he has some power to use against One/Vecna, especially with the Upside Down now invading into Hawkins. I wonder if it will be him teaming up with Eleven (and possibly Max in some fashion?) in season 5 to finally defeat Vecna.
That would be too cruel to Hooper though.
He should have been given special abilities with the impact that the upside down had on him. Maybe not as powerful as 11, but definitely something. He survived that hellish landscape solo, there had to be some reason.
Buildings were fixed in time from when Eleven opened the first permanent gate, that had nothing to do with Will.
@@mikepriestey2547 Eleven didn't know Hawkins at that time yet. Her life has been spent in the lab, how will she influence/recreate a version of Hawkins in the Upside Down?
@@fayes.3538 What does that have to do with anything? No human created the upside down (that we know of), it's been there forever. When Henry got sent there it already existed. Neither Will, Henry or Eleven created the upside down. I mean it's called the upside down because it's literally another, darker version of the real World. Nobody decided to make it look like Hawkins, it looks like Hawkins because it is Hawkins in an alternate dimension.
Beautifully done and exactly how I feel. The show has been building up to this since season 1. Anyone denying it at this point is willfully blind and incapable for media literacy. Your theory on Will in the final season is mine to a T. I’m hoping they go with that and make him the powerful one by embracing and loving who he is.
Joyce saying she is NOT having another funeral... this lead me to believe Will will almost die, but she will end up sacrificing herself somehow to save Will. They have put a lot of emphasis on Love being the key to defeating Veccna... and what's more powerful than a mothers love?
Final scene: Hopper eating breadsticks at Enzo's...alone.
JKRowling literally made a billion dollars writing that story of parental love
Uuuugh!
🥖🥖🥖
I think since the Upside Down is as twisted as Vecna himself, if Will gains control he can remake much of it, the same way him coming over the first time changed the Upside Down.
Both he and Henry/Vecna are depicted as artists, and I think us seeing Henry's imagination spawn the Mindflayer is a hint to what Will is capable of once he embraces his inner strength.
I do think Will's sacrifice will be necessary to close the Upside Down and defeat Vecna, but it doesn't necessarily mean death.
I think he'll still be alive, just stuck in a much more beautiful version of the Upside Down, and Joyce will still be able to communicate with him much the same way she could in Season 1.
He won't need a funeral.
@@fivestatedrive I like that.
Will’s turmoil this season had me shaking and crying. His pain was palpable.
Seriously, if I ever had a family member tell me it was ok that I was gay and understand what I have been thru, I would probably be a different person. Gay shame is a strong thing that has been lingering inside, keeping secrets, and feeling like you don’t fit in…. A lot of these things work in parallel to what’s going on to will and the dark forces that are impending on bringing the evil to the foreground.
The show will end where it began, with the loss of Will, but this time it will be his choice and it will end Vecna.
Will was essentially traded for Eleven in the first episode, Will was traded for Eleven as the person Mike was closest with, and Will will be traded for Eleven as the person most dangerous to Vecna.
Will's first meaningful action in the very first episode is in DND where instead of protecting himself, he put himself in danger to help the party by casting fireball. He then is honest with Mike about rolling a 7 despite being encouraged to not say anything.
Willingness to sacrifice himself for his friends and his honesty are his defining characteristics and being open and honest about his homosexuality despite the societal consequence will be the last step to breaking Vecna's hold on him since Vecna feeds on secrets and shame.
Ughhh. Imma cry like a baby! And I think you are right . Since he’s in love with mike and he knows it can’t happen :/
It makes sense since we've found out the Upside Down is frozen in the day Will Byers went missing.
@@fivestatedrive Haha I agree
Some people rlly miss the point of will’s character. They justify their homophobia by saying “it adds nothing to the story, it’s just put in there for wOkEnEsS” like- how stupid can some ppl be??
1. People are gay, without reason, it’s just because that’s how they are. Straight isn’t the default, and shouldn’t be considered such. Unless a character is 100% confirmed as straight, who’s to say what they are or are not? Why are characters assumed to be straight unless otherwise specified?
2. Will’s queerness is not random, it’s symbolic to his character and it has been relevant to his character since season 1. Not that will would need a “reason” to be gay, but his behavior is reflective of someone in the closet. He’s outcasted, misunderstood, neglected, all symbolic of queerness.
