Stranger Things Fans Lament Jonathan's Minimized Role: He's 'Completely Useless'

Stranger Things fans are not happy about the way Jonathan Byers (played by Charlie Heaton) has been sidelined in Season 4.

Though Jonathan has appeared in nearly every episode of Stranger Things, he doesn't appear in the main storyline in Season 4. Instead, Heaton's role has been reduced to making stoner jokes with his new best friend Argyle (Eduardo Franco).

In an interview with GQ published on Monday, Heaton was asked how he feels about his minimized role in the Netflix drama's fourth season. "I know why you’re asking that. And I’ve definitely seen some forums like Screenrant or something – 'What happened to the character?'" he said. "It is an ensemble cast, obviously every season they've brought in new characters, wonderful characters, and they've taken the story to different places."

However, fans on Twitter are not quite as understanding. Many are lamenting what's been done to Heaton, calling him an "amazing actor" who's never given "the storylines he deserves."

charlie heaton is one of the best actors on stranger things, season one proved that, yet the duffer brothers never write jonathan the storylines he deserves. it’s such a shame that they waste his talent when he is such an amazing actor.

— maisie (@nancyswheeIer) May 23, 2022

jonathan was one of my favs in stranger things now he’s just so bland and boring

— gabi ❦ (@naleygallavich) May 31, 2022

what i have learned from season 4 of stranger things is that jonathan is no longer needed in this show

— 🌘 (@photonblasters) May 28, 2022

the main thing stranger things 4 taught me is that mike and jonathan are completely useless without their love interests. once eleven and nancy dropped them, it became very clear that mike and jonathan aren’t developed very well and can’t carry a storyline on their own.

— willa for CEO (@shivvvyyyy) May 30, 2022

The way mike, will, and jonathan were so integral to the first season but now they're so sidelined in season 4 that they didn't even appear on ep7 like what happened???? 😭😭#StrangerThings4 #StrangerThings pic.twitter.com/oFUDv4cExV

— Sweeny (@StarlordSweeny) May 30, 2022

I hate this because Jonathan is one of my favs THE WRITERS JUST NEED TO GIVE HIM SOMETHING TO DO. #StrangerThings https://t.co/BqWpEsCthQ

— Pretty.Odd.Fucking.Weird (@SAWberpunk) May 28, 2022

With just two episodes left in the season, the Duffer Brothers are running out of time to beef up Jonathan's role, but there's always hope Heaton will get a more exciting storyline in Season 5.

Stranger Things Season 4, Volume 1 is currently streaming on Netflix. Season 4, Volume 2 debuts on July 1.

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Deena ElGenaidi's writing has been featured in Nylon, MTV News, Insider, The AV Club, and more. You can follow her on Twitter @deenaelg.