#Mike Wheeler loves Will Byers

[gayregina]

Hate to bring Gracie abrams into this but why the fuck is this song straight up about Byler?

I saw the song title and my Byler-deprived brain put it on automatically, just to figure out those were the lyrics?

All the missed calls Will doesn’t know about? Will falling for Mike’s apologies every time anyway and clinging to every last bit of hope he has for their relationship? Even as he sacrifices his feelings to save his crush’s and sister’s relationship, feeling like a fool? Even if he still lights up at every tender look, every soft smile Mike offers him until it kills him?

Please duffers give me the goddamned teaser. I AM GOING INSANE!

[marinhosh]

wdym it's gay leaving lipstick marks on your best friend?

yayyy my first digital drawing!!! 🎉

I said I would finish and post this drawing like what, a week ago? haha yeah, procrastination is a sad thing.

In my defense I had no idea what I was doing so it took me a long time to finish this one.

inspired by the beautiful design of @bujomoss

[human-being-on-earth]

I need more sassy Will Byers in my life istg

[mikewheelerisaboyliker]

[byler2025]

incoming byler theory, shoegate!!!

So we've seen Mike wearing Will's shoes in s5 for whatever reason.... but could it be symbolism?

in simple words, literally AND figuratively Mike is putting himself in Will's shoes. figuratively, because s5 Mike is going to experience what s4 Will went through. Their roles are going to be reversed.

the phrase "to put yourself in someone else's shoes" is to experience (or at least imagine) what they went/are going through.

firstly, s4 was strictly filmed from Will's pov, showing almost nothing from Mike's. this does make it feel as if mikes character arc has been left on a cliff hanger since the ending of s3, where we did get to see more into Mike's mind, and that spoke a lot to us.

so far, what we can confirm is that Will Byers is in love with Mike Wheeler, mostly from his pov being the main focus of the love triangle in s4. they made it clear for us. yet, Mike's perspective is still blurry.

thats the main reason why i think it would only make sense for s5 to show Mike's pov a LOT, and reveal some things that weren't necessarily obvious in s4 (for one, Mike's feelings for Will).

knowing we're finally going to be seeing Mike's pov, we'll see him pining over Will, just like Will did s4. they are going to switch their roles on screen, we'll see Mike, now that he doesn't have to deal with his relationship issues with El and his (not necessarily) new issue of how he doesn't think Will could ever love him back. and Will, is going to be trying to resolve issues with his connections to vecna.

my main point is, the writers are going to figuratively put Mike in wills shoes. Mike is going to be pining over Will this season, and it will be explicitly shown this time.

not done!!!

these are Mike and Will's shoes in s2. keep note of the designs and colors.

these are Mike's shoes in s5. coincidentally (not), they have the same design as his shoes in s2. but the colors seem to be the opposite?

now these are Will's shoes in s5. they too keep the same design as his own shoes in s2, and the colors are opposite, just like Mike's shoes.

or... the colors are reversed.

Mike and Will's shoes kept the same designs from s2, but the colors are reversed, just like their roles will be in s5.

[byler-alarmist]

📣📣 PUZZLE TALES NEW CHARA DROP

It's GRANDPA SWEATER MIKE WHEELER!!!

Very amazing and we love to see the throwback! It's nice to see Mike in his element again (blue) and solving problems. Plus, his in-game descriptor is "Codebreaker," a reminder that Mike Wheeler is indeed the dude that puts the puzzle pieces together. Indeed, he has not one but two abilities related to patterns.

(family ties, eh? 👀)

But here is how I know they are throwing treats to hungry Bylers specifically:

The event is called Lost Connection, and JUST LOOK at how they describe it:

HELLO???!?!?!?!

This is soooooo a nod to Mike calling Will in Lenora.

The truth is going to come out eventually!!!

Also, it's really cute that they have now released both Mike and Will from the Miwi season. Spy and Codebreaker 💛💙

[rawrx3ky-txt]

Finn has a streak of acting as queer characters in love with their best friend.

He sure as hell ain’t gonna break it now.

[elephantshoetoo]

If "forced conformity" is what's killing the kids...

...then Vecna represents forced conformity and can only be beaten by a love that doesn't conform.

Enter Byler to save the day.

💙💛💚

[braingobrrr]

thinking about how mike canonically practically obsesses over will’s art since they were kids, being his biggest fan and supporter. and then will moves to lenora and mike hadn’t gotten to see a new Will Byers Art Piece™ in such a Long Time. so when will shows him the painting, mike’s instant reaction is being transfixed and mesmerized while trying to take it all in and then just getting the biggest smile on his face. he loves will’s art (and will. he adores will). he’s always loved it and he always will.

[pinksmonkey]

GUYS, NEW BYLER THEORY VIDEO JUST DROPPED! :O

Stop whatever you're doing, this is serious. Lol.

