Despite being the central focus of Stranger Things, Will had less screen time than Holly Wheeler

Stranger Things was a love letter to sci-fi of the 80s, and it has been powered by its characters. Over the last ten years, viewers have cheered Eleven, laughed with Dustin, and sympathized with Will as the silent outcast of Hawkins. That is why most viewers were shocked watching Stranger Things Season 5 when Holly Wheeler, someone who was just a background character, received more screen time with 95 mins than Will, one of the core members of the gang, who fans had expected to lead the finale, with just 67 mins.

The response has been vocal and ambivalent on the internet. One side of the fan base describes the decision as bold, and the other side considers it confusing since one of the central characters was pushed aside to give space to another who had practically no buildup.

Memes, Reddit discussions, and emotional fan posts have fueled the debate. Whether it worked out or not, the unexpected focus on Holly has become one of the most discussed aspects of the finale, right next to longstanding speculations regarding the future of Eleven.

The unexpected rise of Holly Wheeler in Stranger Things Season 5

Holly Wheeler remained mostly in the background during the first four seasons of Stranger Things. She was the little sister of Mike, someone we knew existed but had no significance in the storyline. This drastically changed in Stranger Things Season 5.

The plot suddenly centered on Holly, particularly in relation to Vecna's arc. Her character motivated some of the most emotional scenes and significant plot twists. Such a move shocked a lot of viewers; particularly, characters such as Will, who had always been the emotional core of the series and especially stepped up as someone with borrowed powers in Volume 1, got considerably less attention in Volume 2 as compared to Holly.

The conversations on the internet, especially on Reddit, emphasized the conspicuousness of Holly's screen time. Even though she didn’t appear constantly, the depth and weight of her arc made it seem like she had become one of the lead characters overnight.

Although the performance of Nell Fisher was greatly appreciated by a large group of viewers, many doubted the narrative decision. Was assigning such an expansive part to Holly a risky and successful choice, or did it marginalize the original cast at an inopportune time? That controversy is still a huge one among Stranger Things enthusiasts.

Will Byers, the underdog we knew (but didn’t see enough)

Will Byers has always been a central member of Stranger Things. His disappearance triggered the events in Season 1, whereas over the next four seasons, he became a beloved character for his vulnerability, depth, and relation to the Upside Down. It would have been expected that the final season would offer him prominent moments, especially with developments regarding his personal growth and powers.

However, some fans were disappointed. In Stranger Things Season 5, Volume 2 in particular, Will appeared to be featured less prominently in several episodes as other characters, such as Holly, for example, were featured as an integral part of major storylines. His character had less scope compared to other seasons to advance the plot or confront the supernatural.

This has provoked a mixed reaction on social media. Fans joked that Will disappeared again and made memes about having little screen time, as well as expressing sadness. These responses show one clear thing: they are all really concerned about Will Byers.

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