#Gonna be reblogging this w/ the trio’s parallels to other love triangles

[blundering-owl]

The will / mike / el love triangle has a lot of parallels with other love triangles (specifically touching on the media the Duffers referenced in ST).

Luke / Leia / Han Solo — there are a lot of misconceptions about the dynamics of this trio. I’ve seen others say Will = Han Solo, Mike = Leia, and El = Luke; but! this is only because Mike is the center of his love triangle, and has little to do with how the individual characters relate to each other. Obviously, the Duffers take huge inspiration from the og Star Wars trilogy, so these characters being similar to their counterparts in Star Wars is intentional.

In actuality, Will = Leia, Mike = Han Solo, and El = Luke. Let’s imagine, for a second, that Han Solo is the center of the love triangle (and that the incest subplot didn't happen).

El Byers-Hopper = Luke Skywalker Let’s start with the obvious: El and Luke both have telekinetic powers (although El’s extend to seeing into other people’s minds). Both characters start off as “orphans,” (with El being told by both Brenner and Hopper that her mom is dead — and, I’d assume, her bio dad as well) told by mentors and / or parental figures that their respective parents are dead (Obi Wan tells Luke that Darth Vader killed Anakin Skywalker, when they were one in the same) and Luke and El later find out that this is a lie. Also, both Hopper and Obi Wan say this because it’s an “easier” explanation. Like Luke, El is also a fraternal twin (although she and Will aren’t biologically related, they very closely resemble fraternal twins, so much so that they are known in-fandom as the Wonder Twins. They were likely mistaken for twins in Lenora, and several people have pointed out how closely El resembles Joyce in ST4 before her head is shaved).

Also, and this isn’t an in-show thing (nor was it an intention by the writers), but when ST4 dropped so many people were in denial about Will’s sexuality that they genuinely believed (or at least said) that Will was “in love” with El (his SISTER). So. George Lucas would probably find that funny.

Will Byers = Leia Skywalker / Organa Like Leia, Will is a leader in his own right (think: Will and Mike often make decisions together, and it’s implied this is something they’ve likely done as long as they’ve known each other). Leia and Will also exhibits more “masculine” or tomboyish traits than either El or Mike. Leia also starts the trilogy needing to be rescued (like Will in ST1). Will tends to be put in this position a lot, but like Leia, he’s competent in his own right (either by holding his own and surviving until others rescue him, or, as well hopefully see in ST5, he’ll be the one doing the rescuing). Will and Leia are also the twins not born with powers (although Will gains True Sight as a result of his time in the Upside Down, which he uses to spy on the Mindflayer, and Vecna through him, in ST2). This is also a smaller detail but both characters have a tendency to be sassy, usually with their respective love interests (Will with Mike, Leia with Han Solo). Both Will and Leia are also warriors, aside from being diplomatic, and have both used guns (or “blasters” in the case of Star Wars).

Mike Wheeler = Han Solo Starting with character traits: both characters are extremely loyal to their friends. They’re both sarcastic and snarky, and have a tendency to come off as an asshole. Also, Mike has heroic tendencies (although, it’s due to survivor’s guilt) and tend to be the de facto leaders of their respective groups. I wanna point out another similarity: specifically, the fight between Han and Leia in The Empire Strikes Back (1980). Below, I’ve transcribed it as best as I could, and I’m gonna go over the similarities between it and byler’s fights.

[Han Solo] “Come onnn. You want me to stay because of the way you feel about me.”

[Leia Organa] “Yes! You’ve been a great help to us. You’re a natural leader.”

[Han Solo] “No! That’s not it.” [pause] “C’mon. Ehh? C’mon!”

[Leia Organa] “You’re imagining things.”

[Han Solo] “Am I? Then why are you following me? Afraid I was gonna leave without giving you a goodbye kiss?”

[Leia Organa] “I’d just as soon kiss a wookie.”

[Han Solo, angrily] “I can arrange that!” [off-screen] “and it’s YOU they’re gonna kiss!”

