Stranger Things Season 5 Is Officially Ending Jonathan Byers' Biggest Season 4 Failure

Jonathan Byers was massively underserved by his limited screen time in Stranger Things Season 4, but the upcoming Season 5 promises to make up for that by giving the character a bigger role. Jonathan was hardly featured at all in Stranger Things Season 4. He wouldn't even have a purpose if he didn't have a driver's license. The gang mainly called on him to drive them around, but he can be spotted in several of the pre-viz teasers that have been released via the official X account of the Stranger Things writers room. One of these includes a scene with Steve, and another is with Nancy, Dustin, and potentially someone else driving a car through the Upside Down. So Jonathan will definitely be involved a lot more heavily in Season 5 than Season 4. The Stranger Things creative team has promised that Season 5 will really be about bringing the overarching narrative full circle, and refocusing on the original cast from the show's humble beginnings. Jonathan had a huge role in Season 1, both as Will's protective older brother desperate to get him back from the Upside Down, and as the object of Steve's bullying. So the show is living up to its promise by giving him a bigger role again in Season 5. Since Season 1, Steve has gotten plenty of screen time for a redemption arc, but Jonathan has barely had any character development in the past three seasons. Jonathan may be back in with the main gang again in Stranger Things Season 5, but there are also a lot of theories that he's going to kick the bucket this season, potentially sacrificing himself to save Will or Joyce. Possibly both, if the writers want to make him even more heroic. It's about time the show started taking out its main characters to enhance the stakes. Stranger Things wouldn't off a major character like Jonathan without giving him a big send off with a fulfilled character arc. So a bigger role does lend more credence to the idea that he'll perish in Season 5.