Stranger Things 5 gave fans a moment that they’ve been waiting seasons for. In the episodes that released this week, Robin and Will finally have a talk about his sexuality. For a lot of viewers out there, this might feel like a revelation, not just because we’ve been waiting for Will to be honest with himself for a long time, but also because so many people resonated with his story during the earlier parts of this show. It’s cathartic and feels true despite the dire circumstances of the larger season.
Noah Schnapp and Maya Hawke really Love bringing this conversation to life. The two actors talked to Netflix’s TUDUM about the moment Will always needed to have. “When I read the scripts for this season, and it was so much of me and Robin for four or five episodes, I was very excited to film with her. She was amazing to work with and taught me so much,” Schnapp said.
He added, “She became like an older sister for me, and it was really cool. Our relationship on the show versus outside the show kind of mirrored each other. She was kind of a mentor for me through the year, but I think it was incredibly important for Will’s story to meet Robin and see someone else so sure of her own identity and share her wisdom with him to help him find himself.”
Stranger Things 5 finally has Will confront his sexuality
For a lot of Stranger Things, fans have wondered if Will was secretly gay. Last season brought all that speculation to a boil when that infamous painting gift from Mike came about. For most of the gap between the two seasons, snap never had an interview where he wasn’t asked about Will’s sexuality. It’s clear that the Duffer brothers had this kind of moment on their minds for a while as well. How wild is it that this isn’t the biggest moment for Will inside of Stranger Things 5?
As things progressed, Will spent a bunch of time with Robin this season. This kind of mentorship role between two teenagers with similar experience is pretty common. What’s not common is having to come of age under the terror of a psychic demon (how do you characterize Vecna?) terrorizing the town you both grow up in?
Robin shares the story of her crush on another girl, and how that experience made her realize that she was queer. We all have moments where we’re looking for external validation. But, that kind of power can only come from inside. In Will’s case, that might have a double meaning! Maya Hawke loved this scene and explained why to TUDUM.
“If I did a decent job in that scene at all, it’s all to Noah’s credit, to how present he was and how active in his emotional life he was and how much he gave me to work with,” Hawke says. “Robin’s mentorship of Will I’ve taken as my own responsibility with Noah. His character really becomes himself this [season], in more ways than one, and I think that makes Robin feel less alone and also feel useful.”
(Photo Credit: Netflix)
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