‘Stranger Things‘ has never shied away from exploring complicated family dynamics. But season 1 introduced one of its most unsettling examples through Lonnie Byers.
Joyce’s ex and the father of Will and Jonathan. Now, new comments from the actor behind Lonnie, aka Ross Partridge, have prompted viewers to revisit why that storyline disappeared so quickly.
Why Lonnie Byers Faded Away In ‘Stranger Things’ Season 1
When ‘Stranger Things‘ began, the Byers family already felt stretched thin, even before monsters and portals entered the picture. Lonnie dropping back into Hawkins only made things worse. Instead of offering support, he insulted Jonathan, barely pretended to care about Will, and treated the tragedy like an opportunity to make money off his son’s disappearance and supposed death. No wonder Joyce showed him the door.
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And once she did, Lonnie disappeared completely. In the Stranger Things universe, it seemed like Joyce and her boys finally cut him out for good, and it felt like the healthiest choice, given everything else happening around them. Still, longtime viewers noticed how quickly he vanished and wondered whether the writers originally wanted him to play a bigger part.
As it turns out, the early versions of the show reportedly leaned more into adult drama, especially Joyce, Hopper, and Lonnie. So at one point, it looked like Lonnie might’ve had a deeper storyline. But that direction didn’t survive past season 1. As the series expanded and Hawkins’ kids took center stage, the show’s tone changed. And, Lonnie simply didn’t fit into the emotional core anymore.
Ross Partridge Opens Up About What Altered Lonnie’s Story
Ross Partridge, who played Lonnie, recently talked about how his character Lonnie faded away eventually in Stranger Things in an interview with Netflix Junkie. He shared that when ‘Stranger Things’ was still in its early script stages, the adult characters had much more story arcs, including Lonnie. But once filming began and the young cast gained momentum, everything changed.
He said the kids quickly became a major part of the storyline that you’d expect from a classic Spielberg movie. And, because of that, the writers naturally focused on them. According to Partridge, the adults’ storylines “became less important,” which explains why Lonnie never returned. However, Joyce and Hopper’s arcs stayed relevant due to their direct connection to the kids.
In case you missed it: Jonathan Byers Will Finally Get His Moment In ‘Stranger Things’ Season 5
Partridge also mentioned that he felt there were more layers to Lonnie, especially regarding his past with Joyce and their sons, but viewers never got to see that perspective. At the same time, he admitted that, as a parent himself, he could never justify abandoning a child. And he completely understood why audiences disliked Lonnie so intensely.
Now, season 5 is finally giving Will the spotlight. It will include answers about what really happened to him in the Upside Down and how Vecna is tied to it. When the interviewer asked whether Lonnie might factor into that closure, there was no assurance from his side. Based on what he said, it sounds like Lonnie won’t be popping up in the final season either.
Heading into season 5, the Byers family has bigger things to handle than reconnecting with someone who only cares when there’s something in it for him. Joyce, Will, Jonathan, Eleven, Hopper; they’ve built a tight, loyal support system, and they don’t need Lonnie messing that up. Still, Lonnie hasn’t been erased from the franchise entirely. He appears in the stage production ‘Stranger Things: The First Shadow,’ which shows his early high school relationship with Joyce. It will at least give us a little peek at life before monsters and trauma took over.
