itsonlystrange

[itsonlystrange]

Basically it all comes down to this:

Will's personal arc includes thinking he's not going to find love because of his sexuality, therefore we need to see him experience a romantic relationship for the first time, or the show would just be proving him right

The show has been building up his feelings for Mike for multiple seasons, to the point where he's deeply, unconditionally and selflessly in love with Mike (and there is no other character that could be his love interest in S5 anyway)

So, either Byler is endgame, or the show is -intentionally or not- homophobic. It's that simple. And this show has proven time and time again that it is very anti-homophobia, so... whether you like it or not, there's really only one conclusion that would make sense here.

[itsonlystrange]

ik we all know this but if byler isn’t endgame, mike wheeler is low-key insane and genuinely mean

literally awkwardly bro punching someone he’s been best friends with for years

having suddenly no interest in his friend’s hobby even though he was will’s biggest supporter for years (not to mention he wasn’t interested in hearing about his potential crush too, he just conveniently ignored that specific part of the letter)

him not writing to Will at all? making Will think he hasn’t tried to call? (okay, Will could have put more effort into it too but at least we know he didn’t because he is scared of losing Mike, so what’s Mike’s excuse? Wdym he thinks reaching out to his best friend is romantic?)

“you basically sabotaged the whole day!” ouch (imagine birthdaygate is real too, double ouch)

“we’re friends! we’re friends.” no one said otherwise? relax? 🤨

“it’s not my fault you don’t like girls!” ??? you know people have been homophobic towards Will his entire life, what is wrong with you. Like imagine being Will, this must have been genuinely so hurtful to hear from someone you trusted your life with, him making fun of Will’s dnd campaign right before that too

not to mention the arguments between him and El in s4, made poor girl feel like a monster AND called her ridiculous too. Yikes

and to top it all off, Will STILL sacrifices his feelings for Mike and El to be happy, both in the van and in the monologue scene. Like okay.

If Mike doesn’t have any romantic feelings for Will he has become a whole mean mess

why would you want to root for a character like that? Like yea he’s young but so are all the other characters and they don’t act this way… Knowing Will sacrificed his feelings for a heterosexual relationship, makes it hard to potentially enjoy mileven again (which is either the point or they messed up the writing big time in this)

[itsonlystrange]

i think one of the key differences is that; the reason mike and el fight is because they ARE in a relationship, whereas the reason mike and will fight is because they AREN’T in a relationship.

i think that ought to say a lot.

[itsonlystrange]

Okay so not only does Mike not successfully apologise to El and instead always apologises to Will and knows exactly where he went wrong every time and takes full accountability -

Will's like,,,, the only one he really explicitly says sorry to, for all his behaviour, without any excuses.

(He obviously has that thing in S1 with Lucas, but he takes years to apologist bruh, and i honestly think that arc was just supposed to introduce the fact he can't apologise that well to anyone)

Yelling at El in Season 1? Nope

Being mad at Lucas in Season 1? Very very reluctantly and after a long time of being separated. This storyline sets up the fact he doesn't like apologising anyways.

Being mean to Max in Season 2? Nope

Lying to El in Season 3? Excuses Excuses and a lot of fucking moping

Being mean to Max AGAIN in S3? Nah

Yelling at Hopper? Duh no

Hurting Will's feelings? Bikes through the rain the same night instead of waiting a second and bangs on his door, taking responsibility without excuses. Then when Will doesn't answer he searches in the forest for him, again, in a thunderstorm.

Getting upset at El at Rink o Mania? Tries to apologise but then doubles down when he gets confronted AGAINNN

Not telling El he loves her? More excuses (you could say he 'apologises' in the monologue. but cmon buddy)

Being cold to Will all day? Apologises to Will and doesn't let Will say that it's his fault at all. Instead of making a dumb excuse, he explains that he just felt like he'd lost him in a heartfelt way. He gives Will what he wanted by saying they'd be best friends, like Will said.

Yeah so Will brings out the best in Mike okay we been knew

[itsonlystrange]

i will never understand how this:

is widely accepted as a gay yearning stare,

but this:

is not.

[itsonlystrange]

this shot is genuinely so devastating to me because he’s so terrified.

he’s terrified to say that he loves el.

he’s terrified that if he doesn’t say that he loves her, she’ll die.

he’s terrified that if he does say he loves her, he won’t be able to turn back.

he’s terrified that maybe he doesn’t love her the way he should.

he’s terrified of his true feelings.

he’s terrified of himself.

[itsonlystrange]

here's the compilation of Mike's sus/fruity moments from The Dustin Experiment as promised! there's so much analysis one can do on these and i would LOVE to, so i may, who knows?

bonus:

Will being himself: the heart of the party, sacrificer of his own feelings so others can be happy <3

TAGLISTT!: @miwiheroes @shadowyyyidk @kissboybyler @zesty-boysquad

[itsonlystrange]

us: will is gay

them: nahh

*will is confirmed as gay*

us: will is in love with mike

them: nahhhh

*will is confirmed to be in love with mike*

us: byler is endgame

them, sweating: nahhhhhhhh

[itsonlystrange]

guys. This is uncanny, TRULY…was done on purpose it’s painfully obvious I’m gonna scream, the composition the smile LITERALLY THE ANGLE??

[itsonlystrange]

Remember when two endgame Stranger Things couples had a heart-to-heart in the back of a moving vehicle in episode "Papa"?

[itsonlystrange]

On my millionth rewatch of stranger things and how the actual FUCK did I miss this parallel????

(And it’s all the season before they get together lmao)

[itsonlystrange]

BRO GETS IT IDK IF U HAVE TUMBLR BUT KISS ME ON THE MOUTH

[itsonlystrange]

he’s shaking his head.

oh my god i’m sick.

[itsonlystrange]

The most obvious Byler proof is this Jancy - Byler parallel:

Nancy not being able to say "I love you" to Steve

And then going to Johnathan for comfort and advice

Mike not being able to say "I love you" to El

And then going to Will for comfort and advice

Not only that, the car scenes are very similar

- sitting on a car

- soda

- Wheeler on (their) right

- Byers on (their) left

Byler endgame is real guys 😋

There is so much more proof btw and don't come at me with "Oh but Mike is straight!" Just search up "Mike Wheeler queercoding and watch the video by Lesbianmindflayer about it, you might have to pause to read tho, or there's also another video which is longer by someone else but I haven't seen it yet so can't say anything about it. You will see that he is so much more queercoded than Will himself, the canon (confirmed) gay character.

Heartmilheart out

[itsonlystrange]

i feel like i'm on another plane of existence from the rest of this fandom bc why don't we ever talk about "he was quiet today." "he's always quiet." do u understand the ways in which those two lines alone establishe smth so specific and unique about mike and will's relationship from mike's perspective more than any other line in the show. mike observes something wrong with will, lucas dismisses it as that's how he always is. he's always quiet. but not to mike????? wdym mike doesn't view him as quiet. even joyce and jonathan acknowledge him as a "quiet boy". this paired with the rink-o-mania fight... "you were barely talking."/"you're mad that i didn't talk to you." i'm gonna be so fucking pissed if this shit doesn't happen. like the main reason being it feels like spitting in the face of good writing. how do u do all this accidentally????

[itsonlystrange]

well that's fucked up

[itsonlystrange]

Stfu....😭