Stranger Things 5 finally gives Will the coming-out moment fans have been waiting for

Stranger Things might be known for its creepy monsters, mind-bending mysteries, and nostalgic '80s vibes, but at its core, it’s always been about the characters we’ve grown to love and the way they navigate the messy, complicated world around them.

Over the past four seasons, we’ve watched Will Byers go through some of the most intense, emotional journeys on the show. We're talking from surviving the Upside Down to struggling with the weight of his own feelings and identity. And now, in Stranger Things 5, the show has finally given Will the moment fans have been waiting for. His big coming-out scene!

Will's sexuality has been hinted at since the very beginning of the hit sci-fi series. However, things became clearer in season 4 when Will’s unspoken feelings for Mike Wheeler were brought to the forefront during that unforgettable car scene. While he didn't directly confess his feelings, the scene made it painfully clear that Will was struggling with unrequited love, supporting Mike’s relationship with Eleven despite his own heartbreak.

In the first batch of episodes of Stranger Things 5, Robin helps Will begin to make sense of his feelings and sexuality. Drawing from her own experiences, she offers guidance, reassurance, and perspective, showing Will that embracing who he is can be a source of strength rather than shame. Their heartfelt conversation becomes a pivotal moment for Will, and it's what ultimately leads him to come out to all of his family and friends in Stranger Things 5 part 2. Well, that and the fact that he doesn't want Vecna to hold this major secret over him anymore.

Spoilers are ahead from Stranger Things 5 part 2.

Will's coming-out scene happens towards the end of the seventh episode of Stranger Things 5. As the Hawkins gang gets ready to head back into the Upside Down and go through with their mission of killing Vecna and stopping his evil plan of merging worlds, Will decides that now is the perfect time to finally be honest about who he is.

He has the entire gang meet him in the breakroom area of the Squawk radio station, where he gives a long yet heartfelt speech about his feelings and the struggles he’s faced coming to terms with his sexuality. Below is Will's exact speech.

"I haven't told any of you this because I don’t want you to see me differently. But the truth is, the truth is I am. I am different. I just pretended like I wasn't because I didn't want to be. I wanted to be like everyone else. I wanted to be like my friends, and I am like you. I'm like you in almost every way. We like playing D&D late into the night. And we like that old-person smell in Mike's basement. And we... like biking to Melvald's for malted milkshakes. And we like getting lost in the woods, and getting lost in Family Video, and arguing about what to rent and settling on Holy Grail for the millionth time.

And... and we like Mike Duds in our popcorn with extra butter. And we like drinking Coke with Pop Rocks. And we like bike races and trading comics and NASA and Steve Martin and Lucky Charms and literally all the same things. I just... I just... I... I just... I don't like girls. I mean I do. Just not like you guys do. And I, uh, I had this crush on someone even though I know they're not like me. But then I realized he's just my Tammy. And by Tammy, I mean it was never about him. It was about me. And I thought I was finally okay with myself. But then today, Vecna showed me what would happen if I did this. If I told you guys the truth.

He showed me a future, and in this future, some of you are just worried for me. Worried that things will be harder for me. And it just makes me feel like something's wrong with me. So I push you away. And for the rest of us, we just drift apart more, and more, and more, and more, and more until I'm alone. And I know none of that has happened, and Vecna can't see into the future. But he can see into our minds, and he knows things. And it just felt so real. It felt so real."

During this entire scene, the rest of the Hawkins gang really listens to Will. No one looks away, and no one treats his words as anything less than important. You can see the emotion on their faces as they fully grasp how much Will has been carrying on his own for so long. As Will finishes up his speech, he gets really emotional.

Joyce immediately comforts him, telling him that he'll never lose her. The others then start to show their support before they all get up and give him a group hug, surrounding Will with warmth, understanding, and love. It’s a moment of unity and acceptance, where he finally feels seen and valued for exactly who he is. No longer burdened by fear, shame, or the weight of keeping his true self hidden, Will can finally breathe and be fully himself while being surrounded by friends and family who love him unconditionally.

The Duffer Brothers, I have to give you your props for crafting such a heartfelt and meaningful moment. It was a moment that was very much needed, both for Will as a character and for fans who’ve been waiting years to see him fully embraced and accepted.

Stranger Things 5 part 2 is now streaming on Netflix.