Noah Schnapp, the 21-year-old actor who plays Will Byers in the hit Netflix series Stranger Things, is receiving widespread praise for his portrayal of Will's coming-out scene in the show's fifth and final season. In the second volume of season 5, Will finally confesses to his friends and family that he is gay, a moment Schnapp describes as "perfect".

Schnapp, who publicly came out as gay in 2023, has spoken extensively about the significance of this scene, both for his character and for himself. He admitted to being nervous about how the Duffer brothers, the show's creators, would handle such a sensitive and important moment. However, upon reading the script, he was moved to tears, feeling that they "wrote it so perfectly". He felt there was nothing that needed to be changed.

The coming-out scene in Stranger Things 5 is not just a pivotal moment for Will, but also a culmination of a storyline that has been subtly developed over several seasons. The Duffer brothers have stated that Will's sexuality has been part of the plan for the show since the early seasons. Ross Duffer noted that they had discussed Will's sexuality "all the way back then and obviously reference it in some ways in season 1". Matt Duffer added, "We did start to lay the groundwork all the way back in season 2".

The scene itself is emotionally charged, with Will confiding in his mother, Joyce (Winona Ryder), before revealing his truth to his close friends, including Mike (Finn Wolfhard). Will expresses his fear of being seen differently, admitting, "I don't like girls. I mean, I do. Just not like you guys do". He also alludes to having a crush on someone, hinting at his feelings for Mike.

Schnapp told Netflix’s Tudum that filming the scene with the Stranger Things ensemble was “just so special”. He also told Pride.com that it was one of the most emotional experiences of his career and that there was a lot of pressure because he wanted "to get it right for all these people out there who are struggling with those same self-identity issues". He prepared for the scene by listening to music that reminded him of his personal journey and rereading his coming-out texts from a few years prior. He also spent months preparing for the scene.

The filming of the coming-out scene was an intensive process, taking two 12-hour days to complete. Schnapp explained that this extended shoot allowed him the freedom to explore different emotional approaches without feeling confined to a single version of the performance. Despite not always being on camera, the rest of the cast remained present throughout the long shoot, which Schnapp found "really special".

Schnapp hopes this scene will have a significant impact on young viewers struggling with their own identities. He reflected on how fans’ support of Will has impacted him, saying, "I can't even imagine how much of an impact [this scene] could make on other young kids out there struggling with [coming out], and that's what just means so much to me". He also stated that "if I had that scene when I was a little kid, I might've come out right then and there".

The Duffer brothers also felt a great responsibility in portraying Will's coming-out authentically. Ross Duffer stated they were nervous about it because they wanted "to get it right, particularly working with Noah, who had recently come out himself". Matt Duffer added that Noah was not acting during the first take, "Those words were real that he was saying. It was very emotional. It felt so real to Noah, so truthful to him".

Stranger Things Season 5, Volumes 1 and 2 are currently streaming on Netflix, with the series finale dropping on December 31st.