The writers of Mind Flayer possess Will Byers (Noah Schnapp), leading to an array of intense adventures for the residents of Hawkins, Indiana. The season debuted Sean Astin as Bob Newby, an employee at Hawkins' RadioShack store and Joyce Byers' new boyfriend, who fans quickly fell in love with only to watch him be killed by an onslaught of angry Demodogs. With the impact of Bob's traumatic death being felt throughout the subsequent seasons of Stranger Things, he ed the likes of Barb Holland, Alexei, and Eddie Munson as beloved characters who were taken too soon.
Now though, the @strangerwriters Twitter has revealed that it was originally planned for Will to kill Bob, which would have had serious implications for Will's Stranger Things story. After suffering from episodes in which Will experiences flashbacks to his time in the Upside Down, Will follows Bob's advice to confront the monster terrorizing him only to become possessed in the real world by the Mind Flayer. In the original Stranger Things plan, the Mind Flayer's influence over Will would have caused the young character to kill his mother's new partner, despite Bob being introduced as a strong father figure to Will. This original plan would have effectively ruined Will's character arc going forward.
Will Killing Bob Would Change Most Of His Relationships
One of the biggest themes throughout Eleven's boyfriend, Mike Wheeler.
If a Mind Flayer-controlled Will had killed Bob during Stranger Things season 2, these huge developments in his character's relationships would never have been possible. Joyce's grief over losing Bob would have been far greater since it would have been her own son who'd committed the horrible deed. Killing Bob would have caused a huge rift between Will and his family, which would have spread throughout the entire group. Though the group might have understood that Bob's death would have been the fault of the Mind Flayer, it certainly would have been difficult for them to overcome Will's hand in the matter. With the realization that his brother is a murderer, it's possible that Jonathan's relationship with Nancy might never have grown.
Will Killing Bob Would Drastically Alter His Character Arc
Will has seen some remarkable developments since the Mind Flayer's possession in Stranger Things season 2. While Will's storyline in season 3 was significantly smaller, his character saw a huge step forward in 2022's season 4 with the inclusion of Will's potential discovery of his sexuality and his relationships growing with Eleven, Mike, and his brother, Jonathan. If Will had killed Bob during season 2, it's likely that these more personal touches in his character arc would have been ignored in lieu of more dramatic and dark moments centered on everybody's collective grief. Will would have simply become a pawn of the Upside Down rather than a humanized character in his own right. And it is also possible that Will may have been arrested for the murder which would further divide him from the group and keep him away from the adventures they embark on.
There's been speculation circulating about a growing psychic ability in Will that will play a large part in Stranger Things season 5, especially since he still experiences a connection to the Upside Down and Vecna. Assuming Will had still been included as a part of the group even after killing Bob, it's unlikely that the group would have trusted any information Will provides after feeling the presence of the Upside Down as he did during season 4. The group certainly wouldn't have wanted to use any of Will's potential abilities in Stranger Things' fifth and final season for fear that he'd still be under the influence of the Upside Down. Will would never be able to develop to his full potential.
Why It's Good Will Didn't Kill Bob In Stranger Things Season 2
Will hasn't had it easy over the course of Stranger Things, particularly in the earlier seasons. Due to his imprisonment in the Upside Down in season 1 and his possession by the Mind Flayer in season 2, it took a while for viewers to get to know the character properly, so it was hugely important for him to have some personal growth during seasons 3 and 4. He's now one of the most beloved of the group and a fan-favorite, but this would have been ruined completely if Will had been the one to take Bob's life during Stranger Things season 2. The grief felt over Bob's death by characters and viewers alike would have been pushed to the extreme and focused solely on Will's role, so it's a good thing that the writers chose to go in a different direction.
Stranger Things season 5 is set to develop Will even further, hopefully shedding some light on his personal discoveries and tying up any loose ends in his story arc. With Stranger Things creators the Duffer Brothers confirming they won't be debuting any new characters in season 5, there's plenty of time to focus completely on the established group. Hopefully, Will's story arc will continue to be positive, and he'll have a hand to play in taking down the villainous Vecna.