Stranger Things season 5 has already stuck the landing with one monumental scene

by

*Warning: Major spoilers ahead for Stranger Things season 5 volume 2.*

Although the final season of Stranger Things hasn’t aired yet, the show has already delivered a highly anticipated moment that fans have been eagerly waiting for.

The show has hinted for a long time that Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) could be gay. In the early seasons, viewers picked up on Will seeming different, and many connected with that feeling while watching the popular Netflix series.

During the fourth season, it became clear the character was grappling with his sexuality and had romantic feelings for his best friend, Mike (Finn Wolfhard). He kept these feelings hidden, and a particularly emotional scene – where he tried to confide in Mike, saying, “When you’re different, sometimes you feel like a mistake,” while visibly upset – left viewers with little doubt about what he was going through.

Throughout the fifth season, Will Byers began a journey of self-acceptance, something he’d struggled with for a long time. Encouraged by a heartfelt conversation with Robin, where she shared her own experiences with sexuality, Will was able to embrace who he was. This newfound self-awareness unlocked his abilities and allowed him to defeat Vecna and stop the Demogorgons.

In the second volume, Will takes a brave step forward by revealing he’s gay in a scene that’s likely to be remembered as a significant moment in television. He understands that because Vecna can exploit his secrets, he needs to be honest with both his family and friends. However, the most impactful part of Will coming out isn’t simply telling them he’s attracted to boys—it’s his vulnerable sharing of the fears and anxieties he experienced leading up to that moment.

Vecna showed me a possible future, and it was terrifying,” he explained. “In that future, some of you were just concerned for me, worried I’d have a difficult time. It made me feel flawed, so I started distancing myself. And the rest of us just slowly grew apart until I was completely alone… it felt incredibly real.

That scene really captures the anxiety of coming out, if anything does. The Duffer Brothers and Noah Schnapp brilliantly showed the underlying fear of how things might change once you finally share who you are. Even if you believe your family and friends will be accepting, there’s still that nagging worry that things won’t be the same, and people will see you in a new light.

The 1980s setting of Stranger Things adds a powerful layer to this scene, especially considering the widespread fear and prejudice against LGBTQ+ people during that time, fueled by the AIDS epidemic. While coming out can still be challenging today, it would have been incredibly frightening for gay men in the 1980s. Adding to the difficulty, the UK introduced Section 28 in 1988, a law that prohibited schools and local councils from teaching that homosexuality was acceptable.

Attempts to suppress the LGBTQ+ community have always been destined to fail. LGBTQ+ people and queer culture have been part of societies since ancient times, and no single person – not even Margaret Thatcher – could truly silence them. Furthermore, queer culture significantly influenced pop culture and mainstream music during that era.

Gaten Matarazzo, who plays Dustin Henderson on Stranger Things, recently explained a common criticism of the show’s LGBTQ+ representation. He pointed out that people who say this kind of depiction wasn’t accurate for the 1980s are likely speaking from their own limited experience. Matarazzo argues that queer people did exist and have a culture in the ’80s—it’s just that some people weren’t aware of it because those communities weren’t openly visible or accessible.

It would have been a mistake for Stranger Things to ignore Will’s journey with his identity, and even a bit irresponsible. The show has been building towards him coming out for a long time, and the way it’s handled is so moving and impactful that, personally, I already consider season 5 a success.

Ultimately, the heart of Stranger Things isn’t the monsters or the adventure, but the complex and relatable connections between its characters – they’re what have always made the show special. In fact, the show likely wouldn’t have become a hit without them. Considering this, Will’s coming out scene – which powerfully captures the anxieties of that experience and the importance of supportive relationships – stands out as the most meaningful moment in the series, even more so than the big action sequences or what happens in the final episodes.

The LGBTQ+ community has made progress since the 1980s, but it often feels like those gains are being reversed. TV has always had a unique ability to reach people who might not otherwise be open to hearing different perspectives. While LGBTQ+ characters and coming-out stories aren’t uncommon on television anymore – and that’s something we shouldn’t take for granted – occasionally a particular moment on TV truly resonates and has a powerful impact.

As a fan, I really hope this sends a message to everyone in the industry – the studios, the people running the shows, and all the actors and writers. It proves that even little bits of representation can mean the world. And honestly, we still need so much more of it!

Don’t miss out on Stranger Things! Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download the app today for daily TV suggestions, articles, and more.

Authors

Louise Griffin

Louise Griffin is the Sci-Fi & Fantasy Editor at TopMob, where she writes about popular franchises like Doctor Who, Star Wars, Marvel, House of the Dragon, and Good Omens. Before joining TopMob, she was a Senior Entertainment Reporter at Metro and holds a degree in English Literature.

  • Visit us on Twitter

Read More

2025-12-26 18:35