In this scene, Han is projecting about his feelings for Leia. Also, if I remember correctly, Leia had already developed feelings for Han at this point. As we’ve established, Mike was projecting during both the rain fight in ST3 and the Rink O Mania fight in ST4 (“It’s not my fault you don’t like girls” and “We’re friends! We’re friends!”) both being examples of Mike’s internalized homophobia. Mike is obviously paralleling Han here (they’re even on the same side of the screen during most of their respective fights). Although both Will and Leia have feelings for Mike and Han respectively when these fights take place, it is Mike and Han who bring up romantic implications / view the interaction as romantic (although obviously Han is more cavalier about this). Also, in both cases, Leia and Will genuinely mean what they’re saying platonically, regardless of their preexisting feelings for their love interests.

[blundering-owl]

Nancy / Jonathan / Steve — The dynamics of these two love triangles are much less divisive (and Mike / Will / El have lots more obvious parallels to them as well).

Mike Wheeler = Nancy Wheeler Mike and Nancy already have several narrative parallels, (like their survivor’s guilt plot lines in st2) but I think this is the most obvious. (Maybe one day I’ll make a post about the other ones I’ve noticed.)

Firstly, both Mike and Nancy are in their initial relationships because they’re trying to conform to expectations (Nancy because she’s expected to settle down and be a housewife, Mike because he’s got internalized homophobia). Nancy knows she isn’t in love with Steve, but she’s scared to break up with him because it means leaving “safety” (Steve, in this case) behind. Mike also stays with El at the end of st3 because he’s using her as a beard (and throughout st3 he was dating her in the hopes of making his feelings for Will “go away”).

Stancy and Mileven both make out to cheesy music. They each also have a scene where the guy starts singing and the girl, obviously not into it, shuts him up. Remember, couples who sing together, stay together (Lumax & Duzie). Stancy’s “big romantic moment” is intercut with Barb, Nancy’s best friend, getting murdered. Mileven’s so-called “big romantic moment,” the monologue, is intercut with Max, El’s best friend, getting murdered.

Also, both Nancy and Mike lie to their respective partners (Steve and El) and say “I love you.” (Nancy while drunk, Mike after Will pushed him to say it.)

Will Byers = Jonathan Byers This is funny. Both Mike and Will have parallels to their older siblings. Hm.

Like Jonathan, Will is considered a freak by those around him. Although neither chose this title, it’s something they’ve had to live with. Both also experience homophobic bullying (although Jonathan’s seems to be much less frequent than Will’s, from what we’ve seen). Also, both Will and Jonathan are artistic (though their talents lie in different mediums).

Will and Mike, like Jonathan and Nancy, understand each other in ways that no one else can (add some shared trauma, as Murray said, and you’ve got a perfect recipe). Will and Jonathan are the “freedom,” while El and Steve are the “conformity.”

El Byers-Hopper = Steve Harrington This one is probably the quickest. El, for Mike, represents safety (social safety). By dating her, Mike hopes to be perceived as straight (he should’ve tried harder bc Angela & co. clocked him IMMEDIATELY lmao) so he doesn’t have to leave the safety of the closet. El and Steve both have one-sided feelings for Mike and Nancy, and are (understandably) hurt when they realize their respective partners lied about being in love with them. Both El and Steve throw Mike and Nancy’s words back in their faces during their respective breakups.

The will / mike / el love triangle has a lot of parallels with other love triangles (specifically touching on the media the Duffers referenced in ST).

Luke / Leia / Han Solo — there are a lot of misconceptions about the dynamics of this trio. I’ve seen others say Will = Han Solo, Mike = Leia, and El = Luke; but! this is only because Mike is the center of his love triangle, and has little to do with how the individual characters relate to each other. Obviously, the Duffers take huge inspiration from the og Star Wars trilogy, so these characters being similar to their counterparts in Star Wars is intentional.

In actuality, Will = Leia, Mike = Han Solo, and El = Luke. Let’s imagine, for a second, that Han Solo is the center of the love triangle (and that the incest subplot didn't happen).

