After All Of The Show's Well Written Hints, Noah Schnapp Confirms Will Byers Is Gay
Fan speculation surrounding the sexuality of Will Byers on Stranger Things Season 4 has finally been confirmed by actor Noah Schnapp. He is, in fact, gay.
SPOILERS AHEAD.
The new season has been hinting at whether or not Will was or wasn't gay since it began, from his quiet, introverted demeanor to the longing looks aimed at Mike (Finn Wolfhard)
Even down to Will's heartfelt breakdown at the sight of Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and Mike's relationship - which prompted his older brother Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) to console him in one of the most touching scenes of acceptance ever written for television - fans were given a realistic roadmap of what it is like to have to hide who you really are from the world.
In an interview with Variety, Schnapp put all of the speculation to rest,
"Obviously, it was hinted at in season 1: It was always kind of there, but you never really knew, is it just him growing up slower than his friends?
"Now that he's gotten older, they made it a very real, obvious thing. Now it's 100 percent clear that he is gay and he does love Mike. But before, it was a slow arc."
What made the coming-out story of Will so impactful was its deft handling - or rather, how it never needed to be said.
It was played with respect, poignance, and subtly, never once pushing the plotline to a point where it treated the audience like fools. We all knew, and it just felt right for the character.
The same can be said for the way Robin Buckley's (Maya Hawke) crush on her bandmate Vickie (Amybeth McNulty) was presented. Audiences are more sophisticated and accepting of such character traits, and that kind of sophistication only gets stronger with each passing day, even if the 24 hour news cycle might have us believing otherwise lately.
Well done, Stranger Things. It's shows like yours which will continue to help open eyes and hearts.
