The fifth and final season of Stranger Things season 5 will put Noah Schnapp’s Will Byers at its center. While Will played a central (if largely absent) role in the very first season of Stranger Things, he has been somewhat side-lined ever since. Well, according to The Duffer Brothers, this is going to change come the final series. As Matt Duffer revealed to Collider…

Will Byers has been through the wringer ever since the first episode of Stranger Things. From being abducted and taken to the Upside Down, where he managed to survive all alone for a week, Will has since been possessed by the Mind Flayer, missed out on his childhood, and moved to California. Largely isolated from the rest of the group, Stranger Things Season 4 has heavily hinted that Will Byers is gay and in love with his best friend Mike.

“Will’s going to be a big part and focus, is really all I can say of Season 5, in his journey. We’re starting to see his coming of age, really. Which has been challenging for a number of reasons, some of which are supernatural. But you’re starting to see him come into his own.”

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Though it has often seemed like Stranger Things does not quite know what to do with Will, Ross Duffer has assured fans that season 5 will finally see the character’s arc completed. Alongside several other beloved members of the large ensemble cast. One wonders whether Will’s beloved bowl cut will remain intact come the series’ end.

“[It’s] setting up us coming full circle back to Season 1. I think you’ll see that with a couple of the character arcs, not just with Will. But also with Steve and Nancy, and her relationship with Jonathan where things are not fully resolved. The characters have maybe made steps, like in the case of Will, but that journey isn’t over yet. All of that is going to play a huge role as we try to wrap this thing up next season.”

Will is Still Connected to Vecna & The Upside Down

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The final moments of Stranger Things Season 4 Volume 2 finds The Upside Down seeping into the real world, turning the town of Hawkins into the same decaying world inhabited by the monsters. It is also revealed that, thanks to his time spent there and his experience with The Mind Flayer, Will is still connected to Vecna and confirms that he can “sense” that the demon formerly known as One is still alive.

With The Duffer Brothers now confirming that Will Byers will play a central role in Season 5, we can expect his connection to Vecna to play heavily in proceedings. Place your bets now on Will making the heroic sacrifice during the epic finale…

Starring a large ensemble cast that includes Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Maya Hawke, Priah Ferguson, Brett Gelman, Matthew Modine , Paul Reiser, and Jamie Campbell Bower, Stranger Things Season 4 is now available on Netflix in all its entirety.