• Will finally came out to everyone as gay in Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 2 Episode 7 “The Bridge”.
  • He did it so that Vecna could no longer exploit his shame, and he could take control of his life.
  • While coming out, Will revealed that he likes someone who does not reciprocate, and Mike could have taken the hint. We could see the Byler Theory come to life at some point in the finale.

Since the early days of Stranger Things, Will and Mike have been the greatest of friends. However, their relationship has a deeper dynamic than just friendship since it was revealed a while later that Will has feelings for Mike. Now, while Mike is shown to be interested in Eleven, fans have been shipping Will with him since the day his feelings towards Mike became painfully obvious. However, now, with the way things are going in Stranger Things Season 5, it appears that after volume 2, in the final episode, we could finally see the Byler theory come to life.

Stranger Things Byler: Will’s Conversation with Robin Validated his Feelings

Robin in Stranger Things Season 5 - 1

Image Credit: Netflix (via YouTube/Stranger Things, screenshot by Aparna Ukil/Beebom)

In Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1, by the time we reach the final episode, we see that Robin has figured out Will’s feelings towards Mike, and being in a homosexual relationship herself, she understands what he might be going through, especially during the time periodStranger Things is set in.

This was the first time he had been able to openly speak about his feelings, and Robin validated them in one of the most heartfelt ways we have seen in the show so far. It was this very validation that allowed Will to channel his powers in the final moments of Stranger Things Season 5 volume 1.

Will Comes out of the Closet in Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 2

The newfound acceptance Will discovered when he came out to his family and friends about his sexual orientation in Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 2 Episode 7 “The Bridge”. In the episode, Will tells everyone, “I don’t like girls,” and reveals to everyone that Vecna has been exploiting his shame against him.

Will takes this step to take control of his life and make sure that Vecna is never able to manipulate him again, as he comes out of the closet, everyone around him embraces him in a warm hug and gives him reassurance that he is accepted and loved no matter what.

While this moment is tender and was long overdue, it also points towards a plot point where we could see the Byler theory come to life in Stranger Things Season 5. When he came out to everyone, he also told them he likes someone who does not reciprocate, and it appears that Mike could have possibly taken the hint.

This could mean that during the events of the finale, Will might take the next step and confess his feelings to Mike. Now, since there is a high probability that Mike does not reciprocate, it could be a bittersweet conclusion to Will’s story, so let’s wait and see what happens in the finale of Stranger Things Season 5.

Stranger Things: Is Byler Finally Coming True? Episode 7 Takes Us One Step Closer to the Popular Theory - 2

Shashank Shakya is an entertainment writer at Beebom. He has completed his Bachelors (Honors) in English Literature and is a published author. Shashank boasts incomparable knowledge about the Marvel and DC universe, along with other branches of entertainment with substantial experience in the field of writing.

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Stranger Things is over; yeah, it’s really over. The final episode of Season 5 has just arrived on Netflix, and boy, it was surely an exciting journey. And now that it is over, fans may find it hard to move on from the brilliance of Hawkins and the Upside Down. Well, if you’re in the same boat of sadness, here are some other TV shows like Stranger Things you should watch now.

1. Dark

Dark poster - 11

Image Credit: Wiedemann & Berg Television (via Amazon)

  • Release Date: December 1, 2017
  • Director: Baran bo Odar
  • Cast: Jonas Gerzabek, Louis Hofmann, Andreas Pietschmann, Dietrich Hollinderbäumer, Ella Lee, Maja Schöne, Lena Urzendowsky, Angela Winkler
  • Seasons/Episodes: 3/26
  • IMDb/Rotten Ratings: 8.7/95%

Dark might seem different from Stranger Things on the surface, but if you dig deeper, you might discover why we chose it for this list. It is a small town mystery, with missing children driving the plot. On the other hand, like the Upside Down mirrors Hawkins in Dark, you will see different realities existing in layers.

Dark revolves around four interconnected families, who are connected to each other across multiple generations. After a child goes missing, a hidden passage is discovered beneath the caves of the town of Winden. The series shows that a generation’s past sins are never buried; they are simply passed on to the next.

2. Fringe

Fringe poster - 12

Image Credit: Warner Bros. Television (via Amazon)

  • Release Date: September 9, 2008
  • Director: J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci
  • Cast: Anna Torv, Joshua Jackson, John Noble, Lance Reddick, Kirk Acevedo, Blair Brown, Jasika Nicole, Mark Valley, Seth Gabel
  • Seasons/Episodes: 5/100
  • IMDb/Rotten Ratings: 8.4/91%

Now, you might love seeing Dustin talking about Parallel Universes, time, and every other sci-fi mumbo-jumbo. Well, you’ll see that all of that is discussed in Fringe. This show revolves around unexplained crimes linked to advanced science. In the show, they call it the “fringe science.”

