Charlie Heaton Reacts to Jonathan’s Reduced Screen Time on ‘Stranger Things’ Season 4

By now, we’ve all binged watched the latest season of Stranger Things. And despite all the meme-worthy moments and the constant loop of “Running Up That Hill” in our collective brains, there’s something else that stands out from season 4 part 1…namely, a lack of Charlie Heaton’s face on our screens. Yes, our fave big brother Jonathan didn’t have as prominent a role this time around. And yes, people were quick to take to social media to lament it. Sad Twitter content, ahead:

Recently, however, Charlie spoke with British GQ about the reaction and gave insight on his own feelings about Jonathan’s arc in season 4. When asked point-blank about whether he believed Jonathan’s storyline had been relegated in season 4, he answered, “I’ve definitely seen some forums like Screenrant or something—‘What happened to the character?’ 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.”

The actor then took a moment to reflect on and laud season 4’s creative execution, noting, “The Hawkins storyline this year is totally out of Nightmare on Elm Street. It’s really exciting to see the show go in that direction.” Charlie *also* hinted that the season’s final two episodes—which are set to premiere on July 1—will put Jonathan’s love connection with Nancy Wheeler (played by Charlie’s IRL long-term girlfriend Natalia Dyer) to the test. 👀

The actor concluded by giving fans a hint at his character’s ultimate progression, saying, “We find him in a place of questioning himself and his relationship. You want the people to be invested in them. Sometimes it blurs into one. Me and Natalia have been together for a long time, so you’ve even got to separate it yourself sometimes.”

*sigh* *continues to count down the days until season 4 part 2*

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