Will Byler Happen in Stranger Things 5? Finn Wolfhard Got Something to Say About It
Couple and potential-couple nicknames have been all the range since 'Brangelina' and 'Bennifer' in the 2000s and fans of Stranger Things have been discussing 'Byler' since Season 4 aired in July 2022.
With the fifth and final season eagerly awaited, many are wondering where Byler will go.
Byler is an amalgamation of the names of two Stranger Things characters: Will Byers (played by Noah Schnapp ) and Mike Wheeler (played by Finn Wolfhard). It's a term used by fans to talk about the relationship between the pair. Usually, fans do this when it's a romantic pairing and after Season 4, it certainly seems as though there are feelings on one side at least.
Will Byers and Mike Wheeler – a bromance, a romance, a friendship?
Ever since Season 1, there has been a debate over Will's sexuality in Stranger Things. Will is always seen as shy and quiet. His sexual orientation is hinted at from the start with bullies calling him a "fairy" and other unpleasant terms. Joyce also describes him as sensitive and adds that his father would call him a "fag".
He also seems to be younger than his peers in the earlier seasons. From Season 3, we see Will growing up slower than the others and he even expresses to Joyce that he won't "fall in love".
When Mike gets together with Eleven, Will feels abandoned. He even tells him that he's ruining a party by only hanging out with her. In response, Mike yells, "it's not my fault you don't like girls!", another hint towards his sexuality.
In Season 4, the viewers are finally shown – in all but a direct 'coming out' – that Will is gay and that he has feelings for Mike. In Episode 8, we see Will express to Mike how he feels in a sort of coded confession through a piece of artwork.
Will Byler happen then?
In a recent interview with Indie Wire, Finn Wolfhard said about Byler, "I always found it kind of funny, especially last season of Mike just being so clueless."
He went on to say that he imagines Mike will be accepting of Will, that he wants him to have a happy ending and thinks he will. Does this mean Byler's a goer? Who knows!
The Duffer brothers have surprised us before but so far there's been no hint that Will's feelings towards Mike are reciprocated. I guess we'll have to wait for Season 5 to know for sure!