Warning: This article contains spoilers for Stranger Things season 4.

Stranger Things 4 is here, and it's making the same mistake with Will Byers that the first three seasons made. Will (Noah Schnapp) has been a major part of the Stranger Things cast since the beginning of season 1. Despite this, he's frequently sidelined, underutilized, and ignored when the action starts ramping up.

Season 1 of Stranger Things mostly concerns itself with Will's mysterious disappearance in the woods, forcing him to be largely absent from the show. Season 2 takes its plot primarily from him being used as a host for the Mind Flayer, limiting his role to that of a vessel and spy for the Upside Down villain. In season 3 of Stranger Things, Will recognizes that the Mind Flayer is back, but he isn't given much to explicitly do aside from really wanting to play some Dungeons & Dragons. Stranger Things season 4 has the character and his family relocated to California, and while it's dropping heavy hints that Will Byers is gay and possibly in love with his best friend, it has yet to give him much to do aside from being a hanger-on.

Related: Old Stranger Things Characters Who Return In Season 4

Stranger Things relies on him as an object to be used when the plot requires him but hasn't yet keyed in on Will as a character in a meaningful way. He's an inciting incident or a vessel for evil or someone with a little knowledge about the enemy, but he rarely gets to breathe or enjoy satisfying endings to arcs that get set up for him. Will is integral to the series' story and deserves more development than has been given him thus far. Stranger Things season 4 volume 2 has an opportunity to do right by Will.

Stranger Things Wasted Will Byers In Seasons 1-3

Will Byers in Season 1 of Stranger Things.

Will Byers disappears in Stranger Things season 1 before audiences are really able to get to know him. Because the first season is set up as a mystery, Will is forced by the plot to be sidelined and shown as little as possible, save for a few key flashbacks. He's of great interest to the main cast, and their friendship with and love for him drive the plot of the first season, but he remains more object than character. Will's role could realistically be filled by any missing kid with friends and a determined family.

Stranger Things' flawed second season brings Will into the foreground, finally giving actor Noah Schnapp some well-deserved screentime. The show treats Will as central to the plot yet again, but he spends the bulk of the second season being haunted and possessed by the Mind Flayer, unable to have his mind or body to himself. Because he is acted upon by the villain for so much of the season, Will as a character doesn't get much more than another rescue arc.

Will comes closest to getting an interesting arc in Season 3. After Eleven and Mike have a falling out, Will is hopeful that the party can get back to their roots and play some Dungeons & Dragons to forget their girl troubles. Lucas and Mike don't take him seriously, which leads to an argument where Mike hints at Will being gay, causing Will to storm off and ultimately destroy Castle Byers. It's a scene with great emotional resonance and could have led to a deeper exploration of Will if it had been given any kind of resolution. Instead, the season blows past the event as the action picks up, and it's mostly forgotten by the end of season 3.

Related: Everything The Cast Of Stranger Things Has Been In Between Seasons 3 & 4

Stranger Things 4 Makes The Same Will Byers Mistake

Will Byers in Season 2 of Stranger Things.

Stranger Things season 4 doesn't seem to know what to do with Will. His character has some awesome potential in this season: he's shown to be acting as a sort of surrogate brother for Eleven, he's been sinking himself into his art, and he's really been looking forward to seeing his best friend. It's heavily implied that he has feelings for Mike, but like so often happens with Will's character arc in Stranger Things, the potential conversation surrounding such is shunted to the side when the action and plot pick up. Before his character arc is able to get its teeth into any one of these potentially interesting bits of Will, the story keeps moving to something else.

What Stranger Things Needs To Do With Will Byers

Will Byers in Season 3 of Stranger Things.

It's not too late for season 4 of Stranger Things to do something interesting with Will. If it can afford to take the time his character needs, there's an opportunity in season 4, volume 2 for Will to finally show progress. The painting that he packs away in Stranger Things season 4, volume 1 is a good sign for his progression: it means the writers haven't forgotten him in the shuffle. Regardless of how the second part of Stranger Things 4 ends, it's a necessity that Will not just be set to the side to be dealt with later. If Will is in fact gay and dealing with those feelings, that needs to be made explicit. Will needs to be given the time and space to explore his character, as has been done with many others in the cast. Will Byers's story is Stranger Things' story: it's time he's given his due.

Next: Stranger Things 4 Volume 1 Ending Explained (In Detail)

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