Mandy
After years of anticipation, Stranger Things Season 5 has finally begun. The long wait after Season 4’s cliffhanger left viewers hungry for answers, and the first volume delivers the return of nearly every major character — except for one notable fan favorite.
The group of heroes from Hawkins has expanded significantly since Season 1. What started as a small group of four kids is now a full ensemble that includes a former Police Chief, a local radio host, a skateboarder fighting for her life, and the powerful Eleven. But one character from Season 4 is nowhere to be found — and the show doesn’t even acknowledge his absence.
Argyle Is Completely Missing From Season 5 Volume 1
Introduced in Season 4, Argyle quickly became a standout with his laid-back humor and strong bond with Jonathan after the Byers family relocated to California.
His outsider perspective and comedic energy brought levity to a season filled with dark, intense moments. Because of that, many viewers expected to see him again in Season 5.
Instead, Argyle does not appear at all in Volume 1, nor is he mentioned by any character in the first four episodes.
Actor Eduardo Franco previously confirmed that he was never contacted about returning for Season 5. In terms of story logistics, the explanation makes sense: Argyle still lives in California, while the Byers family has now moved back to Hawkins, staying with the Wheelers.
Narratively, the show may have struggled to balance such a large cast. With so many key players and multiple storylines converging in the final season, adding more characters risked overwhelming the plot.
Why Argyle Might Have Been Left Out
Season 5 is designed to bring the core arc of Mike, Will, Lucas, Dustin, and Eleven to a meaningful close.
With the show preparing to wrap up on December 31, it makes sense that the focus shifts back to the original cast while they still have time for a proper send-off.
At the same time, new faces have joined the story:
- Doctor Kay is introduced as a mysterious figure whose motivations remain unclear.
- Derek Turnbow and Holly Wheeler receive increased screen time.
- Additional characters are expected to gain prominence in Volume 2 (avoiding spoilers here).
With so many threads to tie together, Argyle’s absence appears to be a pacing decision rather than an oversight.
Could Argyle Still Return?
There’s still hope. Volume 2 may include a brief update about Argyle’s fate, or Jonathan might reference him in passing.
And with a Stranger Things spin-off in development, Argyle could easily reappear in future stories.
For now, fans can imagine him back in California, making legendary Surfer Boy pizzas and living his best life.
The return of Stranger Things Season 5 brings back nearly the entire beloved cast — except for Argyle, whose sudden disappearance has left fans confused and disappointed.
His absence, likely tied to story priorities and cast size, doesn’t erase his impact from Season 4. With Volume 2 still on the horizon and a spin-off in the works, there’s still a chance Argyle’s story isn’t over yet.