Stranger Things set to re-edit Will Byers' birthday scene after huge mistake in season 4

1 June 2022, 12:25

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By Katie Louise Smith

"The saddest shit about this Stranger Things season is that absolutely NO ONE remembered Will's birthday. NO ONE."

Just when you thought life couldn't get any worse for our adopted son Will Byers, Stranger Things 4 appears to have forgotten one very important detail about the character – and fans cannot cope.

If you've watched the new season, you'll know that it takes place on Spring Break '86. March, to be specific. Based on one specific detail included in Stranger Things 4 episode 2, fans have deduced that that particular episode happens on March 22nd 1986.

March 22nd is not some random date in the Stranger Things universe, it's actually a very important date: It's Will Byers' birthday. But, um, it's obviously not that important because the characters – and the show – appear to have completely ignored it.

Now, the Duffer brothers have confirmed that they're planning on re-editing the scene from season 2 and altering the date of Will's birthday, as the mistake was completely unintentional.

Did Stranger Things 4 forget Will Byers' birthday?

Stranger Things 4 begins on March 21st, the final day of school before everyone heads off on Spring Break. Based on the timestamp of the video camera footage shown within episode 2, it's clear that Mike arrives in California on March 22nd, and heads off to the Rink-O-Rama with El and third-wheel Will later that day.

So, unless the date on the footage is wrong, the entire California crew appear to have literally forgotten that it's Will's birthday.

When is Will Byers' birthday?

We know what you're thinking: It just doesn't make sense that Jonathan and Joyce – especially Joyce – would forget Will's birthday, right? Not when it was literally mentioned in an episode of season 2. Sure, she was a little preoccupied with the 'Hopper Is Alive' of it all but, like, nothing would ever make thee Joyce Byers forget her own son's birthday, right?

In case you needed a reminder, Will's birthday is confirmed by Joyce in season 2, episode 8 when she attempts to try and bring him back from the grasps of the Mind Flayer using his memories.

Fans immediately clocked the slip up, calling it one of the "saddest" things about Stranger Things 4.

Fans had theorised that the forgotten birthday was done on purpose, and could perhaps be something that Vecna latches on to should Will ever step foot in Hawkins and end up face-to-face with the villain.

But, in an interview with Variety, Matt and Ross Duffer revealed that it was not done on purpose after all. The showrunners actually just forgot that March 22nd also happened to be Will's birthday. Now they're planning on "George Lucas-ing" the scene by completely changing what viewers hear in the season 2 episode.

"The honest response is, clearly like the characters in the show, we also forgot about Will’s birthday. So the debate now is whether we adjust Will’s birthday or we just let it be really sad," Matt Duffer previously told the outlet. "We’re thinking his new birthday is going to be May 22nd, because 'May' can fit in Winona’s mouth [in the Season 2 scene where Joyce says the date of Will’s birthday]."

Confirming that they're working to re-edit the scene, Matt said: "It’s too sad! And it doesn’t make any narrative sense. But we were talking about it yesterday, and I think we’re going to George Lucas that."

Read more about Stranger Things here:

• Who dies in Stranger Things 4 Volume 1? All the deaths explained
• Who is Vecna in Stranger Things 4? His powers and identity explained
• Does Max die in Stranger Things 4? Does she have powers?
• Stranger Things 4 cast appear to hint Will has a crush on Mike
• Who is Victor Creel in Stranger Things 4? His horrifying story explained
• Does Billy appear in Stranger Things 4 Volume 1?
• Do Steve and Nancy get back together in Stranger Things 4?
• Stranger Things 4 soundtrack: All the songs in Volume 1
• Stranger Things 4 Volume 2 release date: When does it come out on Netflix?

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