#The Rejects Melvin

[themelvorganization]

[whiskeysorrows]

Listening to Hozier and reading Silas Melvin feels like I've reached my personal enlightenment era

[themelvorganization]

MY SKRUNKLY BABIES 😭

Some melvin versions as objects(bowties)✨✨

PPV be side ways(lil goofy man)

Movie be the only one without black outlines

(STFU)

[dukeofdelirium]

it’s so funny to me that melvins are so desperate for their ships endgame that they are begging for Mike to be separated permanently from Will in s5… lmao like… if you’re so confident that melvin will stay together, why do you need Will to be apart from Mike? Why don’t you want Mike to find out about Will being in love with him? Why don’t you want that confrontation? If Mike isn’t in love with Will, then wouldn’t this be a positive for these shippers? Because if Mike doesn’t love Will back and then finds out this info, all he would do is reject Will and then the plot goes on. But they are desperate for this confrontation not to occur… because they know deep down that when it does, it’s going to end with Byler being canon and endgame lol. Because they know deep down that Mike is in love with Will.

[ready2bl0w]

Dante and Vergil Music Headcanons (featuring playlists)

Dante

In my opinion, Dante comes across as someone who dabbles in a variety of genres, although he’s not without his favorites. He certainly favors rock and R&B above all. With Dante, he’s busting out your typical “Dad Rock” artists, alongside some industrial (I swear I’m not saying this because I'm a rivethead). He definitely listens to Nine Inch Nails. Pretty Hate Machine is his favorite album. He listens to some KMFDM (Ready to Blow and Stray Bullet are both Dante-coded). He’s an absolute sucker for that signature rugged mechanical sound. It scratches something in his brain. On the more classic side of things, Dante enjoys his fair share of SOAD, Guns N’ Roses, Alice in Chains, Melvins (does that count as “Dad Rock”???), AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Pearl Jam, and some of the heavier Nirvana tracks. I mean, I could go on and on, but this is just a small scope of what kind of rock he’s bumping.

In terms of R&B, Michael Jackson is a given. I also picture Dante listening to a lot of “hornier” tracks and artists. Thinking Adina Howard's Freak Like Me, Ginuwine’s Pony, and just all of Jodeci in particular. Prince and Janet Jackson are among his favorites as well (he often hums Nasty to himself). Sir Mix-A-Lot would also be in his rotation. Select songs, but nonetheless, when he comes on, Dante can’t help but bob his head ever so slightly to those raunchy tunes.

His guilty pleasures are Barbie Girl and anything the Vengaboys make.

Vergil

Classical music is a given. Tchaikovsky, Wagner, and Mozart are among his favorites. Aside from that, I’ll be honest, I’m unsure as to what else he listens to. Not very familiar with the eldest twin. Although, I can see him playing some tunes from “The Phantom of The Opera,” “Carmen,” and the like (perhaps on an old record player he managed to get his hands on. I imagine he takes jobs alongside Dante sometime after they return from hell, so…). Once he’s settled into the human world, as best as he can, I imagine him experimenting with some gothic music, mainly tracks heavy with orchestral instruments. OH! Add 20’s - 40’s jazz to that as well. Specific songs, however. Not that many, in fact.

Many of the songs listed in the playlist below are NOT songs Vergil would listen to (unfortunately, I don’t think he’d give Bad Apple a try). However, I find the lyrical content fits Vergil well—sometimes to a T.

Take Ethel Cain’s Family Tree (Intro). The second verse goes:

Jesus can always reject his father, But he cannot escape his mother's blood. He'll scream and try to wash it off of his fingers, But he'll never escape what he's made up of.

While Vergil cannot reject his father, he certainly can’t escape the human blood Eva has passed onto him. He does his absolute best to cast away his humanity, operating with the sole purpose of gaining power so that he may never be that helpless boy, pierced by demons and left behind by his family. His efforts are in vain, however, and we see that his humanity still lingers inside him through V.

“He’ll never escape what he’s made up of.”

His guilty pleasure? Earth, Wind & Fire’s Let’s Groove, of course.

[cottoncandiescupcakes]

Seemingly crazy OFMD things that I think are actually real

Izzy is attracted to Stede and hates himself for it. I just ALWAYS see this. It's not just jealousy over Ed because he's not seen as jealous about Ed's other previous lovers. Stede is everything he hates but he just fancies him and it annoys him. Izzy's only love is Ed but he definitely feels a strong attration to Stede. I don't think it's returned, I think Stede only has eyes for Ed. I do think Stede would have been Izzy's close friend over the years.

