At a Glance
- Noah Schnapp asked the Duffer brothers to add a scene in the Stranger Things finale to close Will and Mike’s story
- The scene occurs while the group climbs the radio tower; Mike apologizes for being self-absorbed
- Will responds that “it needed to happen the way it happened” and they agree to stay best friends
- Why it matters: Fans get a satisfying payoff to Will’s coming-out arc and his long-standing crush on Mike
In the penultimate episode of Stranger Things, Will Byers came out as gay and hinted to his friends that his first crush was on Mike. After filming, Schnapp felt “a little bit left unsaid,” so he approached the Duffers, who wrote a new finale moment.
The Added Scene
While climbing the radio tower, Mike stumbles through an apology for not supporting Will enough. Will reassures him, saying he “needed to find my own way,” and the two reaffirm their bond as best friends.
- The conversation was not in the original script
- Schnapp calls the result “completely closed and satisfying”
- He hopes “the fans will be happy” with the closure
Behind the Request
Schnapp says the creators welcomed his input.
> “If something doesn’t work, or if something feels not right, you can speak to them, and they will work with you,”
he told News Of Los Angeles.
The Duffers confirmed that Mike realizes during Will’s coming-out monologue that he is the unnamed crush. Their intent was to keep the focus on Will accepting himself rather than on Mike’s reaction.
Key Takeaways
- Schnapp initiated the extra scene; the Duffers added it after his request
- The finale exchange lets Will and Mike remain best friends without romantic tension
- Schnapp read the new pages and “just cried,” calling the writing perfect
- The scene is available in Stranger Things season 5, now streaming on Netflix
