“Super not in love with **** being outed in such a shitty way.”
Last week, the third season of Netflix’s acclaimed fantasy horror series, Stranger Things, premiered after a two-year break to universal praise, with some critics declaring it the best season so far.
The season follows the main cast as they navigate puberty, love, rabies-ridden rats and a Russian conspiracy. Oh and of course, the demons of the Upside Down are back, and this time, they’re possessing the citizens of Hawkins.
We were introduced to a new main cast member, Robin (Maya Hawke, daughter of Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke), the co-worker of Steve Harrington, who later reveals in the seventh episode that she’s a lesbian.
It was met with a highly positive reception from fans and critics, who welcomed the inclusion of an LGBTQ character.
However, there was another queer moment in the show that garnered significant attention. Also in the seventh episode, Will argues with his friends after they obsess over their girlfriends during a game of Dungeons and Dragons.
After Will storms out, Mike follows him and tries to make amends, before saying: “It’s not my fault you don’t like girls!” Will is visibly upset with Mike’s comment, but after this it’s never spoken of again.
Mike could just be referencing the fact that Will is the only member of the gang to not have a girlfriend. On social media, however, fans declared Will a ‘gay icon’ and said they want his sexuality to be explored in the fourth season.
“Ok I love Robin and it’s really fantastic Stranger things gave us a bad ass LGBTQ+ character, BUT they really dangled the idea of Will being gay in my face and said SIKE,” said one fan, while another wrote: “Did Mike say Will is gay?”
https://twitter.com/YEETpHoEbE/status/1148465540681220096
Stranger Things season 3 spoilers ///
super not in love with Will being outed in such a shitty way by Mike of all people. It was an unnecessary dig at Will and he didn’t even get to talk about his own sexuality. Can gay people please tell our own narratives I’m begging you
— 🗡cartoon villain🗡 (@mlmasterchief) July 9, 2019
If you think Will Byers is too young to be gay, but have no issue with Mike and El's romance being a major plot point since season one, your problem is not with Will's age. #StrangerThings
— Travis Kudleychuk (@CaptainKudles) July 9, 2019
we need gay will byers in stranger things 4 😤
— damian⁷ (@ddamdqm) July 9, 2019
https://twitter.com/heyficashiu/status/1148450775636594688
I think Will from Stranger Things might be gay on the low and is having a hard time processing his feelings hence his outbursts
— Regular Ass Micah (@its_micAh) July 9, 2019
https://twitter.com/whenhedied/status/1148435729199931392
"It's not my fault you don't like girls!" Hold up, is Will Byers…Gay? Ace? I'm so interested in that statement omg #StrangerThings
— Grayson but Legal (@callmenapkins) July 9, 2019
Will Byers is gay coded (?!) @Stranger_Things
— Gillian Elizabeth Delacruz (@gillianeliza04) July 9, 2019
Wait is Will gay 😱😱😱😱😱✨✨✨✨✨ #StrangerThings
— Sea Witch (@Pwanii) July 8, 2019
Stranger Things would be a much better and inclusive show if Will, Steve and Nancy would have all been gay/bi from the beginning of the series, and that is the T. #StrangerThings pic.twitter.com/MdheDdap71
— 𝔻𝕒𝕧𝕚𝕕 ℝ. ℙ. 🏳️🌈 (they/them) #BLM #BTLM (@DavidRP91) July 8, 2019
https://twitter.com/BerettaWest/status/1148349433781936128
https://twitter.com/CameronCata/status/1148328482642038785
Mike says “It’s not my fault you don’t like girls!” to Will, who we’ve never seen express romantic interest in anyone. Could we have a gay or ace character as a lead character?! Why is no one talking about this #StrangerThings
— Sarah (@comegetyahjuice) July 8, 2019
If Will ends up in a cute gay relationship with a new character next season, my heart is gonna burst with joy. #StrangerThings
— Danyel (@highlowww) July 8, 2019
Stranger Things has not so subtly hinted that Will is gay for the last three seasons but if you make that claim on Reddit the straights get MAD.
— 2mannypoppers (@2mannythots) July 8, 2019
https://twitter.com/lumosweasleys/status/1148184316175929344
Watching Stranger Things and seeing Will Byers just perpetually being like "can we get back to d&d now" and trying to involve his friends in smth when they're getting caught up in relationships is just the biggest gay kid mood and I can relate. Will is the gay rep I never had
— ʕ·ᴥ·ʔ (@bearstellation) July 8, 2019
#StrangerThings
this scene made me think,, what if will byers aint into girls because he‘s into boys… he ✈️ gay in season 4 ! pic.twitter.com/Q7O2dVMfeG— anny (@ghostinsanny) July 8, 2019
hello stranger things casting crew please cast an old gay to look out for will or ill have to do it myself and im really busy
— your dad (@Badger69420) July 8, 2019
stranger things s3 spoilers up to ep3 ||
mike reproaching will he doesn't like girls is gay coding, and will has been gay coded since s1, between his mother saying he's different (even from his friends) to the way he's being filmed. anyway duffer brothers make will gay
— hal⁷ 🌈 · book curator for bts (@lesbianjoonie_) July 8, 2019
All three seasons of Stranger Things are available to stream now on Netflix.