On that note, Izzy and Lucius are definitely attracted to each other as well but that seems to be mutual up until Pete proposes to Lucius, after which Lucius rejects Izzy's rather blatant seduction attempt with the cigarette.

Ed is attracted to the Swede on some level. Out of the crew he greets him first and he compliments him whenever he sees him and the Swede's siren song triggers Ed's 'Kraken' persona. He pictures Stede Bonnet as a siren or mermaid in his dreams. I think Swede had a shy crush on Ed but after he met Jackie he's over the crush but Ed still would LMAO. You know it's true sorry people.

Another wild theory that is I think real, The Widow Evelyn's(and?) her son Melvin is a serial killer and that is how they keep the funeral business running and possibly Ned the Jaguar fed. Evelyn may have disposed of any of the widows' (abusive?) husbands.

I KNOW this is true. I feel it in my heart.

[tender-emotional-music]

Literally the way the show is paced, the way they’ve written Melvin, and the way they seem to be writing byler as a main pairing in s5 all points toward byler endgame. If Will was getting rejected they wouldn’t slowburn it like this. They would have built up his crush more explicitly in s3 and then resolved the painting thing with a soft rejection and promise of friendship in s4. They certainly wouldn’t have broken down Mleven and built back up byler at the same time. They wouldn’t leave the unresolved painting plot until the final season. They wouldn’t have hinged mlven on Will’s feelings, meaning there needs to be a meaningful pay-off for him. They wouldn’t be making Mike spend all of s5 with Will, rather than his gf. Byler is endgame, guys

I genuinely cannot relate when I see other bylers say they don’t think byler is going to be endgame, like HOW??? I understand having doubts but not thinking they’ll be endgame at all?? Blows my mind. We have a funko of Mike holding Wills painting!!?? And this is coming out before season 5, not right after season 4, they want us to think about the painting going into the 5th season. The end shot of last season?? Mike and Will spending the entire season together, the flowers Mike brought El dying and El holding them while Mike and Will stand with the other couples behind her? Helloooo?

[agenericplaceholdername]

Dragons Rising E6-10 Thoughts

Here’s some thoughts on each episode in the latter half of Dragons Rising, Season 1 Part 1:

Return to Imperium:

The color grading of this opening seems off – almost as if it’s a flashback (it’s not, ofc)

JORDANA SPOTTED

The conveyor belts directing people where to go is so on the nose for an authoritarian society

“It's the perfect companion for anyone that might... be lonely” :(

“Unconventional? Perhaps you can forgive her” man this is seriously dystopian but also pretty funny

Sora in her S1 outfit without headphones is kinda cursed

“Ever since the Merge it’s been you and me” I AGREE ARIN. LET’S KEEP IT THAT WAY

Kai’s Wu impression is great

The Advanced Science Lab? Isn’t it the Advanced Systems Lab?

I HATE SORA’S PARENTS I HATE SORA’S PARENTS

The sewer smash cut is perfect. Beyond the Phantasm Cave implies that Sora actually traveled through the sewers before so at least she had a reason to assume there was no security

The public shaming platform? At least it’s not a two hour YouTube video essay documenting your every misdeed (which I will then watch)

This episode sold me on Sora’s character and is essential for her arc this season

Mindless Beasts:

Like the Rapton ad

The Arin chase scene is fun

I certainly hope nothing bad happens to the new shoulder pad store

The Imperium Teenage Protection Force all have shorter legs, meaning they’re probably slightly younger than Arin (or just short)

Every Wyldfyre line is gold: “If I was your enemy, why would I let you out of your cell?” “If you don’t know, how should I?”

Sora says her family was poisoned against her by LaRow— meaning she believes that her parents would have accepted her if not for LaRow. Ofc, we know later that once they see the truth, they don’t change their mind, so her rejection of them means even more

For a scientist, LaRow isn’t very smart (or lab skills =/= street skills)

“I’ve got a master teaching me all the things I’m doing wrong” Arin no he’s trying to help you

Percival talking about him is the first time Lord Ras is identified in front of Arin — before, he was just the “tiger guy”

Rapton has the perfect combination of incredible arrogance and thin skin

Dorama just wants to show off

Ras has such a deeper voice than in S2

The Hunted soundtrack!

