Will and Jonathan's emotional heart-to-heart in Stranger Things season 4 is made sadder because of a behind-the-scenes detail. The Stranger Things season 4 finale is emotional for a number of reasons. One of the most poignant moments is a conversation between Will and Jonathan in the kitchen of Surfer Boy Pizza. Stranger Things is filled with thrilling action and intriguing supernatural elements, but its emotional beats also make the show great. This particular scene between the Byers brothers is already beautiful, but knowing the details of how it came to be makes it even better.
In this scene, there is a pause in the action for Will and Jonathan in Stranger Things. Jonathan opens up to Will, admitting that he misses talking to his younger brother and tells Will how much he means to him. Will tells Jonathan he will also be there for him, and the brothers share an emotional hug. This heart-to-heart may seem like it disrupts the flow of the Stranger Things season 4 finale by taking a break from the action, but the scene between Will and Jonathan is actually very important, founded upon poignant performances from both Noah Schnapp as Will and Charlie Heaton as Jonathan.
Will's Stranger Things Season 4 Van Scene Wasn't Fully Planned
Jonathan and Will's moment follows up on Stranger Things season 4, episode 8, where Will and Mike have an emotional scene in the back of the van. After Will talks to Mike, he turns away, sobbing. In the original script, posted by the Stranger Things writers (via Twitter), the scene simply ends with Will's smile fading. Schnapp's choice to start silently crying makes the scene more heart-wrenching, revealing the depths of Will's feelings for Mike. The van scene inspired the Stranger Things writers to develop Jonathan and Will's heart-to-heart, which was not originally in the script.
As Noah Schnapp confirmed in an interview (via Variety), "It was only until after I did the scene of me in the van, where they saw me crying and the protectiveness that you see with Jonathan looking in the rearview mirror. They were like, 'we need a scene with that'." This scene is a great addition to the Stranger Things season 4 finale, especially because it shows how much Jonathan cares for Will and vice versa. The fact it was inspired by Schnapp's own raw emotional input makes Will and Jonathan's conversation even better.
Why The Conversation Between Will & Jonathan Is So Important In Stranger Things Season 4
Will and Jonathan's conversation is extremely important. Throughout Stranger Things season 4, there had been hints to Will's sexuality and his feelings for Mike. While Will's speech to Mike in the van is about Eleven on the surface, it really shows how Will feels like "a mistake" because of his sexuality. Jonathan's reassurance to Will in the pizza kitchen scene that he will love his brother no matter what is impactful because it shows someone supporting Will for who he really is. Will had been dealing with angst regarding his sexuality, so this positive interaction with Jonathan is very meaningful and much needed for Will's character.
Although Stranger Things needs to explore its Will story further in its final season, the Will and Jonathan scene in the Stranger Things season 4 finale is a good start. After the pain Will felt following his conversation with Mike, it is heartwarming that Will has a source of comfort in Jonathan, who truly wants to help and support his younger brother. Though Will and Jonathan have been distant, especially since Jonathan was struggling with his and Nancy's long-distance relationship, this scene shows how the brothers will always be there for each other. It is a heartwarming, yet heart-wrenching, moment, and the behind-the-scenes story makes this Stranger Things scene even more emotional.