'Stranger Things': Why Troy Walsh was by far the most evil bully who deserves to stay gone
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: In the shadowy corridors of Hawkins town in Indiana, where hidden truths lie beneath the surface, Netflix's 'Stranger Things' has introduced us to a spectrum of characters, each contributing their shades to the narrative canvas.
Among them stands Troy Walsh (portrayed by Peyton Wich), a figure steeped in profound bitterness, embodying the chilling essence of a bully. From the outset, Troy embodies the classic archetype of tormentor, wielding his influence with an ironclad hold over his peers.
His imposing presence instills fear in those who dare to cross his path, casting a pervasive shadow over their lives. Delve deeper into Troy Walsh's character to unravel the intricacies of his bullying tendencies within the realm of the young gangs, shedding light on why he emerges as a figure shrouded in darkness.
Will Troy Walsh return in 'Stranger Things' Season 5?
Troy Walsh embodied the quintessential bully archetype, leaving an indelible imprint on both the characters within 'Stranger Things' and its audience. Upon his introduction, it becomes evident that Troy derives pleasure from tormenting and harassing fellow children, particularly those who diverge from his rigid standards of 'normalcy'.
In the early days of the series, Troy targeted Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo), Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin), and Will (Noah Schnapp) repeatedly. They were just a group of kids trying to navigate the challenges of dramatic things unfolding in the show, but Troy made their lives a living nightmare.
He didn't stop at mere teasing or name-calling; Troy's bullying went to extreme lengths, even mocking Will's disappearance, which was a deeply traumatic event for everyone involved.
The breaking point came during Will's memorial when Troy and his sidekick, James (Cade Jones), continued their verbal assault on the group. Mike finally stood up for himself, but it was Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) who truly turned the tables on the bullies by using her powers to embarrass Troy in front of everyone.
The chances of Troy Walsh making a comeback in Season 5 of 'Stranger Things' are slim. His character's negative influence and the show's evolving storyline make his return unlikely.
However, if his character marks a comeback in Season 5, the only possibility can be: Troy undergoes a transformative journey, showing remorse for his past actions and seeking redemption against Eleven as a side character. Troy can become a pawn for Vecna, becoming a formidable ally to the show's main villain.
This would reintroduce him as a significant threat to the protagonists, adding complexity to the storyline.
Internet pours their hatred for Troy Walsh's villain arc
Troy's distinction as the most sinister bully isn't solely attributed to his actions but also to his glaring lack of empathy or remorse. As the series unfolded, his absence was a welcome relief. With his departure, Hawkins was freed from his oppressive shadow, enabling the characters to direct their attention towards more urgent concerns, such as the looming threats from the Upside Down.
Troy Walsh was a reminder of the ugliness that can lurk within human nature. Loathing Troy, users penned various comments on Reddit's 'Stranger Things' community, for example, a user showing his frustration stated: "TROY IS A BASTARD MAN!"
While one user compared Troy with other villains on the show and wrote: "There have been some pretty terrible bullies all around, but Troy did quite literally nearly murder Mike. So. Yeah."
Another user compared Troy with Angela (Elodie Grace Orkin) and Tommy calling him a psychopath: "Its actually scary how people hate bullies who are just jerks like Angela and Tommy Hagan and Jason then they do Troy who’s an actual psychopath, but I feel like that could be because your more likely to deal with people like Angela , Hagan and Jason than you are a knife wielding psychopath bully like Troy."
A frustrated user pointed out various villain arcs in Troy's character and wrote: "Had and If Billy is 2017 Henry Bowers, Troy is the book Henry Bowers. Racist, homophobic, laughed at someone's funeral and nearly forced a kid into suicide by threatening to mutilate his friend."
On the other hand, a user recalled the moment when Eleven broke Troy's arm: "Yeah this kid is a fucking psycho. even his friend saw something wrong with what he was doing. el breaking his arm was very satisfying"
Following that a user sarcastically compared Troy with Vecna and penned: "Bro made Vecna seem chill" However, it seems not everyone agrees with Troy being the worst, as one fan said: "Troy was more cartoony, which is why I think Angela is the worst, she seems like a bully you'd more likely have to deal with in real life."
A lot of people hated Troy Walsh because of his psychopathic behavior as he didn't care about how others felt and he was mean to others. Fans were really happy when he disappeared from the show because he made the main gang divert from their real chores.
Without him around, the characters could focus on bigger problems without his mean attitude ruining things. Again, it's highly unlikely that Troy Walsh will return for Season 5 of 'Stranger Things'. Given the character's negative impact and the narrative's progression, bringing him back would undermine the show's direction.
'Stranger Things' trailer
'Stranger Things' is available for streaming on Netflix.