Stranger Things season 5 is shaping up to be Will Byers' season, and with that responsibility comes one major upgrade. It's been nearly a decade since Stranger Things first premiered, and in that time, we've watched the youngest characters grow up and evolve in unprecedented ways. Oddly, though, despite kickstarting the story with his disappearance, Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) has taken a backseat role in most seasons, as his connection with the Upside Down and its monsters has yet to be fully explained, and his unique trauma has separated him from his friends.

Now, however, as Stranger Things builds to what is sure to be an epic conclusion and Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) schemes to assert his dominance over Hawkins, Will's connection with the Upside Down will presumably be more important than ever. In the Stranger Things season 5 release date teaser, which premiered at this year's TUDUM, Will Byers is front and center; the final shot is a chilling warning to his friends and the audience. More than that, though, there's something notable about Will's appearance in the new footage, as Will appears to have undergone a long-overdue makeover.

Stranger Things Season 5 Finally Gave Will A Good Haircut

It may seem silly, but one of the biggest gripes the Stranger Things audience has had with Will Byers' character over the years was his frankly appalling haircut. We all know Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder) loves her sons to the ends of the Earth, but did she honestly have to force that pin-straight bowl cut on an already traumatized boy, year after year? It was one thing when he was a 12-year-old missing in the Upside Down woods, it was another thing entirely when he was 15 and starting a new school in a new town.

Thankfully, Will's infamous hairstyle seems to be a thing of the past, as the new footage reveals a messier, more natural look for Schnapp's character. Whether this is because Joyce is so stressed she hasn't had time to focus on her youngest son's hair, or because Will finally put his foot down and insisted on choosing his own style, it's a definite upgrade. Commentators on YouTube were excited by the change, too, with one writing, "WILL FINALLY GOT A GOOD HAIRCUT!!" and over 100 other s replying with an equal amount of glee under Netflix's release date video.

Why Will's Character Needs To Be A Major Aspect Of Stranger Things Season 5

At this point, it's only right that Will Byers takes center stage, new haircut or not. Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) may have opened the initial Rift to the Upside Down, but she wouldn't have met The Party if Will hadn't disappeared. His and Eleven's lives are inextricably intertwined by their shared connection to that terrifying plane of existence. Will's ability to sense danger, specifically danger related to the Upside Down, has only grown. Who's to say those abilities won't continue to develop now that the Rifts between the two worlds have been torn open?

Will may just be the Hawkins heroes' best chance to understand Vecna's plans and how to destroy the Upside Down once and for all.

Stranger Things season 5 will lead us back to the night Will first vanished. That's where it all started, and perhaps that's where it will all end. With Eleven forced into hiding because the government can't leave that poor girl alone, Will may just be the Hawkins heroes' best chance to understand Vecna's plans and how to destroy the Upside Down once and for all.

“The fall of 1987. Hawkins is scarred by the opening of the Rifts, and our heroes are united by a single goal: find and kill Vecna. But he has vanished — his whereabouts and plans unknown. Complicating their mission, the government has placed the town under military quarantine and intensified its hunt for Eleven, forcing her back into hiding. As the anniversary of Will’s disappearance approaches, so does a heavy, familiar dread. The final battle is looming — and with it, a darkness more powerful and more deadly than anything they’ve faced before. To end this nightmare, they’ll need everyone — the full party — standing together, one last time.”

So many Stranger Things characters have enjoyed epic scenes and character moments. Eleven as she closes the gate in season 2, Max (Sadie Sink) as she escapes Vecna's clutches in season 4, or Eddie Munson (Joseph Quinn) playing his guitar in the Upside Down. There are too many to list here. It's about time Will got the epic moment he deserves, too. We don't know who will survive this final terrifying round of Stranger Things, but hopefully, at least, Will Byers will get to show us what he's truly made of.

Stranger Things season 5 will be released in three parts on November 26, December 25, and December 31, only on Netflix.