3. I’m assuming the people bitching about will’s sexuality didn’t even watch the video, because complaining abt how it’s “unnecessary” for Will to come to terms with his sexuality in season 5 is a stale take at best. Will overcoming his fear of himself and his queerness is very necessary for the fight against Vecna. If will accepts himself, Vecna can no longer use that against him, and he will be stronger and more capable than before.
4. No one has a problem with any of the straight characters, no one thinks it’s unnecessary for there to be straight characters/couples. Complaining about queer characters makes you look dumb, and it shows your own insecurity and ignorance. We get it, you’re afraid of seeing queerness in media because you think it’s contagious and you’ll “catch the gay.” Sorry to tell you, but it’s not contagious and if you’re experiencing same sex attraction, that’s just you; not any queer characters you’ve seen on tv. If sexuality was contagious, wouldn’t everyone be straight? Because we’ve all had heterosexual media shoved down our throats for YEARS,
100% agree. I jumped to the conclusion about Vecna using Will's secret to shame him as an important point, because in the mid 1980s, people would lose their minds about someone being gay. (I'm not gay btw, but even to me it was obvious in my school days of the 1980s, how openly homophobic mainstream culture was were compared to now)
But if Will accepts himself, and the people who love him accept him, then Vecna can't use his go to weapon... self hatred. Empathy is a huge part of the theme of this series. I love it. It's very wholesome, and as a parent of teenagers, I see it as having very positive messages for people who aren't fitting the 'one size fits all' strait jacket . 'Misfits' like Eddie, Will, Dustin, Max, people from broken homes/ single homes are as important to this team as anyone else.
REAL
will has always been my favourite character, and having him pushed of to the side was very hard to see, considering what he is going through. will is such a good character, who is able to help with his upside down knowledge and his sense of evil. after the duffer brothers have now confirmed that will is going to play a huge role in season 5, im really hoping that he is the key to defeating vecna, as all of his anger and frustration of years of his childhood being ripped away from him and dealing with unrequited (or not..?) love can help him, like eleven, find the strength within to use full potential. aka, i want will to have powers, and be the hero of season 5 (alongside eleven, of course).
If Vecna preys on his victims’ guilt and self-hatred, what more powerful weapons could there be to use against him than love and acceptance? If Will feels loved and accepted by his family and friends Vecna won’t stand a chance 👊
This!! Also when they were driving through Hawkins after the “Earthquake,” El sees a poster on the church saying: “Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.”
I'm glad some big channels are talking about this! will's been my favorite since my first rewatch of the series after season 2 came out, and i've always been convinced he'd have a big part in the ending.
"He's not getting what he wants, he's getting what he needs in order to become the person he is destined to become."
It all started with Will and I’m sure it’ll end with him not in the same way as before! Stranger Things is Eleven’s story as much as Will’s I hope they are both key characters in season 5!! Theory: it’s strange that Will feels Vecna when he’s back in Hawkins! I think Vecna will try and team up with Will like One tried to do with Eleven! Same tactics
Will is definitely going to play a major role next season. The series started with will and it would be fitting to end with will. Let’s see how the duffer brothers flesh out his character for the last season
i just hope that if he finds the courage to come out to his friends. and finds the way to defeat vecna that the show doesnt just sacrifice his character as the only means of giving his character any value, as so many shows have done before
I think that whole "be true to yourself" theme was announced very strongly by Lucas' arc in season 4. It'll be brought to its crescendo by Will in season 5.
My theory is that there is more to Will’s abduction into the upside down than the demogorgen. In the very first episode when Will is being pursued, one shot of silhouette of whatever was after him looked less like a demogorgen and more like Vecna. Plus when Will was taken into the upside down, he was not violently grabbed like Barb was, but simply faded in. We’ve never seen a demogorgen do anything like this, so I think Vecna willingly brought Will into the upside down. Moreover, I think Vecna used the projection of Will’s memories of Hawkins to mold the upside down, which is why it is frozen on that day.
The last part of the theory may be a stretch, but I can’t help but compare Will being wrapped in vines in the Season 1 finale to Vecna being wrapped in vines in Season 4. Demogorgens that we have seen typically devour their victims on sight, and for whatever reason it didn’t to that for Will. I think the Season 1 demogorgen was the equivalent of Vecna’s attack dog, which he held off from attacking Will because he had bigger plans for him beyond being meat. I think Vecna had plans for making Will his right handed man, and him being wrapped in vines was not killing him but beginning the process of transforming him. Parts of this theory are definitely retcons, and it doesn’t make 100% sense, but I think this is the overall gist of what happened.
