Stranger Things is set to release two more installments in the coming weeks, and one of the most electrifying revelations of volume one was the discovery of Will Byers’ latent powers. In addition to exploring Will’s connection with Vecna and the Upside Down, his romantic prospects are set to play out for the remainder of the season. It is all but explicitly confirmed that Will has feelings for his best friend, Mike Wheeler.

 Noah Schnapp (Bridge Of Spies, Waiting For Anya) dug into his character on Watch What Happens Live! “Look, it’s like a real, authentic representation of a queer kid in the ’80s,” he continued, “I’ve dealt with that myself, being in love with my best friend, and maybe they don’t love you back, or maybe they feel differently. I’m not gonna spoil anything, but I think the Duffers close it really well.”

 In season five, Will has found a friend and confidante in Robin, another queer member of the main cast. Series co-creator Matt Duffer (Wayward Pines, Hidden) and Schnapp have stated that Will’s new abilities function as a metaphor for Will embracing his identity.

 “I think people mistake fear for weakness. Will has had a lot of fear through the years, because of what he’s had to endure, but that doesn’t mean he’s weak,” Schnapp explained. “He always comes back, and he never crumbles. So that is his strength, and I think he shows that in the end, that he is stronger than we all think.”

 Duffer said, “This was about Will’s journey in terms of finding out really who he was, and coming to terms with that. So we liked the idea of tying that into some of the more supernatural elements, that in order to become his most powerful self, he had to also really come to terms with who he is.”