With Will Byers’ sexuality evolving into a prominent arc in Stranger Things season 4, audiences are debating whether the show is taking the right approach to telling this story. Considering Will is such a fan favorite, people understandably want to see him happy. This has led to a desire from some viewers for Will to have a meaningful, memorable, and public coming out as gay. Despite this well-intentioned wish, criticisms around the fact that he’s still closeted are downplaying the intricacies of this situation.

Stranger Things fans have the scene which seems to confirm Will is gay, Will ionately calls Mike the group’s heart, saying Eleven would always need him because of that. After assuaging Mike’s fears, Will turns away and begins quietly sobbing—indicating that he was actually speaking of his own romantic feelings for Mike, not just El’s. But, expectant fans were disappointed because this pivotal moment in Will’s life was primarily focused on assuaging Mike’s fears, not Will coming out.

Related: Why Mike Was So Oblivious To Will Crying In That Stranger Things 4 Scene

It’s easy to see how this is an unsatisfying way to reveal Will’s sexuality. Many viewers, both in the LGBTQ+ community and not, hoped for a more triumphant scene that focused on Will’s coming out. With the success of shows like Love, Victor and Heartstopper, audiences have become accustomed to bolder depictions of LGBTQ+ adolescents. Thus, they feel like Stranger Things is taking too long to show Will coming out as gay. However, there are several factors that prove the show is taking a realistic approach to this reveal.

The LGBTQ+ Community Was Treated Poorly In The ‘80s

Stranger Things Season 4 Volume 2 Will Byers Crying Gay

A crucial detail to about Will is that he’s a small-town boy living in the ‘80s—not exactly a time when being part of the LGBTQ+ community was easy and guaranteed to be met with acceptance. Stranger Things is set in a time when, beyond simply being ostracized, the LGBTQ+ community faced the AIDS crisis, and the rampant homophobia that followed made the ‘80s an especially dangerous time to be open about one’s sexuality. Though Hawkins might not care about the Upside Down, and can feel oblivious and removed from the rest of the United States, it’s not immune to the trappings of small-minded residents. There have been subtle hints of prejudice, dysfunction, and a general desire to adhere to the status quo. Being an openly gay teenager would’ve attracted a lot of negative—potentially even violent—attention. Given the difficulties Will has already faced throughout the show, it wouldn’t exactly be realistic for him to think it was a great time to come out, even to his closest friends.

Coming Out Is Different For Everyone

Stranger Things Season 4 Will

It is important to consider that there’s no right way to come out. It’s a deeply personal choice that varies from person to person; it can even have multiple meanings to a single person. Taking a blanket or single-minded approach toward LGBTQ+ representation in shows and movies would undermine the reality of it. If there’s any universal factor to coming out, it’s that the person feels confident in announcing themselves to the world.

Will's own personal experiences have already demonstrated a particular reason why it would be hard for him to come out, even to his family. InStranger Things season 1, Joyce Byers tells Hopper that Will’s father was homophobic. He’d even called their son a slur in the past. While the Byers parents have long been divorced, that kind of emotional trauma leaves a lasting mark. Even though his mother and older brother Jonathan would likely him—Jonathan effectively says as much in a touching season 4 scene—he may still feel like he’s not in a safe space.

Will And Robin Are Depicting Two Stages Of Being Out

Stranger Things Will Hurts Its Perfect Robin Story

Another argument by Stranger Things fans is that Robin's presence makes Will Byers' hidden sexuality feel incongruous as Robin Buckley is open about her own sexuality with Steve. When Robin is introduced in season 3 as Steve Harington’s coworker and new friend, it’s initially implied that they’ll form a romantic relationship. However, she’s given a poignant scene where she reveals to him that she’s actually lesbian. In Stranger Things season 4, Steve effectively acts as her wingman, ing her and her interest in another Hawkins resident, Vickie. So, it can seem confusing to have one character living her truth while another character isn’t.

However, it makes sense that Will and Robin are in different places with their sexuality. Robin’s older and has thus had more time to really figure out who she is. Will is clearly still coming to with his sexual orientation. It’s also important to that Robin’s seemingly only out to Steve. In Stranger Things season 4, Robin and Nancy talk about Steve and Robin blunders through explaining that she and Steve are strictly platonic, stopping herself before actually revealing that she’s lesbian. So, even the character who’s openly queer to viewers isn’t fully out in the universe of the show. Expecting Will to match her understanding of her identity in the face of all this is a big ask.

Stranger Things fans are right about one thing: Will needs to come out before the show ends for good. But, criticizing the fact that he’s still not open about his sexuality right now is pushing a timeline that benefits the audience, not the character. Will revealing his sexuality—whether that’s to one person from his friend group or the whole gang—must feel right to him. Until then, Stranger Things viewers will need to take solace in knowing that it’s almost certainly coming.

Next: How Will Stranger Things End? The Biggest Season 5 Theories

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