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If we remember it right, it all started with Will Byers. But with the fast-approaching fifth and final season, what if he turns out to be the one who ends it all? By that, we don’t mean in the best of ways. In fact, as fans sprint down the rabbit holes of what might be, a strange Stranger Things theory throws an antagonistic light on Will.

From what we know so far, Will is anything but inherently evil. But what if it’s all just for a show? As the show prepares to launch its final season, several interesting fan theories have caught the eye. But the most groundbreaking one cues a new big bad awaiting to greet viewers one last time. While Vecna’s arc may remain unresolved, fans have reason to believe the real threat has been hidden in plain sight all this time: Will Byers.

The Duffer brothers previously teased a pivotal arc waiting for Will in season five. And fans feel it’s a villainous one that has been in the works since the show’s inception. Although he’s the most shy and sensitive of the Hawkins gang, what if that was a smokescreen all along?

While Vecna has left no stone unturned to convince that he’s the real evil, why is Will getting thrown under the bus?

A recap of Will’s Stranger Things arc

Things really started cooking in Stranger Things when Will disappeared in season one. And since then, he has never been the same. The Netflix series has often confirmed Will’s mysterious links to the Upside Down every time he puts his hand on his neck. He even confessed to feeling Vecna’s presence in the season four ending, underscoring a probable connection between the characters. With all those things in mind and the clamours of a bigger threat awaiting the finale, this theory labels Will as a traitor.

Not only does a traitor strengthen Stranger Things’ links with Dungeons & Dragons, but according to fans, it would explain the creepy connections between Will, the Upside Down, the Mind Flayer, and now Vecna. What solidifies their conviction is the characteristic growth within him, which differs invariably from all other characters.

How is Will different from the Hawkins gang?

Will is the central character of the show, whose disappearance results in a chain reaction of supernatural havoc in Hawkins. Yet, unlike the rest, he is more passive in his stance, often coming across as overlooked, isolated, and insecure. Since vulnerabilities make the Mind Flayer and Vecna choose their prey, these emotional imbalances make him the most defenceless. What adds to the concerns is the idea that he is yet to recover his full consciousness since being lost in the Upside Down.

Furthermore, his dynamics and complicated equation with Mike are slowly being exposed, akin to the cracks in the Hawkins sky. With Will often torn between a desire to belong and still ending up sidelined, fans have begun to draw parallels between Vecna and his personal arc.

Will could end Stranger Things once and for all

Will Byers’ suffering hasn’t come to an end. In fact, closure seems far down the line. With his personal emotional turmoil now colliding with the Hawkins conspiracy, a Reddit theory posits that Will was never meant to be the good guy. If anything, the Netflix show had been preparing him for his turn to the evil all this time, with season four’s conclusion already confirming that he remains connected to the Upside Down.

And banking on the show’s knack for playing against predictability, it’s very well possible that Will takes the centre stage in a way many wouldn’t expect.

Although these are all speculative, another Stranger Things theory posits Will as the saviour, whose mysterious links would be beneficial for the Hawkins squad to defeat the big bad. While both theories hold weight, only season five knows the answer.