LaRow just can’t stop gloating lol. Not sure how a Photac can capture a source dragon 

This episode is pretty important for Arin and Sora, and introduces Wyldfyre… but also isn’t super interesting

I Will Be the Danger:

Wyldfyre opening! Not what I was expecting when I originally watched but super cool. Not sure where she came from tho

The caregiver-bot helping Wyldfyre train is sweet. I wish she came back later (I know she does in a canon(?) novel and there was a deleted scene, but I wish it had been in the show)

Wyldfyre not knowing certain words is a clever detail that isn’t used often

Percival is so not convincing as an antagonist

JORDANA NAMED??

Considering the other empty holes in the portal gate room—are they supposed to link to other monasteries? Since the one Kai goes through links to the Imperium Monastary?

You probably are famous among ghosts Kai, considering the whole Morro thing

Poor Riyu

Thank you Sora, she really is weird— oh shoot Dorama! forgot about him

“I DON’T THINK YOU UNDERSTAND THE WORDS ‘SHUT UP’!” and then the one take after are pure Wyldfyre gold

The “ninja think Sora betrayed them” plot line could have gone somewhere but didn’t, and honestly I hate bad miscommunication plots so all good

Weird way to end

This episode peaks with the opening scene, and is generally fine outside

The Calm Inside:

Green eyes child Lloyd voiced by Sam Vincent is off putting. I get why they do this but whatever. The lighting/texturing in this scene (maybe bc of the rain) also makes Lloyd and Wu look super plasticy

Good lesson tho, and I’m glad it keeps coming up

Arin and Sora are a great duo

Melvin, remember, always do the bare minimum that gets you paid

And so the Empress joins the main plot

Super cool protective Lloyd is great, leaping down to pull Wyldfyre back from the Photac

What’s his “big plan” Beatrix? Why does Ras want Riyu? “You can’t [drain him] yet. My plan for—” no wait he was about to say it!

Ras is so mad at Beatrix omg

Kai and Nya have interacted more now than in any season post Hands of Time right?

So how did Arin trip? Tbf he punched himself in the face so makes sense

Ok the show just made the same joke after I wrote it, I guess I forgot

This sweat thing reminds me of the first Sam Raimi Spider-Man movie (the blood scene)

Lloyd being surrounded by chaos is overshadowed by the very strange design of imaginary Wu, but the scene leading up to Wu is so great. The music, the action, the direction— really stellar. Someone needs to let this guy take a break

Not Rapton’s unicorn figurines!

Excellent rhetorical comeback Lloyd

Ras is so cool -- singlehandedly fighting multiple dragons

Zane! But how did he end up in that pod?

Jordana! Sora is just totally lost lol

Do you think Kai, Nya, and Zane were planning on jumping out or was it spontaneous?

Lot of questions in this episode, and it would probably be better if they saved Lloyd hitting the targets for a flashback later in the episode (that is, end the first flashback before Wu gives Lloyd the lesson)

That being said it’s the best one since E6 and a good setup for the finale

The Battle of the Second Monastery:

Jordana getting insulted by LaRow (albeit indirectly) :(

This is probably very overwhelming for Zane

Everything seems particularly saturated in this scene 

The Jordana reveal is very good. Funny, but also kinda heartbreaking since Sora was just using her technology to give herself a friend

Lord Ras is not very nice (although he’s right how do you lose to two mostly-untrained teenagers who are in handcuffs)

Arin and Sora use Jordana swinging her sword to free themselves, just like Lloyd did in E2. Shows how far they’ve come (much better than when they fight Ras, which just diminishes him as an antagonist)

Ouch Lloyd, always look before you leap

“As opposed to those really strong gnats” I’d spend some more time workshopping those comebacks Arin

The Source Dragon scene is SO cool!

Sora beats Ras mostly though luck but the real question is why was he running so slowly

And so we finish the S1P1 aspect of Sora’s arc, although her conclusion of “having a responsibility to use her powers” is very similar to the end of E5

Sad Arin :( already made a post relating this scene to what happens in S2 but it takes on a whole new meaning knowing what happens after

Beatrix imprisoning Ras actually makes a ton of sense and I might make a whole post talking about why (and her character generally)

The Ras fight isn’t great - I get why it happens and Arin and Sora don’t really beat him physically, but it does undermine him as a threat. The rest of the episode is really good tho, especially the vision

Next up, the first half of S1P2!

[hawkinsschoolcounselor]

melvins are still out there saying the s5 bts drop video means nothing for byler, and i was reading your post about duffs subverting tropes. im so interested in which tropes they choose to subvert or use or extend or morph. the famous we're friends! one re: byler is a classic, and is the subversion perhaps the fact that yes they are best friends and will remain so, as well as being two guys in love?

honestly if i had to quantify my main reason for thinking byler is endgame its not even anything quantifiable: it's just the chemistry between mike and will and the way they are directed, even more so than the way they are written. but you can't explain that to people who don't feel the chemistry or understand directorial choices. im sure there will be plenty of mileven fans who totally deny s5 and reject byler endgame, choosing to stop at s4 or rewrite the show, or even petition for it to be remade, sort of like a stranger things referendum lmao.

