Fans of Stranger Things on Netflix have been wondering since the show’s inception if and when Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) will come out to his pals as gay. Fans, it is presumed, were particularly insistent that Will admit his emotions for his closest buddy Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard), believing the producers were dancing around the issue. Thankfully, the delicate scenario was handled with delicacy, and a lot of thinking went into how Will’s confession would be disclosed; the results are both comforting and sadly relevant for some.
The writers’ room, which is quite active on Twitter, graciously published the script for this sequence, and it’s just as excruciating as it was in the show. After the devastating events of Season 4 of Stranger Things, viewers sought refuge online, digging up evidence to support their ideas and reading fan fiction to tide them over until the next season. Stranger Things’ official Twitter account from the writers’ room is perhaps the best consolation prize short of rewatching the entire season for the third time.
The writers’ room is the actual MVPs, what with their generous behind-the-scenes looks at Joseph Quinn rehearsing his nasty Metallica solo, their prompt debunking of conspiracy theories and frauds, and their frequent updates to fans on when they’ll be back in the drawing room. In fact, the authors have vowed to upload scenes weekly for free, and they’re collecting requests, in reaction to their loyal followers being exploited in the hopes of snatching leaked sequences. Fans voted for Byler despite having to choose between the dramatic Van Scene and Steve Harrington’s (Joe Keery) idyllic-future talk with Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer) (and even the Steddie woods scene).
The creators of Stranger Things finally gave fans the long-awaited screenplay for Season 3’s pivotal sequence on August 15. Will and Mike are riding in the back of a van, and Mike is noticeably nervous as they go to rescue Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown). The two boys, who have been friends for so long, have a tender moment alone, apart from their buddies and the horrors of the Upside Down. Fans have become accustomed to Will’s lack of language since his primary narrative in Season 1, but something has definitely been eating away at him, as the tension between them has only increased since their reunion in California. The show’s creators, Matt and Ross Duffer, discussed how they directed the sequence, in which fans saw Mike untangle a painting by Will that he had been hiding from his closest buddy. The writing emphasises the painting’s wrinkles, its tight roll, and the string that secures it.
Will has been keeping a secret painting from the gang since the premiere of Season 4. When it is finally shown, it portrays them fighting against a dragon, with Mike in the lead and a bright red heart painted on his armour. Will says Mike is and always has been the centre of their group, and that El represents how he feels about Mike. The Duffer Brothers emphasise the significance of Will’s older brother Jonathan’s (Charlie Heaton) listening and looking on helplessly from the rearview mirror at this time.
One thing is made quite apparent in the script: Will’s actual words and his intended ones are similar, but not identical. “She’s been… lost without you these last few months. She’s not like other people, and that must be terrifying. When you’re unique, you may at times question whether or not you’ve made a mistake. But you make her feel that she isn’t a mistake and that she’s actually better off for being unique. This gives her the strength to continue the battle.” Will continues to express his affections for Mike through El, allowing him to release his pent-up emotions without jeopardising his friendship with Mike thanks to Jonathan’s interpretation of their talk.
Continuing, he suggests that maybe Eleven pulled away from Mike because she was so terrified of losing what they had and that if the loss was unavoidable, she (or Will) had to do it swiftly, like ripping off a Band-Aid, because else the grief would be excruciating. Then, as written, Mike’s worries fade and he looks down at the artwork, at peace thanks to the words of his closest friend. Though Will was supposed to walk away and fade to “melancholy” in the script, Schnapp delivered a single performance so moving that it won him an Oscar. The van’s unrestrained pain was really sad. Watch the show’s creators discuss the scenario in the clip below and stay tuned for new episodes every week. Netflix now has all four seasons of “Stranger Things.”