[dapperapple]

I want

no

I fucking NEED "Smalltown Boy" to play over a of scene in Stranger Things s5

one that focuses in on Mike

whether it's just him in danger

him noticing that Will is in danger

him noticing that they're both in danger

DOESN'T MATTER, DON'T CARE

aside from the fact that he is literally a certified smalltown boy

the song just matches the vibes of the show so well

and look, it may be not be "Running Up That Hill" level cinematic BUT

the chorus: "run away, turn away, run away, turn away"

I mean come ON

show me that stick-bug-boy using those stilts he calls legs to do just that please

and I mean

if Byler is going to be canon

then the fact that this song is 1st up on Mike Wheeler's official playlist

yknow

a song about queer youth needing to leave their small-ass homophobic town to go be gay or whatever

is significant

and could be put to perfect use

and I think it absolutely should be

[marinhosh]

cutie patootie

Reference:

[jaegerisim]

[gayregina]

It never fails to amaze me how much El is compared to Will throughout the show in general and how it affects both these characters’ relationships with Mike specifically. Here’s some thoughts as I wait for the new year:

Similar characteristics, both outside and behaviour-like, aside (saviour complex, immense trauma, tons of guilt, being deemed different and a freak and feeling like a mistake because of it, hell even their connection to the upside down etc) the duffers have never shied away from openly comparing them.

Even from episode one, ever since Will goes missing, whenever Hopper is searching for Will, he’s actually following El around. We see some guy at the police department reporting El as strange activity, thinking she was a boy and specifically Will. Now El’s general outlook in season 1 resembles a boy (Brenner, you tasteless son of a bitch) and that’s definitely an interesting choice concerning the person who ends up taking a liking towards El.

That’s right, Mike. Mike who is constantly looking for Will ever since he went missing and meets El because of it, who keeps El around in hopes she can help them find him(at first at least), whose breakdown we focus on the most, who goes against every logical explanation and even a seemingly dead body of his said-friend to prove to everyone else that Will is indeed still alive and needs their help. Mike who has never left Will’s side ever since kindergarten and who puts protecting his friends and Will specifically above all else. Mike, who Lucas claims hasn’t had any sort of meaningful relationship with girls because they are grossed out by him and who is the only one that defends Will against Troy’s homophobic comments actively and physically. Seeing a pattern yet?

And because life is funny like that (duffers I am watching you) Mike’s first words to El are and I quote: “That’s not Will”

Taking into account that later on, El and Will end up becoming literally family, their similarities cannot be denied. That being said, let’s focus on El’s and Will’s relationship with Mike.

First things first, let’s face a truth. Mike had never had to deal with both Will and El and the feelings that are associated with each person at the same time up until the very end of season 2(I would say season 3 but okay). And why is that important, you may ask? Well, because in each season we can clearly see his priorities and how they affect his behaviour.

In season 1, in the absence of Will, Mike never stopped looking for his friend, constantly coming up with ways to help Will directly (searching in the woods with Dustin and Lucas) or indirectly (using El to try and contact him). His first and foremost concern and sole purpose is finding Will and making sure he’s safe. No easy task, as it turned out. Meanwhile his behaviour towards El differs and is based (on some level) on her growing importance in finding Will. Of course, there is genuine affection as well and it’s obvious by the end of the season that Mike cares a whole deal about El.

Now there is an interesting shift in season 2. Although we see how much Mike is affected by El’s absence and we see Mike still seeking her out through the walkie talkie, he never actually actively looks for her, even though he isn’t convinced of her “death”. Again Mike focuses on Will as he struggles through his newfound connection to the upside down and later on his possession, without ever leaving his side, even if he was scared and/or in danger. Once again he takes on the role of Will’s protector and exceeds in it (if I may say so). Those days he’s being very affectionate and vulnerable towards Will and he isn’t afraid to open up and talk about his feelings and issues (one of them being El’s absence, mind you).

The tables are turned in season 3 where for the first time Mike has to “choose” between Will and El in a way. As we see from early on, the friend group has complicated feelings towards Mike’s and El’s relationship and they especially have a lot to say about how Mike’s attention is focused for the first time mainly on El, causing conflict between the friends (“it’s romantic” “it’s gross” “it’s bullshit”). Meanwhile, Mike is ignoring his other friends, especially Will, running late for dates and refusing to play dnd. He is particularly hurting Will (“it’s not my fault you don’t like girls” ouch) who is trying to come to terms with his stolen childhood and the fact that everyone around him seems to have moved on. We notice a more angry and regretful version of Mike, one that stumbles over his words and says the wrong thing at the wrong time. He goes on his own personal arc from the start of season 3 (I think), one filled with guilt and shame that has yet to be resolved (I think).

The important thing is that in both seasons 3 and 4, Mike struggles in prioritising his relationships and can’t seem to choose between his best friend and his girlfriend. In season 4, we get a grande display of miscommunication between the happy couple and once El has gone to retrieve her powers, Mike once again confines in Will and restores their bond(not to its full potential but we are getting there,trust). Mike doesn’t seem to even be able to spell the word “love”, let alone communicate it to El when she needs it the most (although he doesn’t seem to struggle opening up to Will, just saying). El is Mike’s proclaimed superMAN, so I am just gonna leave it at that note.

In conclusion, Mike’s got a hell of a challenge as the heart of the group and he’s gotta accept what his own heart tells him, whatever that is.

Will and El, no matter their similarities, are not the same but they deserve the absolute best nonetheless. Best badass sibling duo EVER.

-

Happy new year, everyone! Best wishes to all<3

[gay-episode]

Hi! It's been almost 2 years and I STILL can't believe that this picture actually exists

[byler-alarmist]

I could see Mike doing his own version of the van scene/Will's painting confession in S5 where, because he is a writer, he tells a little story but it's clear to us and Will that the characters are stand-ins for their own relationship and reveals his feelings for Will.