One of the stars of <em>Stranger Things</em> season 1 has revealed why the show abandoned a major Byers family storyline. While Stranger Things boasts a large, beloved ensemble cast, the Byers family has been a pivotal narrative force within the series. Their intense devotion to one another can partially be attributed to one man: Joyce’s (Winona Ryder) ex and Will’s (Noah Schnapp) and Jonathan’s (Charlie Heaton) father, Lonnie (Ross Partridge).
In Stranger Things season 1, Lonnie proves to be the textbook definition of deadbeat dad. He bullies Jonathan, has no interest in Will, and only comes back to Hawkins when he thinks he can use Will’s disappearance and “death” for his own financial gain. Since Joyce kicked him out of the house in season 1, Lonnie hasn’t had any direct interactions with the Byers family.
In-universe, it seems Joyce and her boys came to their senses and cut off all contact, but Partridge recently revealed there was another reason why Lonnie’s development never made it past the first season. In an interview with Netflix Junkie, Partridge explained that the adult stories, including Lonnie’s, Joyce’s, and Hopper’s (David Harbour), carried more weight in the show’s earliest scripts.
However, when the kids proved to be a “phenomenon… right out of a Spielberg canvas,” the adult characters’ arcs understandably “became less important.” As the kids evolved to be the true heart of the show, Lonnie’s story gradually faded, and Joyce and Hopper’s stories were inextricably connected with the children’s fates until they went off on their own in seasons 3 and 4.
Partridge believes there was more “nuance” to his character’s history with Joyce and the boys, one that the series never got to explore — the actor rightfully points out that Lonnie’s perspective is never shown. Even so, Partridge also stressed that he, personally, “being a father, would never be able to justify leaving [his] kid,” and that he understood the audience’s anger towards Lonnie.
In Stranger Things season 5, Will is finally ready to take center stage, as the show will reveal what actually happened to him in the Upside Down and explore his connection with Vecna/Henry Creel/001. Given Will’s expanded role, Netflix Junkie questioned whether Will’s story can really be completed without reckoning with his relationship with Lonnie.
Although Partridge never addressed the extent of his involvement with season 5, his explanation of what happened to his character’s development suggests Lonnie won’t be in the Netflix hit’s upcoming final season either. The Byers family probably has more important things to worry about, anyway.
Given all that’s been revealed about Stranger Things season 5, Lonnie’s likely exclusion isn’t necessarily surprising. Would a character as selfish as Lonnie truly fight his way into Hawkins and put himself in danger? Would Joyce, Will, and Jonathan even need his idea of “support” after everything they’ve been through when there are others so much closer to them who actually understand the horrors they’ve experienced?
While Lonnie may not have a major (or even minor) role in Stranger Things season 5, the character does appear in the Stranger Things stage show, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, which briefly depicts the early days of Joyce and Lonnie’s relationship in high school. Lonnie’s absence since Stranger Things season 1 is notable, but perhaps it perfectly represents his character’s role in the story too.
Stranger Things season 5, volume 1, premieres on Netflix on November 26. Volume 2 will be released on December 25, and the finale will premiere on December 31.