That's some interesting stuff right there. Thanks for sharing.
Exactly, this is what I have been saying. Will is Vecna's most dangerous enemy because he can get into Vecna's mind. I am really hoping for Will to use that and be the hero. This poor guy has been destroyed again and again. He has to be the main character in resolving this once and for all.
I cant be only one who just now realized that will visions in season 2 are/could be Vecna visions 😭💀
"Will is most afraid is of himself" like, any queer person including me has had that moment in their life's and I hope whatever way they address Will has to do with him accepting himself. In many ways he and El are so alike and I also hope they explore that later (El learned about herself and regained her powers, same could be about Will)
I felt that that was the case, my 11 year old daughter caught it right away and mentioned it.especially when the CA group was travelling to the Nevada secret base, him talking to Mike about why and how 11 is lucky to have him for all his great leader qualities. I loved Will's character.
Thank you dearly for this post. As a Gay man who was a teenager in the late 70s and 80s, I can attest to the accuracy of everything in this video. Spot on.
This is probably one of the best breakdowns he's done.
I love this theory so much. I was literally in tears for most of it cause I love Will's character so much. 😭💕
Thank you for this, you nailed it on every level. Your best one yet!
The series started with Will being the main center point of the plot, it should end that way. Especially since they made him such a small part of season 4. Of course compared to Eddie, everyone was outshined. ;)
Ryan, your writing on this one was incredible, heartfelt and needed. Thank you.
I agree with the points you make, but it was written by Adam Loyd. Ryan did a bang-up job of delivering it.
I think I've been waiting for this video for so long. Amazing!
I LOVE this theory! Will was put in the backseat for most of Season 4 and it felt odd given his role in the first three seasons. This would make sense, they needed to dim his light so he can unexpectedly manifest his full power (to defeat Vecna or save El - or both) at the climax of season 5. I am wondering how hard they will lean into the D&D metaphor at the very end, seeing as the mythos of Vecna, Mindflayer and Dema-* all derive from Will's favorite game... what will that all mean in the end?
I think Will will be able to control the mind flayer
I feel like Mike Wheeler's love for Will is the key to defeating Vecna and the supernatural terrors. I think Mike and El's relationship is so awkward because not only does Mike come across as a closeted queer boy who values Eleven for being a superhero rather than a person with flaws and feels inferior to her, but he also is his true self whenever he's alone with Will. Will is the only person he's willing to openly talk to and vice versa. Lots of the things he said to Eleven in 409 are actually things he said to Will - and/or vice versa - throughout the season(s) and I feel like he's projecting his feelings for Will onto Eleven. [e.g. Mike to Will in 404: "I think I feel like I've lost you.", Will to Mike in 408: " 'she's' scared of losing you - just like you're scared of losing 'her'." Mike to Eleven in 409: "I'm scared of losing you."] I think Will's love being reciprocated by Mike is what helps him defeat the darkness in his life and finally seek happiness.
While it would be nice for Will to get a happy ending like this, I completely disagree with your take on Mike. Mike has just shown time and time again that he prioritises El above all else (with Will especially getting neglected a lot), and he's never shown the faintest interest of being with anyone but her (hence why his only contribution to this season was moaning about his relationship problems to his closeted gay friend, then giving a corny speech to inspire El at the end).
Will definitely deserves to find love, but I really don't think he's gonna get it from Mike. I can't see Mike rejecting him for being gay, but I definitely don't see him ever loving him the same way, and honestly I can see him being weirded out at the idea that Will's crushing on him.
@@robbiesmith8055 To me, it seems like Mike is more interested in Eleven's supernatural abilities rather than her other - human - characteristics. He just can't help but refer to her as a superhero as that's what he sees in her. I don't think that's really fair on her and neither do I think it's what she wants him to see in her. Both Mike and Eleven try so hard to make their relationship work. They constantly lie to each other. They both pretend to be someone they're not, whereas Will and Mike's interactions feel so much more natural. Especially when they're alone. Mike tends to act up once Eleven is around, though. He has a soft spot for Will. They have a special bond. However, I think the reason why it's so hard for so many people to acknowledge their romantic chemistry is that they're boys. Both of them. I think if one of them were a girl, most people would be able to see what a lot of queer people see in whatever is going on between these two. Unfortunately, we can't just flip a switch and turn off the main reason for most people's take on their interactions: heteronormativity. I usually try to not use this term as I don't want people to refer to me as some sort of know-it-all, however, heteronormativity is real problem. In real life as well as in fiction. But I digress. Will has made clear that he'll always need Mike. I don't think he can just move on. That's why I'm convinced their requited love is the key to defeating the darkness.
thats not going to happen, that would just ruin Mike's character and would be complete destruction to El who you want to lose Mike to Will
@@sollody no, one of them being a girl would still not make me see what you claim to be between Mike and Will because the genders just don't affect it at all.
