It’s “100% clear” that Will Byers is gay to Noah Schnapp, the actor who has played him for the past nine years. But, as Stranger Things drops the first batch of episodes in its final season, the show is still practicing the art of subtlety when it comes to its protagonist’s sexuality.

For Stranger Things, sexuality has always been a topic to handle with care. Set in the 80s but speaking to a contemporary audience, the show has the challenge of portraying sexuality in a way that’s accurate to its setting without perpetuating regressive attitudes of the time.

Since season 1, Will’s sexuality has been in the subtext of the show, whilst artfully managing to not thrust labels onto a character who wasn’t even a teenager when we first met him. “He’s a sensitive kid. Lonnie used to say he was qu

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