Will Byers Has To Be The Main Character, Not Eleven

Key Takeaways

• Will Byers deserves to be at the center of Stranger Things
• Will’s trauma and connection to the Upside Down make him ideal for final season focus
• Ending the series with Will would honor the show’s origins and deliver a satisfying conclusion

With Stranger Things entering its fifth and final season, the moment has arrived for the hit Netflix show to put Will Byers (played by Noah Schnapp), not Millie Bobby Brown’s Eleven, at the center of the story. This isn’t just a long-overdue shift; it’s essential to wrap up the series in a way that honors its roots and closes the chapter on a high note.

From his traumatic experience in Season 1 to his intimate connection with the Upside Down, Will Byers has been at the heart of Stranger Things from the beginning, even if the spotlight hasn’t always been on him. The Duffer Brothers, the show’s creators, have teased Will’s connection to the Upside Down in nearly every season, yet his story remains one of unfulfilled potential, hinting at mysteries that feel integral to the overall plot.

At the core of Stranger Things lies the Upside Down, a terrifying dimension that has ensnared Will more than any other character. While Eleven has drawn much of the attention for her powers and central role in the action, Will’s connection to the dark underbelly of Hawkins makes him uniquely suited to lead the show’s final chapter. After all, this is a character who’s survived the horrors of the Upside Down, formed a psychic link with the Mind Flayer, and harbored a supernatural sensitivity that the others simply do not possess. With so much backstory left unexplored, now is the time for Will’s journey to take center stage.

Why Is Will Byers Stranger Things’ Genuine Central Character?

From the very beginning of Stranger Things, Will Byers has been a character defined by the horror he’s endured. Abducted by the Demogorgon and forced to survive in the Upside Down for days, Will’s trauma is deeply embedded in the show’s DNA. His struggle to reintegrate into “normal” life has been a recurring theme across seasons, yet viewers have only seen glimpses of the emotional toll it has taken on him. By keeping Will on the sidelines, the series risks glossing over the experiences that made Stranger Things such a compelling story in the first place.

Will’s trauma serves as a throughline for Stranger Things. While characters like Eleven, Mike, and Dustin may engage in thrilling battles against Demogorgons and other monsters, Will’s arc reminds viewers of the human cost. He is not just a plot device; Will’s journey reflects the series’ emotional core, making him the most authentic representation of Stranger Things’ deeper themes.

Season 5 offers a chance to explore Will’s character fully, examining how years of supernatural exposure have altered him. Centering Will in the final season could give the show an emotional weight that no other character could provide, and it would also offer a sense of closure that the character has so desperately needed and been searching for since he was trapped inside the Upside Down in Season 1.

Stranger Things Season 5 Needs to Focus on Will, Not Eleven

As Stranger Things has progressed, Eleven’s role as the powerhouse of the group has naturally pulled focus. With her telekinetic abilities and status as the group’s primary weapon against the Upside Down, Eleven has been portrayed as the “chosen one.” But Will’s connection to the Upside Down runs far deeper. After all, Eleven may have powers, but Will’s bond with this alternate dimension is unique, developed through sheer survival rather than supernatural intervention. By Season 5, viewers have become familiar with Eleven’s struggles and her battles with various foes, but Will’s experiences remain largely untapped.

Stranger Things Season 5 needs to be Will’s story because he embodies what Stranger Things truly represents—a world that forever changes those it touches. Unlike Eleven, who actively fights against the forces of the Upside Down, Will has been a passive participant, a victim whose psyche and very existence have been indelibly marked by its horrors.

In the final season, Stranger Things could explore Will’s perspective, allowing audiences to see how deeply he understands the threats they face. With Eleven’s story arc arguably reaching a satisfying point, it’s time for Will to step forward and lead the narrative in a way that feels both refreshing and long-awaited.

