Stranger Things Star Reveals Why Major Byers Family Storyline Was Dropped After Season 1

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A key actor from the first season of Stranger Things recently explained why a significant storyline involving the Byers family was cut. The Byers—a central and well-loved family in the show—are known for their strong bonds. A major reason for this closeness was originally intended to be the character of Lonnie (Ross Partridge), Joyce’s (Winona Ryder) ex-husband and the father of Will (Noah Schnapp) and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton).

In the first season of Stranger Things, Lonnie Byers is a classic example of an irresponsible father. He mistreats Jonathan, neglects Will, and only returns to Hawkins hoping to profit from Will’s disappearance. After Joyce kicked him out, Lonnie has had no further contact with the Byers family.

Within the show’s storyline, Joyce and her sons eventually stopped speaking to Lonnie, but recently, Partridge shared another reason why Lonnie’s character wasn’t developed further. In an interview with Netflix Junkie, Partridge explained that the storylines for adult characters—like Lonnie, Joyce, and Hopper (played by David Harbour)—were more significant in the original drafts of the show.

As the children became the central focus of the show – almost like characters from a Spielberg film – the storylines of the adult characters naturally took a backseat. The kids became the true heart of the series, causing Lonnie’s story to become less prominent. Joyce and Hopper’s stories then became closely tied to the children’s adventures, continuing that way until they pursued their own paths in seasons three and four.

Partridge felt his character’s relationship with Joyce and the boys was more complex than what the show portrayed, and he’s frustrated that Lonnie’s side of the story was never really shown. However, as a father himself, Partridge emphasized he could never condone abandoning a child, and he understands why viewers were upset with Lonnie’s actions.

Season 5 of Stranger Things will focus heavily on Will Byers, finally revealing the full story of what happened to him in the Upside Down and his connection to Vecna. Because Will will have a larger role, Netflix Junkie wonders if the show will address his relationship with Lonnie as part of his story.

While Partridge never fully explained his role in season 5, his comments about his character’s storyline hint that Lonnie won’t appear in the show’s final season. Given everything else happening, the Byers family likely has bigger concerns at this point.

Considering what we know about season 5 of Stranger Things, it’s not really a shock that Lonnie probably won’t be back. He’s always been self-centered, so would he really risk his own safety to come to Hawkins and help? After everything Joyce, Will, and Jonathan have faced, it’s hard to imagine they’d even want his help when they have so many other people who truly understand what they’ve been through.

Although Lonnie Byers isn’t expected to have a significant part in the fifth season of Stranger Things, he does appear in the stage play, Stranger Things: The First Shadow. This play shows a glimpse of his high school romance with Joyce. It’s been a while since we’ve seen Lonnie on the show – since season one, actually – and that absence might actually fit his character’s overall story.

As a huge fan of Stranger Things, I’m so excited to share the release dates for the final season! Volume 1 drops on Netflix November 26th, just in time for the holidays. Then, we get Volume 2 on December 25th, and the very last episode – the finale – will premiere on December 31st. It’s going to be a December filled with Hawkins!

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2025-11-19 19:28