Mike does not have anything closeted about him and he literally said to El he values her as a person with flaws and his entire 3rd season plotline was telling everyone how he wants them to stop treating her like she isn't a person.
Anybody else getting Harry Potter/Voldemort Vibes from Will Byers/Vecna? Yk the whole Connection thing
Geez I can definitely relate to Will. I love this show.
Good on you, linking to the Trevor Project. I donate to them every year.
I was in tears watching this video. Uh...the feels...thank you for your kindness and understanding!
Will has been so emotional this season. How are his friends not seeing this? I really hope he comes thru this in the last season. I qasnt sure about his sexuality until this season. Pretty obvious! Will is going to save Hawkins and be the hero with the big heart in his painting!
Excellent observation and excellent video! Will is the ultimate key to defeating Vecna. It’s going to be very interesting in seeing where Will and the rest of the group will be and how they’re coping with the events of season 4, by the time we catch up with them in season 5. We know that season 5 will have a pretty significant time-jump and I’m wondering how much change we’ll be seeing when Stranger Things comes back for season 5.
That’s a very nice analysis ❤️
Excellent analysis, and thanks for the resource! Very considerate of your viewers.
This was so, so good. We watch a lot of your videos, and I honestly feel like this was the most important one I've seen. Thank you!!!
Will might have some powers. Guess we'll see.
I would love for him to be the other version of vecna where he develops his powers through love and vecna developed his powers through hate.
I dont think he will get cool powers
more like Brann from Got powers
@@uvindukulathunga3860 Brenner did say that Eleven would need to fly, which is exactly what Bran was told in Game of Thrones 😁
@@chillcago The only thing about that is that Eleven has been the star of the show all this time really, and I feel like it would do her an injustice to replace her with a potentially even more powerful hero right at the end. I see him having some sort of powers that he unlocks in himself, but I think it will be a case of him and Eleven working together more than anything
@@lja1993 THATS a metaphore to « increasing ur powers »
I agree with all this and can see Will's arc pretty clearly since the first episode of this season. Will is the bridge to the upsidedown and has been since season 1.
I really love this take, and thank you for including The Trevor Project as a resource!
This was the best screen crush vid I've seen!
Appreciate this
Thank you for this video. Great analysis of the times (I was a teen in the 80s and coming out was not possible) and Will's place in the show.
Thank you for this!
What a beautiful summation. You made me cry.
I am sharing this one.
Thank you!
ScreenCrush always comes through with the best theories imo. Loving these stranger things theories
I tend to think each of the characters who have powers got them from 001. They alude to the idea of Dr. Brennen not being able to use 001, so he controlled him (this happens when Vecna is explaining his back story to Eleven/Nancy). I think Brennen used 001 by taking young children or babies (maybe orphans or those up for adoption) and somehow gave them mind powers from 001. This makes sense why it was a secret government facility (and military funded) and why this facility was in the quiet town of hawkins to keep it hidden like an area 51. It also makes sense as to why eleven/jane's mom came to the facility to try to get her back. I assume she was giving Jane up for adoption, then regretted her decision and tried to get her back. What this means is that all the characters with power are connected to or get them from 001.
So what does this mean? Will is also connected to 001 and I believe he has untapped powers. He is living in fear and as Dr Brennen said - fear and anger wont get you anywhere with these powers. So once Will accepts himself, he will likely be the secret weapon and the most powerful against 001 because he attained his powers not through experiments like eleven; he got it through natural means of survival from 001. This is where I think the arc will be the strongest. I also think it would an awesome scene to have Will face 001 in the upside down as the giant spider smoke thing, remember Bob and shout at it to go away as he crushes it with his power.
Nice theory. I also think the parallels between Will and Vecna must lead to somewhere... them being _naturally gifted_ may be the answer. I also think the Will's nape thingy may be similar to Henry's soteria??
Great job Doug. You kept Ryan on task. Thanks.
Thank you Adam Lloyd and the rest of the SC crew for making this video.