Addressing the Millie Bobby Brown Elephant in the Room

Millie Bobby Brown’s portrayal of Eleven has undeniably been one of Stranger Things’ biggest draws. Brown’s impressive performances and Eleven’s powerful story arc have made her an icon – a Hollywood superstar even – and it’s no surprise the show has leaned heavily on her character. However, in the final season, a new approach is needed. This shift wouldn’t detract from Eleven’s importance but would create a balance, allowing the story to develop a new layer of complexity.

Eleven has gone through a tremendous journey, evolving from a lab experiment to a beloved member of the Hawkins gang, but her role in Season 5 doesn’t need to eclipse Will’s. Instead, Eleven could take on a supportive role, enabling her and Will to work together against the Upside Down in ways fans haven’t yet seen. Will’s connection to the Upside Down is as powerful as Eleven’s psychic abilities, and focusing on his journey could add depth to the series without sidelining Eleven entirely. Brown’s presence will still be invaluable, but sharing the narrative spotlight with Will could lead to a more satisfying and balanced conclusion.

That said, it is true that there are still questions regarding Eleven’s background that need answering. However, when they tried to do that in previous seasons, fans ended up with one of the most poorly received episodes of the show so far. The episode in question was Stranger Things Season 2 Episode 7: The Lost Sister. This was the moment in the series when it pretty much became an episode of X-Men or The New Mutants, and it just didn’t fit in with the rest of the series. It’s interesting that the Duffer Brothers haven’t gone back to that part of the story ever since, and hopefully, they will not do so ever again.

Why Will Byers Knows More About the Upside Down Than Any Other Character

Will’s knowledge of the Upside Down is unparalleled among the Hawkins gang. Unlike Eleven, who first encountered the Upside Down through her powers, Will survived its horrors firsthand. This gives him an insight into its dangers that no one else possesses. Through his psychic connection with the Mind Flayer in Seasons 2 and 3, Will became an unwilling observer of the Upside Down’s intentions, forming a bond that goes beyond simple knowledge—it’s an understanding born of shared trauma. By comparison, Eleven’s relationship with the Upside Down is one of opposition, but Will has been a vessel for its influence.

Will’s visions, his connection with the Mind Flayer, and his unexplained senses make him the ideal candidate to guide the others through the Upside Down’s complexities in Stranger Things Season 5. This is a character who has been physically and mentally affected by the Upside Down in a way that no one else has experienced. Stranger Things has laid the groundwork for Will’s heightened awareness, hinting that he is attuned to things others cannot see or feel. Ignoring this in Season 5 would be a disservice to the character and the overall plot.

Stranger Things started with Will. It should end with him

As Stranger Things reaches its climactic final chapter, an emphasis on Will could bring the show full circle. The series began with his disappearance into the Upside Down, and focusing on him in Season 5 could offer a powerful sense of closure. As Eleven’s arc has largely been explored, it’s time for the audience to understand the world of the Upside Down through Will’s eyes. Will’s unique insights, paired with his vulnerability and resilience, make him the ideal candidate to take on the story’s final battle. And given the complexity of the Upside Down and the Mind Flayer’s connection to him, no one is better suited to unravel the mysteries of the supernatural realm.

Stranger Things has always been about more than just supernatural showdowns. The characters’ emotional journeys, their friendships, and the way they confront their fears are what make the show resonate. Will Byers encapsulates all of these elements in a way that Eleven cannot. As the final season approaches, Stranger Things has a rare opportunity to honor the story’s origins by putting Will front and center. Ending the series without fully exploring his role would be a missed opportunity.

For fans, seeing Will Byers lead the charge would not only be a thrilling shift in perspective but also a satisfying way to conclude a story that has captivated audiences for years. With the final season on the horizon, the Duffer Brothers have the chance to let Will Byers take his rightful place at the center of the action. In a show defined by the unexpected, making Will Byers the main character would be the perfect final twist for Stranger Things.

Stranger Things Season 1 to 4 can be streamed on Netflix right now.