Fans seem to believe that iconic location could return ahead of finale
*Warning – this article contains major spoilers for Stranger Things season 5, volume 1*
Several fans appear to believe that an iconic location from Stranger Things could make a dramatic return ahead of the Netflix finale. That is Will’s secret fortress, which is otherwise known as Castle Byers.
Castle Byers was a makeshift fort made by Will and his older brother Jonathan Byers in the forest near the Byers’ house. It was filled with pillows and quilts and decorated with his drawings; it was Will’s personal space where he could draw and read comics. Signs on the front read “Castle Byers”, “Home of Will the Wise”, and “All friends welcome.”
This has been an important locale to the characters and story from the very beginning. Way back in season one, just when Will, Mike, Lucas and Dustin were unaware of the dangers haunting their town, they spent most of their time playing Dungeons and Dragons, with the Castle representing that time in Will’s life.
Even when Will was kidnapped and taken to the Upside Down, he managed to seek shelter and some safety in the version of his Castle that was located in that dimension. It’s the first place his mother Joyce visits after realising he is missing.
Will would go on to destroy the real Castle Byers in season 3, as he struggled to let go of his childhood and move on from the trauma of his Upside Down kidnapping. However, the fan website Netflix Junkie suggests it’s not completely gone. Season 5 has already included a flashback scene, but rumours persist that characters could revisit it ahead of the finale.
With the Upside Down preserving a version frozen in time, the site suggests: “Castle Byers holds more than childhood memories; it preserves Will’s drawings, books, and clues that could reveal Vecna’s weaknesses.
“As the Upside Down threatens Hawkins once again, this secret fortress may provide Will and Eleven the insight and tools necessary to fight back. Its walls, steeped in both nostalgia and hidden knowledge, could become a strategic advantage in the battle ahead. With Will stepping into a larger role, the stakes are higher than ever.”
This would not be a massive surprise considering how Henry AKA Vecna treats his own family home, with a version of it housing key memories. Now, we also have the cave in the Mindscape where Max has been residing, and she has her own collection of memories.
Since Will’s powers have awakened, perhaps forgotten items lie within Castle Byers that will explain what Will is capable of? Or what does he need to do to help Eleven defeat Vecna?
According to Screen Rant, last year, Noah Schnapp appeared in a since-removed video talking about filming at the location where it all began.
In the footage, he said: “It’s kind of sentimental because I started in this exact tent when I was 10 years old, and now, 10 years later, I’m turning 20. So, it’s sad to say goodbye. I remember filming here with Winona when I was like 10 or 11 years old. This was one of the first places that I ever shot, and it’s like home to me.”
Stranger Things is streaming on Netflix
