Each and every character in Stranger Things has had a difficult time at some point in the four seasons. Whether it is being experimented on and forced to endure all sorts of terrifying manipulations like Eleven, losing someone that you care deeply about like Joyce losing her partner Bob, or Nancy losing her best friend Barb, or being made to watch some truly horrific and traumatic events, like Max witnessing Billy being stabbed through the chest.
All of the characters have had more than their fair share of trauma, and all of them have evolved into very different people in Season 4 than they were at the start of the show. But of all the characters, arguably the person has been through the most harrowing trauma is Will Byers.
Will was just 12 when he was abducted from his hometown and dragged into the upside-down by a Demogorgon. This, of course, changed his life forever, and the entire first season was devoted to his rescue, as he spent weeks trapped in the world beneath Hawkins, hidden from everyone he loved and fighting for his life. And even when he was rescued, it was clear that his trauma had a life-long impact. He could still feel the connection, the tether to the upside down, and his haunted him, waking or asleep. And what’s worse, when he tried to confront his fear, he came up against an even worse foe, the Mind Flayer, who inhabited his body and left even more damage than before. It got so bad that he and his family had to move out of the town and try to put the awful memories behind them.
Will’s story has always been wrought with tension and with danger, but oftentimes has lacked the sort of empathy and relatability that some of the other characters have. Even though Will has been through so much, many fans felt that he was still a little bit of a mystery character, a character who was always guarded, and who never seemed to share his vulnerabilities is a way that the others do. Now finally, In season 4 Volume 2, it is easy to understand why.
Will always made it clear that he was different from the others, and that he didn’t feel the same way about certain things. This became especially evident across Seasons 2 and 3, when the group dynamics changed, and everyone started coupling up. Max and Lucas, Mike and El, even Dustin had his mystery girlfriend who turned out to be a total genius. Will never fit quite comfortably into these relationship dynamics, and now, in season 4, this has turned into a really moving storyline for the character.
It became evident in Season 4 Volume 1 that Will was struggling with Mike’s visit, and the fact that Mike seemed so thrilled to see his girlfriend El, but didn’t share that elation when it comes to Will, his oldest and truest friend. Will was clearly jealous of the attention between the two, and hurt that he seemed to be excluded from that. He tries to pass this off as simply missing his best friend, and how close they used to be as kids, but fans began to realize that it went deeper than that. And with the last two episodes in Season 4, it’s clear that Will’s feelings for Mike also go deeper.
With the revelation of Will’s painting, of the group of Dungeons and Dragon’s players charging against a monster, led by Mike with a heart on his shield, the audience finally got a glimpse into that vulnerable side of Will Byers that has been missing all along. The scene was really heartbreaking to watch, as Will nobly rally’s Mike to El’s defense, giving him amazing advice about why El will always love him, and why he is the glue that holds them all together. As he speaks, he begins to choke up and become teary, which makes it painfully obvious to the audience that he isn’t talking about El and her love for Mike, but his own. This is genuine emotion that he is pouring out, even though he knows that helping Mike rekindle with El will ensure he can never really tell Mike how he feels, because Mike and El will always have each other.
Mike is completely oblivious to this hidden declaration of love. In fact, the only other person in the car who realizes Will’s feelings, and hears the pain behind his words is Jonathan, his older brother. This prompts another really moving and emotive scene for Will Byers, as he and his brother finally reconnect some of their closeness that has been lost across the course of the last 4 series. Jonathan tells him “There is nothing, nothing, that could make me love you any less. I’m always here for you.”
In essence, Will finally has a safe space in which to be able to acknowledge his feelings, and confide in someone who cares for him if he needs to. This is a storyline that has completely changed many fans' perspectives of the character, and given him space to grow as the seasons continue forward. This moving character arch has finally filled in the missing piece.