The following article contains major spoilers due to season 5 of Stranger Things. Once it has been six months, it can be removed. |
William "Will" Byers, is one of the main protagonists of the 2016-2025 Netflix sci-fi/drama series Stranger Things. He is the son of Joyce Byers and Lonnie Byers, the younger brother of Jonathan Byers, the best friend of Mike Wheeler, Dustin Henderson, Max Mayfield, Lucas Sinclair
On November 5, 1985, Will was abducted by the Demogorgon sent by Vecna, the first ever test subject from Hawkins National Laboratory and taken to the Upside Down, a seeming parallel dimension that was actually a wormhole between the real world and Dimension X. On the night his friends went searching for him, they found the telepathic girl Eleven, who uses her powers to help them find him.
Early History[]
William Jacob Byers was born on March 22, 1971 to Joyce Byers (nee Maldonado) and Lonnie Byers. He had an older brother, Jonathan, who was four years older than him. Though Will had a healthy and close relationship with both his brother and mother, his father opposed his sensitive nature and hobbies. After having had enough of her toxic marriage to Lonnie, Joyce divorced him and threw him out of the house. Shortly after Lonnie had left them, Will and Jonathan built a fort called Castle Byers and were determined to complete it even though it had started raining. After the Castle's completion, both brothers became sick for a week afterwards. Jonathan became a better father figure to his brother, introducing him to the band The Clash and one of their hits, "Should I Stay Or Should I Go".
In kindergarten, he was entirely by himself in a swing until a boy of his age named Mike Wheeler, who was also lonely, approached him and asked him if he wanted to be friends with him. Will gladly accepted and both became best friends due to their common interest in board games, such as D&D. They were eventually joined by Mike's neighbor Lucas Sinclair and Dustin Henderson, forming the Party. The boys also used to hang out with Mike's older sister, Nancy Wheeler, who dressed up with them on a campaign. However, when she reached high school and started dating Steve, she no longer hung out with them.
Throughout Stranger Things[]
Stranger Things 1[]
Stranger Things 2[]
Stranger Things 3[]
Stranger Things 4[]
Stranger Things 5[]
Throughout Stranger Things: Tales from '85[]
Throughout the Novels[]
Personality[]
Appearance[]
Powers and abilities[]
Former Powers[]
- Hive Mind Connection
- Possession
- Limited Telekinesis
- Now-Memories
- Superhuman Strength
- Neck Sensing
Abilities[]
- Expert Artist
- Morse Code
- Evasion
- Firearms/Skilled marksmanship
Trivia[]
- The flashback in Stranger Things 5 revealed that Vecna's did indeed abducted Will in the series premiere.
- Will and Robin form a friendship in Stranger Things 5 due to their shared experiences as being closeted gays.
- Alongside Eleven, Will is a foil character to what Henry could have been if he hadn't turned to darkness.
- Both Vecna and Will were outcasts amongst their peers, endured physical and/or psychological abuse at the hands of one parent (Vecna's mother and Will's father, Lonnie.)
- They both developed supernatural powers. However...
- Henry deliberately embraced the power and darkness that came along with the Mind Flayer due to the lack of loved ones whom to turn to for support and enjoyed wreaking death and destruction.
- Will used his powers against the threats of the Upside Down to defend his home of Hawkins and the rest of humanity. He never allowed the relentless bullying and torment inflicted against him throughout his life to break his spirit thanks to the love and support he received from his family and friends.
Gallery[]
[]
Series ![]() | ||
|---|---|---|
|