I do think you're spot on that Will is gay and the societal impact of the AIDS crisis and the disgraceful, willful sacrifice of the LBGTIA+ community on behalf of the Federal government through inaction in the '80s will be reflected in the show by his sacrifice.
We will see this the same way the show has shifted from reveling in the most beloved parts of the '80s pop culture touchstones to having the characters face the repercussions of the darker sides of the '80s, such as the Cold War and the Satanic Panic.
It’s also no coincidence his name is “Will”, literally your willingness to be you.
Ryan you handled the topic of Will’s struggle with his identity with care and sincerity. Having a link to the Trevor project at the end of the video really shows that. THANKYOU!! ❤️
amazing video, amazing analysis! thank you, sir!
“Will and Eleven are the only living cast members that have survived the darkness that is Henry Creel.”
Max and Nancy would like a word.
well maybe not Max
@@JoelFeila I doubt they've brought her back from death into a coma just to kill her again. That would be inefficient storytelling.
@@michaelsutherland2751 Doesn't mean she'll ever wake up again either. They said she is braindead :(
@@michaelsutherland2751 yes max is alive thanks to 11 but vecna did kill her she was dead if she weren't the town wouldn't have been able to be split the way it was it only happend because max was the 4th death but 11 brought her back to life q minute later and that's why the town wasn't completely destroyed
I’d bet that Vecna/ Henry was also a child dealing with being gay as a child. Being different, finding solace in spiders that he deems misunderstood, etc.
Your sensitivity towards this topic made me cry a little, then addressing the audience and providing a link to the Trevor Project was icing on the cake. Lovely.
HUGE respect on this episode for multiple reasons, you're amazing.
I just don't like the thought that Will can probably be a bridge to the evil. Like self-hate might be somewhat of a gate to evil.
But it can in the real world though. Self-hate at the hands of abuse/prejudice/whatever can certainly manifest into evil behavior down the line, especially if that person doesn’t have the strong support system that Will has.
In the same vein, trauma has been a “gate to evil” all throughout season 4 as well.
@@KevinWidesouls it sends a bad message though. Like, "if friends and family don't accept one's sexuality, it can lead to destructive behavior". Or gay people are rebellious. Messages I don't think the writers want to touch, given that they are pushing an acceptance narrative. Well, if they tell that story though, I in particular wouldn't like it.
@@randymonster4105 but if self love and acceptance fix that, just like with max? It would’ve perfect
People who were not around in the 80's or not very old might not recall how much less accepting people were of folks being gay in the 80's. Even the 90's did not tolerate Ellen coming out on TV, she lost her show and some people felt it was too soon for prime time. It was a hard time to be living in that demographic, pre-internet - the community was very different and more diverse and you had to "float trial balloons" with certain friends to see how accepting they could be for fear you could lose certain ones or be ostracized or throw off a group dynamic.
Great coverage thanks
Amazing take!! :)
I figured out Will was Gay in season one and it’s cool it’s just who Will is.
I really hope you’re right. So many fans are predicting that Will either becomes a villain (feeding into the terrible gay characters are monsters trope in the 80s) or that Will confesses his love to an undeserving Mike and sacrifices himself to save others (bury your gays). Your theory would subvert both of those terrible tropes. It would be a better outcome for a show that prides itself on subverting tropes. Especially since the show did the opposite of trope subversion with Hopper in season 3 emulating characters played by Expendables cast members and has embraced some YA BS on some of their teen romance (the Nancy Jonathan Steve love triangle or El needing Mike to say “I love you” to motivate her to fight Vecna with her super powers instead of seeing Max in danger of dying a gruesome death and the whole world being at stake.
What a thoughtful analysis ... subscribed.
Great video.
My hope for season 5 is that Will helps defeat Vecna, which severs the lingering connection between Will and the Upside Down, then Will comes out to his friends and family and they are far more progressive and understanding about it than any midwesterner from the ‘80s has the right to be. Then Will packs up and moves out to San Francisco to live a fabulous life. Fast forward to present day: Will has a loving partner, rent controlled Bay Area apartment, half a dozen rescue dogs, and a THRIVING podcast. He’s met Taylor Swift. All is well.
😂
*ITS NOT AN ASSUMPTION. WILLS ACTOR, NOAH SCHNAPP SAID IT HIMSELF IN AN INTERVIEW THAT YES, HIS CHARACTER IS IN FACT GAY AND IN LOVE WITH MIKE!* 🥰
great episode Ryan
this is the best RUclips video Ive ever seen OMG