Overall, Fringe is a TV show like Stranger Things that will surprise with its complexity, and of course, with its several alternate dimensions that ultimately threaten humanity. Sure, you don’t get a band of kids fighting off the inter-dimensional threat, but you still get amazing characters like Olivia Dunham, Walter Bishop, and his son Peter.

3. The Umbrella Academy

The Umbrella Academy poster - 13

Image Credit: Dark Horse Entertainment (via Amazon)

  • Release Date: February 15, 2019
  • Director: Jeremy Webb, Paco Cabezas, Peter Hoar
  • Cast: Elliot Page, Tom Hopper, David Castañeda, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Robert Sheehan, Aidan Gallagher, Mary J. Blige, Cameron Britton, John Magaro
  • Seasons/Episodes: 4/36
  • IMDb/Rotten Ratings: 7.8/78%

The Umbrella Academy may not be as popular as Stranger Things, but believe me, it’s an awesome show that features some amazing band of characters. In Stranger Things, we have one or two superhero kids, and in The Umbrella Academy, every character has some sort of superpower.

The film centers around the Hargreeves siblings, who reunite after the death of their adoptive father. Each one of them has some ability, and one way or another, the siblings are dragged into tackling issues like alternate timelines and the end of the world. Of course, The Umbrella Academy might’ve disappointed many of us fans in the end, but if you can digest an underwhelming end, it’s for sure an amazing show to watch.

4. Alice In Borderland

Alice in Borderland poster - 14

Image Credit: Robot Communications (via Netflix)

  • Release Date: February 15, 2019
  • Director: Shinsuke Sato
  • Cast: Kento Yamazaki, Tao Tsuchiya, Nijirō Murakami, Ayaka Miyoshi, Aya Asahina, Dori Sakurada, Sho Aoyagi, Riisa Naka
  • Seasons/Episodes: 3/22
  • IMDb/Rotten Ratings: 7.8/78%

Honestly, if you have Netflix and you still haven’t watched Alice in Borderland, then you are seriously missing out on one of the best TV shows like Stranger Things. Alice in Borderland is a Japanese show that centers on a group of people stuck in what we’ll call an alternate dimension. These people have to take part in a variety of deadly games to make it out alive.

Yeah, in a way, Alice in Borderland is a mix of Squid Game and Stranger Things. But of course, don’t expect to see any flesh-eating monsters in this one. Still, the mystery around Borderland and the people running this place is as great as the mystery of Upside Down .

5. Archive 81

Archive 81 poster - 15

Image Credit: Atomic Monster (via Netflix)

  • Release Date: January 14, 2022
  • Director: Shinsuke Sato
  • Cast: Mamoudou Athie, Dina Shihabi, Evan Jonigkeit, Julia Chan, Ariana Neal, Matt McGorry, Martin Donovan
  • Seasons/Episodes: 1/8
  • IMDb/Rotten Ratings: 7.3/87%

Compared to Stranger Things, Archive 81 is a slow-burning horror that leans more towards a serious side. The show is basically Dan Turner, who is trying to restore the videotapes recorded by Melody Pendras. The events recorded in these videotapes lead Turner on a mystery hunt where he comes across threats like alternate dimensions, occult rituals, and a cult.

Sure, Archive 81 may take some time to grab your interest, but once it does, you stay in it until you see it to the very end. It not only entertains you with a variety of characters, but it also questions you on every stage by making you question what’s real or not.

Stranger Things: Is Byler Finally Coming True? Episode 7 Takes Us One Step Closer to the Popular Theory - 16

Aparna is a Senior Entertainment Writer at Beebom with 4 years of experience in the industry. Specializing in Jujutsu Kaisen and everything horror, she brings in-depth insights and a passion for storytelling to her coverage. Recently, she has interviewed Abby Trott, the voice actress behind Demon Slayer’s Nezuko and Dandadan’s Momo. She has also interviewed Adam McArthur, the one to voice Yuji Itadori in JJK, delivering exclusive content for fans. Previously, she contributed her expertise to some notable publications including Sportskeeda, Dexerto, and Forever Geek, honing her craft in entertainment journalism.

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