#elmike fight

[gayofthefae]

You know how I know Mike is queer?

These are the same person. Mike is an inherently caring, loving, and protective person. It's what Will called out in 4x08 and reminded us of with Mike's desire and practice in attempt to be a "hero" and be able to help the ones he loves.

But when El tells him she feels unloved by him, he doesn't comfort her. At all. He defends himself. He doesn't even say "yes I do". He says "I say it". Even when he's arguing that he loves her, he is defending himself, not comforting her. If he was comforting her he would have reacted to her crying at all. He doesn't. He just becomes increasingly desperate and escalates the tactics that are making her cry more.

Because the accusation is that important to him. Not many things could be so important to him that he would deprioritize her or taking care and protecting and comforting those he loves. He even does quite well at it at the start of the scene. We have PROOF that he is pretty stable these days with any sort of accusation or invalidation with how well he takes "you don't understand" and simply asks questions without any sort of offense. So he CAN take it. He takes it IN THIS CONVERSATION.

But when she says he doesn't love him, he stops the "they just don't know you". He stops the "don't say that about yourself, you're lovable," which is what this is really about for her. If he had said that even if he couldn't say it himself, it might have still helped a little bit: frame it as his own fault if he can't. But he couldn't do that. Instead, he went with how it reflected on HIM that he couldn't say it and defended himself AGAINST her. FOUGHT her on it.

There are few things that can make him fight a person. And they've all actually been pretty similar. They're all El:

"You're prioritizing El over Will"

"There is something off about your relationship with El"

"You're prioritizing El over [Will]"

"He's right that your and [El's] relationship wasn't a good one"

"Your and El's relationship wasn't a good one"

"You're prioritizing El over [Will]"

"You don't love [El]"

He is comforting. He is kind. He prioritizes others' comfort and safety consistently. He takes other accusations fairly lightly and focuses back onto the person making them and their emotions. And yet, what does he say in those instances and only those instances?

"SHUT. UP."

"You lying piece of shit. You're crazy!"

"It's not my fault you don't like girls!"

"He's just some crazy old man"

"You're conspiring against me!"

"We're friends! We're friends!"

"You're being ridiculous. What is this?"

People who say his character has gotten worse are stating it under the idea that he is always like this. The entire discovery so many people, including myself, had that he's queer was because we noticed that his outbursts were consistent. People think he's random and angry because they think the situations are random: Lucas, Hopper, Will, Max, El. But they're forgetting to note what each of those people questioned about him right before.

The biggest proof is that he doesn't ever talk like this outside of these situations. It's lighthearted debates and empathetic conversations.

Mike Wheeler is a kind person. If he said "You're being ridiculous. What is this?" it is not just because he's scared of vulnerability or commitment.

[gayofthefae]

The way the subtext varies from "I didn't say that/how do I convince you" 'NO! neverrrr' to "okay now that's bullshit and you know it"

mike lying vs mike telling the truth

"You think I'm a monster too."

*high pitched, animated facial expression* "What?!"

vs

"What about us?"

*firm, but quiet. solid eye contact* "What?"

"Yesterday. The way you looked at me. . .you were scared of me."

*head shaking, rapid blinking* "No, no- *scoffs* that's not- that's- that's not true."

vs

"What, you're mad that I didn't talk to you? Seems like you've made it super clear you're not interested in anything I have to say."

*firm, solid eye contact, no stuttering* "That's just not true."

i still can't believe people called finn a bad actor because of this

FINN WOLFHARD??? BAD ACTOR???? PUH LEEZ

MIKE is a bad actor, not finn

[will80sbyers]

STRANGER THINGS 4x03 El & Mike's fight | back

[demadogs]

its so fucking sad that el wanted angela to tell mike that it was just a joke and that theyre really friends. both mike and el are trying so hard to be someone else to keep their relationship alive.

[upsidedownlurker]

Crazed Byler ramblings from 1:54 am

If Mike Wazowski actually end up together I will laugh so hard

YOU’RE TELLING ME THIS WAS THE MAIN COUPLE’S FIRST KISS???

YOU’RE TELLINJG ME THIS WAS THE MAIN COUPLE’S ACTUAL LOVD CONFESSION??? (eyes stay open to view that luscious forehead ig)

YOU’RE TELLING ME THIS WAS A BEAUTIFUL AND FACTUALLY ACCURATE ROMANTIC SPEECH THAT ENDED A QUARREL BETWEEN TWO FATED LOVERS???

YOU’RE TELLING ME MIKE IS JUST LIKE THAT?????

Imagine accidentally writing one of the most enticing queer stories in your genre, amassing an audience who are incredibly enthusiastic about it, and ignoring that because… uh… because… ummm…

Hey man, I won’t deny that Mickey Mouse and Earache have an important bond. But they truly have some of the most awkward, wack, fall-flat face-planting “romantic” chemistry of any couple on the show, and if their relationship succeeds it will just be so funny

The people working on this show are capable of creating genuinely beautiful scenes that have brought me to tears multiple times. I have been utterly enraptured in their worlds, their characters and their stories

So if they wrote Medicine Cabinet and thought, “Another enticing romance story well done”?