El Byers-Hopper = Luke Skywalker

Let’s start with the obvious: El and Luke both have telekinetic powers (although El’s extend to seeing into other people’s minds). Both characters start off as “orphans,” (with El being told by both Brenner and Hopper that her mom is dead — and, I’d assume, her bio dad as well) told by mentors and / or parental figures that their respective parents are dead (Obi Wan tells Luke that Darth Vader killed Anakin Skywalker, when they were one in the same) and Luke and El later find out that this is a lie. Also, both Hopper and Obi Wan say this because it’s an “easier” explanation.

Like Luke, El is also a fraternal twin (although she and Will aren’t biologically related, they very closely resemble fraternal twins, so much so that they are known in-fandom as the Wonder Twins. They were likely mistaken for twins in Lenora, and several people have pointed out how closely El resembles Joyce in ST4 before her head is shaved).

Also, and this isn’t an in-show thing (nor was it an intention by the writers), but when ST4 dropped so many people were in denial about Will’s sexuality that they genuinely believed (or at least said) that Will was “in love” with El (his SISTER). So. George Lucas would probably find that funny.

Will Byers = Leia Skywalker / Organa

Like Leia, Will is a leader in his own right (think: Will and Mike often make decisions together, and it’s implied this is something they’ve likely done as long as they’ve known each other). Leia and Will also exhibits more “masculine” or tomboyish traits than either El or Mike. Leia also starts the trilogy needing to be rescued (like Will in ST1). Will tends to be put in this position a lot, but like Leia, he’s competent in his own right (either by holding his own and surviving until others rescue him, or, as well hopefully see in ST5, he’ll be the one doing the rescuing). Will and Leia are also the twins not born with powers (although Will gains True Sight as a result of his time in the Upside Down, which he uses to spy on the Mindflayer, and Vecna through him, in ST2).

This is also a smaller detail but both characters have a tendency to be sassy, usually with their respective love interests (Will with Mike, Leia with Han Solo).

Both Will and Leia are also warriors, aside from being diplomatic, and have both used guns (or “blasters” in the case of Star Wars).

Mike Wheeler = Han Solo

Starting with character traits: both characters are extremely loyal to their friends. They’re both sarcastic and snarky, and have a tendency to come off as an asshole. Also, Mike has heroic tendencies (although, it’s due to survivor’s guilt) and tend to be the de facto leaders of their respective groups.

I wanna point out another similarity: specifically, the fight between Han and Leia in The Empire Stikes Back (1980). Below, I’ve transcribed it as best as I could, and I’m gonna go over the similarities between it and byler’s fights.

[Han Solo] “Come onnn. You want me to stay because of the way you feel about me.”

[Leia Organa] “Yes! You’ve been a great help to us. You’re a natural leader.”

[Han Solo] “No! That’s not it.” [pause] “C’mon. Ehh? C’mon!”

[Leia Organa] “You’re imagining things.”

[Han Solo] “Am I? Then why are you following me? Afraid I was gonna leave without giving you a goodbye kiss?”

[Leia Organa] “I’d just as soon kiss a wookie.”

[Han Solo, angrily] “I can arrange that!” [off-screen] “and it’s YOU they’re gonna kiss!”

In this scene, Han is projecting about his feelings for Leia. Also, if I remember correctly, Leia had already developed feelings for Han at this point. As we’ve established, Mike was projecting during both the rain fight in ST3 and the Rink O Mania fight in ST4 (“It’s not my fault you don’t like girls” and “We’re friends! We’re friends!”) both being examples of Mike’s internalized homophobia. Mike is obviously paralleling Han here (they’re even on the same side of the screen during most of their respective fights). Although both Will and Leia have feelings for Mike and Han respectively when these fights take place, it is Mike and Han who bring up romantic implications / view the interaction as romantic (although obviously Han is more cavalier about this). Also, in both cases, Leia and Will genuinely mean what they’re saying platonically, regardless of their preexisting feelings for their love interests.