The highly anticipated final season of Netflix's Stranger Things has delivered a devastating blow to fans hoping for a romantic resolution between two of its central characters, Will Byers and Mike Wheeler.
The Scene That Shattered Hopes
The first volume of season five arrived on Thursday 27 November, and a crucial moment in the fourth episode has sparked intense discussion. A scene shows the character Robin, played by Maya Hawke, observing a conversation between Will (Noah Schnapp) and Mike (Finn Wolfhard).
For years, the show has hinted that Will might be gay, with a large contingent of fans, known as 'Bylers', theorising a potential romance with his best friend, Mike. This new scene, however, strongly suggests that while Will's feelings for Mike are real, they are not reciprocated. Robin's wistful smile is interpreted by many viewers as a look of pity and understanding.
Robin's Pivotal Advice to Will
The episode delves deeper into Will's emotional turmoil through a heartfelt conversation with Robin. She shares an anecdote from her own past, drawing a parallel to Will's situation. Robin recounts falling in love with a girl named Tammy Thompson and how she lost herself in the process.
She tells Will: "I found this 8mm film reel – it was a silly movie I made in the fourth grade, but I got it up on the projector and all of a sudden, I was looking at this little version of myself. And this little me, I could hardly recognise her. She was so carefree and fearless. She just loved every part of herself. That’s when it hit me – it wasn’t ever about Tammy; it was always about me. I was looking for answers in someone else, but I had all the answers. I just needed to stop being so goddamn scared – scared of who I really was. Once I did that, I felt so free."
This speech is widely seen as Robin gently guiding Will to move on from his unrequited love and focus on rediscovering his own self-worth.
Fan Reaction and Storyline Impact
The fan reaction on platforms like Reddit and X has been divided, though many agree the scene signals the end for 'Byler'. One fan emphatically stated, "People are NOT GETTING IT!!! Robin's face while Will and Mike were talking, WAS NOT POSITIVE!!! It was a face of pity because she KNOWS that Mike doesn't have the same feelings."
Another added, "It could not be more obvious that is what was happening." A third viewer concluded, "After episode four, I really think Byler won't happen."
The importance of Robin's advice is cemented later in the episode when Will, being mentally attacked by Vecna, recalls her words about self-acceptance and inner strength. This empowers him to resist Vecna and seize control over the Demogorgons to save Mike.
This narrative direction aligns with previous comments from the cast. In 2022, Noah Schnapp told Variety that the ambiguity around Will's character was intentional. Finn Wolfhard also told Attitude that a romantic storyline between Mike and Will would feel unearned.
The next instalment of Stranger Things season five is scheduled for release on Boxing Day, with the series finale dropping on New Year's Day, leaving fans to see how Will's journey concludes.
