My response to "Will became less interesting and likeable in S4"
VERY interesting recent posts at the subreddit. One has people rank their favorite characters and Will is near the bottom of most lists. The other is screenshotted above.
A common complaint is that he had less to do. (That's for sure!) But another theme is that he is "boring" or "always crying" or "about to cry."
I left the following comment there:
Well, they've written him to be a closeted gay kid in a small town in the 80s. Struggling with his sexuality and coming out is going to be kind of... his everything. I went through it. (The 80s part at least.) And so no, he's not going to be as outgoing or "interesting and likeable" as a Steve Harrington or Dustin.
(Meanwhile, here is the current top post at the subreddit, with people going gaga in the comments:)
Instead, Will is incredibly awkward, reserved, closed-in, and does not project confidence and charisma that make people easily like him, because he hates and loathes and doubts himself. He has to hide being gay. So every movement, every inflection, every look, every expression of himself, threatens his safety and well-being. He has been awkward and introverted and shy. But he has also been sensitive, caring, and empathetic. He was one of the more selfless characters this season. These qualities, at least the way he expresses them, don't win conventional popularity contests. Some people find that "bland." I find it to be admirable.
The Duffers have made clear that s5 will focus on Will:
“Will really takes center stage again in 5,” Ross Duffer told Variety. “This emotional arc for him is what we feel is going to hopefully tie the whole series together. Will is used to being the young one, the introverted one, the one that’s being protected. So part of his journey, it’s not just sexuality — it’s Will coming into his own as a young man.”
As he grows out of his shell and gets to assert himself more in s5, he probably becomes more "interesting and likeable" in the conventional sense.
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Anyway, just wanted to share. Will may not be the most "popular" character in the conventional sense, but he's won many hearts. Nor is he "bland" or just a "damsel in distress" (I saw those comments on the subreddit too ugh!) He's our original badass with a gun. Who cast fireball for his friends. He survived the frikkin Upside Down for one week by himself. He found the strength to communicate while being possessed that they needed to "CLOSE GATE" to defeat the monsters in s2, which would have killed him. He was willing to sacrifice his life. And in s3 and s4, he has been wanting to keep the party together and then put Mike and El's interest above his own.
Will is a hero. And heroes can be quiet gay boys, too.
People really need to stop blowing this whole Will Smith vs. Chris Rock debacle out of proportion. Will had every right to slap a bitch, so he slapped a bitch. That's all there is to it. That's it. Honestly, what was he supposed to do, NOT slap Chris Rock on live tv as vengeance for poking fun at his wife's medical condition in front of the entire world? Chris Rock's an asshole. Will Smith should've slapped him harder.
Honestly I don't care about white people's "hot take" on the Will and Chris situation because all they've done is use it as an opportunity to be racist to black people. This proves that black people are never seen as individuals, they're only seen as a collective. if one mess up then the entire community has to take the blame and its exhausting
Idk about anyone else but I’m team Will. Chris crossed the line with that joke. It doesn’t matter how you feel about Jada and the things she’s done, making a joke about someone’s medical condition that they have spoken openly about how they are struggling with isn’t funny. It doesn’t matter if he meant it as a joke it wasn’t something to joke about. And for those who don’t know Jada has alopecia which makes her hair fall out and she had to shave her head because of it