In fairness, they have a point as to how that teaser didn't have anything solid regarding Byler. However, if that is significant, then what does it mean for their own pairing?

The Duffers subvert tropes when it aids in storytelling, and it's largely dependent on how much the audience expects the trope in question. Subversion is meaningless if it can be predicted, after all. Steve ending up being a heroic, but flawed, character in season 1 is a good example because it subverts the Jerk Jock trope that was heavily common in the 80s, and I imagine remains to some extent today. Nobody would have expected Steve to return to help Nancy and Jonathan, but, if you look back, the seeds were there. He was already depicted as being less of a jerk than his friends, so it is more believable when he ends up telling them to fuck off because he realizes what bad influences they are.

Mike's "We're friends!" moment was very conspicuous because Will didn't really question it otherwise. Will's whole point was that they were friends, and it made no sense for Mike to not give a damn (from Will's perspective) anymore. For Mike to get so defensive about it suggests that it struck a nerve that Will didn't intend. However, due to the general audience seeing it as a "Will is a third wheel" situation, the Duffers are able to use that trope to misdirect the audience. It's another situation where the real meaning isn't a forced twist since there is plenty of evidence there to show the real meaning, but most people just wouldn't notice at first because the Duffers played into their expectations. Yes, Will is upset that his friend is ignoring him, but, plot twist, Mike is overreacting because there's more going on there than meets the eye.

There's bound to be more tropes next season, and I fully expect the Duffers to work those audience expectations into the story.

[bylerpolls]

which of the following is the most surprising/wild/surreal? (part 1, I’ll do a part 2 later)

A) that some people genuinely interpreted the van scene as Will being deeply in love with Eleven (and some maybe even still do)

B) that some people thought will was crying in the van scene because he was secretly luring mike to hawkins as a trap

C) that many people genuinely think Melvin is the HEIGHT of romance, not just a teen ship. They invented romance. To directly quote someone, “Mike and Eleven's love story is one on the sweetest, purest, and most perfect of all time. I have recently been trying to think of another love story as beautiful as theirs but I can't; Regardless of time and age. And truly, it's Mike's love that is the most perfect. He's the most dedicated, fiercely loyal, unapologetically dorky, slightly cocky, noble, trustworthy, unique, accepting, loving human written. Prove me wrong.”

D) That people believe it’s “just obvious” why the duffers didn’t have mike hug will: they’re saving it for the brotherly hug after Will’s inevitable rejection (as if that is the kind of story the Duffers would write in 2024)

E) The sincere belief that rink-o-mania is strong proof that Mike HATES Will and only cares about El (and this is somehow a good thing and deeply romantic?). He would be like, “Did you just breathe next to her?” to Will. He barely tolerates Will (like one might barely tolerate their whiny little brother).

[themelvorganization]

I really love PPV with the pink bandaid on his nose and I DON'T KNOW WHY. Thank you for enjoying the blog ^^

Small gift for @themelvorganization I really liked their comic, so I decided to make this in picrew. The link to the picrew is https://picrew.me/en/image_maker/1349935/complete?cd=Zgsw711EpD if anyone wants to try it out! All the Melvins are from their comic EXCEPT for SK Melvin. He's from my au.

[themelvorganization]

Two unrelated DTS i did a long while back. I am surprised I never shared these!

[pholiabanna]

Mike and expressing feelings

Maybe this is controversial, but a very popular take in the stranger things fandom is that Mike has trouble communicating his feelings. Melvins use this as an excuse for him not saying ily to El, but some bylers also seem to believe he does have trouble.

However, basing myself on what I've seen portrayed on the show so far, I don't think that's the case. Ever since season one, Mike has been very vocal about expressing his discomfort or disagreement. From confronting his own dad ("I'm the only one who cares about Will") to screaming at Hopper (when he hits him and calls him "liar", he didn't precisely struggle with letting him know how frustrated and angry he felt). He also has no trouble standing up against authority figures (Hopper when he said they couldn't look for Will, Owen's agents who he didn't trust enough to stay on lockdown...).

My point is, him rarely opening up about his feelings hasn't been established on screen for his character either. Since he's the leader of the party, that role can only work if he expresses how he feels about plans or situations, which he does in all seasons.

