FULL SPOILERS for Stranger Things season 5, vol. 1!
Stranger Things season 5, vol.1, ends with a huge twist for Noah Schnapp's Will Byers that has perhaps been a long time coming, but the Netflix project's showrunners have already dropped a pretty big teaser that all but confirms Will's change isn't set in stone. In fact, it seems pretty likely that Schapp's character will regress in a very specific way.
Although he was a core member of the Stranger Things cast since day 1, it actually took until the show's second season for Noah Schnapp to actively contribute to the story on a regular basis. In the first run of episodes, although Will was a very important character, he largely had a passive role while his friends tried to locate him and bring him home from the Upside Down.
Since then, Schnapp has become just as integral to the show as his other main Stranger Things castmates. In fact, the Duffer Brothers appear to be making up for Will's reduced season 1 role by making him especially pivotal as Stranger Things draws to a close. While exactly how the show will end is currently unclear, certain things can be easily figured out, and one of those probable events will surely undo the massive Will Byers twist in "Sorcerer."
The Duffer Brothers' explanation of Will's new powers suggests he'll lose them before Stranger Things ends
Speaking with Variety about Will's powers and if they're the same as Eleven's (Millie Bobby Brown), Ross and Matt Duffer confirmed that the abilities of Schnapp's character are "different" than his friend's. While Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) and Eleven have "similar" powers to each other because the abilities come from "within," Will is siphoning his power directly from Vecna. Ross Duffer has described Will's expression of his powers as "puppeteering."
"It’s different in that he’s able to channel Vecna’s powers. But they’re all related. Vecna and Eleven, their powers are similar. The powers aren’t within him. He’s able to channel these powers from Vecna and use it, sort of puppeteering."Ross Duffer
So, while Vecna and Eleven can use their abilities pretty much whenever and wherever they want, the same isn't true for Will. Instead, Will needs to be in close proximity to the Upside Down's hive mind. So, if he's near a Demogorgon, for example, Will can use Vecna's powers, and Will's abilities fade the further from the hive mind he is. At a certain distance, he can't tap into them at all.
It's a really cool twist, and there have been a few subtle clues leading up to the reveal that suggest something like this was a long time coming for Noah Schnapp's Stranger Things character. That said, the Duffers' clarification on how Will's powers work also sort of sets an expiration date for them. In other words, it's pretty easy to tell when Will is likely to stop being able to use the abilities he displayed in "Sorcerer."
With only a handful of Stranger Things episodes remaining, it's sadly time to start speculating about what will happen in the series finale. The most likely possibilities for ending the story are that Vecna is defeated, the Upside Down is sealed off for good, or perhaps both. Either way, Will's connection to the hive mind is now on a timer. Whichever of these two most likely endings takes place, it wouldn't make sense if Will could continue to use his powers afterward. Besides, they aren't "his" in the first place.
A more depressing Stranger Things finale possibility could also wrap up Will's arc
Although there have been some pretty notable death scenes in Stranger Things so far, no one from the original cast has met their end yet. If it's going to happen, then the show's final episode would be the time. In theory, no one is safe heading into the home stretch, but highlighting Will by giving him powers very arguably puts a target on his back. With Eleven and Kali (Linnea Berthelsen) trapped in the Upside Down by the end of "Sorcerer," Will becomes an even more prominent figure in the ongoing battle against Vecna.
Although Eleven and Kali could end up escaping back into the Rightside Up, there's no guarantee that'll happen, at least not for a little while. So, a key battle could now realistically end up pitting Will against Vecna. This scene could result in Will's sacrifice, turning Vecna's own powers against the villain and ending both their lives. Alternatively, Vecna could emerge victorious against Will, leaving his friends to avenge him.
There is a small possibility that Will could be the one to topple Vecna, but given that Eleven is probably the closest thing Stranger Things has to a main character, it seems unlikely that Millie Bobby Brown's character won't at least be involved in that fight. Either way, a happy ending for Will seems less likely after "Sorcerer," as he now has an even bigger responsibility to put his life on the line and use his powers to help bring Stranger Things to an epic conclusion — and almost anything could happen.
Stranger Things returns on Christmas Day with more episodes. Season 5, vol 1. is streaming now on Netflix.