The only feelings he's having trouble communicating are his love for Will and his lack of (romantic) love for El. But in my opinion, this isn't because he's a person that normally struggles with voicing how he's feeling.

It's a really hard situation for him because to begin with, being in the process of accepting your queerness in 80s America had to be terrifying, so things like being scared of El's or Will's reactions definitely come into play.

Also the guilt. He can't tell El he doesn't wanna date her, because seeing her cry in front of him while asking him why he doesn't say he loves her, knowing what she's gone through, breaks his heart. He's a compassionate person, and even if he's not in love with her, it doesn't mean that he doesn't care about her, and given she's going through a terrible time with the loss of Hopper, he puts her before himself and tries to be the best boyfriend he can for her. But the heart wants what the heart wants, so he can't say "I'm in love with you" because he isn't. He can't express his romantic feelings for her, but not because he's a boy that struggles with expressing his own feelings, but rather because those romantic feelings don't exist. And his true nature would be telling her the truth (and in my opinion, all of his talks with Will in season 4 were about him building up courage to eventually tell her that, because again, he's a boy that likes to be vocal about his opinions and he's trying to overcome the fear of rejection in this particular case, which is what's holding him back from his natural state).

He's also not opening up with Will at the beggining of the season for this particular reason. He's coming to terms with the fact that he loves him, and he seems like he's bursting with it. That's the thing, Mike has always been very vocal about his feelings, and with Will particularly. This has been portrayed on the show many times ("I'm gonna stay by you no matter what, we'll defeat the mind flayer together, meeting you is the best thing I've ever done..."). He opens up his heart to him with no problem. His behavior in season 3 and the beggining of season 4 was about him not acting like his usual self. In those scenes where there's clearly something that he's not telling Will, it's been established that he's acting as someone he isn't. So when he's not expressing what he's feeling, that's not his normal self. That's not his core trait, he's acting out of character. And that's because the feelings he wants to scream and yell are being affected by external reasons (fear, self acceptance, internalized homophobia...). Still, after spending some time with Will in season 4, he slowly goes back to his real self, and he starts to let him know what's worrying him ("El and I fought, it was a bad fight, I feel like a random nerd"). He has no trouble opening up with the right person. He's in the process of reverting back to his true self, the guy who has no problem being vocal about his thoughts. The reason why he still hasn't been fully honest about his romantic feelings with both Will and El is because of the misscommunication trope, the painting fiasco and the fact that season 5 is planned to be a continuation of season 4, so they dragged the storyline for a bigger payoff, where Mike being completely honest about his feelings will make him come full circle, and go back to being his true self, once all the obstacles are overcome.

So in conclusion, Mike is not "so in love with El but he has trouble telling her because he's a boy who has always struggled with communicating his feelings". Instead, Mike is a boy who's always been blatantly honest until growing up and his own personal battles have made him stop himself from doing what he wants more than anything (being honest) and his journey consists of overcoming those obstacles, because his honesty wins over his fears.

Anyways, that's the way I've always seen it. I'd love to hear more opinions in this topic and I'm completely open to discussion! Let me know what you think.

[i-dont-bite]

no because if the melvin kiss at the end of s3 was meant to be romantic and reciprocal why did the editors play the same track that played when robin rejected and came out to steve...

[marionedde]

btw here are other characters im adding into my au

The "social rejects" aka dibs investigation group

Matthew P. Mathers the Third- 21. They/them. One of gaz's band members, plays bass. Agender.

Melvin- 20. he/she. Has achondroplasia. Obsessed with space, so joined the investigation crew.

Dirge- 21. he/she/they. Genderfluid, secret passion for death and the occult.

Keef- 21. he/him. ADHD. Has a youtube channel.

Gretchen- 21. she/her, transfem. GAD. Often does things spontaneously.

Zita- 20. they/them. Was popular, but rathered hanging out with Gretchen and her friends. Very smart and studious, super logical.

ROOMS:

Zita and Gretchen live in apartment 207.

Keef and Dirge live in apartment 209.

Melvin and Matthew live in apartment 304.

MASTERPOST

[lovelypink2005]

The Rejects™✨

Just finished up the Melvin comic from @themelvorganization and I absolutely ENJOYED IT! Finished it within one day and I just love the Rejects group so much so I make a small doodle of them on Whiteboard :]

P.s. they're probably watching a movie on their TV

And then I also got some extra doodles!

The last one got a lot of notes from my friend who loves Melvinborg so and too much