If they wrote Byler and thought, “CLASSIC BFF MOMENT LADS LADS LADS”?

I would laugh so hard that I travel back in time to save myself from this nightmare

Us silly queer people don’t know shit about shit dude

Ok bye time to escape this hell

And by hell I mean a fun and wholesome time

and by a fun and wholesome time I mean HELL🔥🔥🔥🔥🥩😏

[gayofthefae]

For real. It was honestly a case of horrible timing. "You are lovable, I'm the problem" is tbh all she needed to hear. She thought she was inherently unlovable by anyone, proved by the fact that "even" her boyfriend didn't love her. But he DID love her, he was just going through his own thing.

Perfect example though of two unrelated arcs coming together for a scene that serves both of them and their separate courses for the season.

bro if i was el when she realises mike didn't say 'i love you' because he's gay rather than because she's the problem/ a monster, i would be relieved personally

[strangersynth]

reducing mike and el's love for each other to something that'll make their relationship stumble and fall if not evaporate when they break up will never not be like emptying a room and then walking in and wondering why its empty.

[sakuraswifee]

Mike contradicts himself during the entire "confession" and it honestly makes me laugh.

Okay so, I know there's probably a lot of posts that talk about this already, but I reallyyyy needed to yap.

(Couldn't find another image)

Once I came across a Mileven stan claiming that saying that Mike was lying during the confession scene is, apparently, an insult to Finn's acting (doesn't even make sense cause you can tell Mike isn't being honest BECAUSE of what he SAYS, not because Finn is "acting like he's lying").

So, if you ever see this (since you turned off the comments on that post), here is why Mike lied or contradicted himself or however you please to call it:

Monologue: "I feel like my life started that day we found you in the woods"

The same day, he thought of a plan to send her back from where she came from.

Monologue: "And I knew somehow then, in that moment, that I loved you"

The first thing that comes out of his mouth the moment he sees her is "That's not Will". After that he tries to send her back from where she came from, then takes interest in her after finding out she has powers and knows something about where Will is.

Monologue: "I love you on your good days and your bad days"

On her bad day, when she got bullied and hit Angela, Mike gets paralleled to Dr. Brenner ("El what did you!?") Her ABUSER. Then, he makes snarky comments during dinner. I see Micheal, I see.

Monologue: "I love you with your powers and without, bla bla some shit about moving mountains"

It's genuinely hilarious how this season not only has she shown discomfort about being seen as a superhero, only being defined by her powers, BUT SHE TOLD HIM. (The short letter that is given to Mike after they take her, where she says she's back to being a superhero..). So, who in the right mind thinks she was happy to hear him talk about her powers ONLY, but not even about her qualities?? Her kindness, her courage...for God's sake!

What's also hilarious to me is how people say that HIS WORDS are what gave her the strength to fight, "Love saved Hawkins!!" Yeah right😭

El sure looks happy in those scenes, not to mention how the vines tighten around her neck while he speaks!!

Then, won't you know it, flashbacks of El and MAX's friendship show on screen, only after El is able to free herself.

To finish off, El is clearly not happy with him after the monologue, which is strange, since he finally said what she wanted to hear "I love you!".

However, El is not stupid, she can tell when he's lying and it's not like she couldn't hear Will telling Mike "he's the heart", my girl can tell that is weird for her bf to need the support of his completely platonic buddy to say how he's feeling.

Hope I kept you entertained and excuse possible mistakes, english is not my first language💪 can't wait for Mileven's break up and the rise of platonic Elmike.

[gayofthefae]

The thing about the season 4 Mike and El plot is that regardless of the resolution, the writers suggested to the audience that Mike might not love El (then gave them a month to sit with that idea). Most of us had never considered it before. They didn't need to even allow us to consider that. But now we have. That is what that was for.

Resolution or not...you can't go back from making audiences first think of the idea of Mike and El not ending up together. They proposed it then let us sit with it, come to terms with it, before going back. They said "detach, you don't wanna get hurt if this ends badly, do you? Detach before that happens" before saying "just kidding they're still together".

The idea that Mike doesn't love El romantically never had to cross our minds. Never had. They made sure it did.

I will never forget watching that scene and going "aw, she just thinks she's unlovable and is projecting that onto him-......oh. oh no. oh my."

[gayofthefae]

He knew that confrontation of the problem was something they couldn’t come back from. That’s why he was avoiding it. He knew it’s presence at all was the end because he couldn’t fix it.

The first time I watched s4, when Mike said "like a fight you can't come back from" that was when I knew for certain that he is not in love with El. And that is why I knew he wasn't being genuine in the monologue. Because the fight was about him not loving her. If he loved her, why would that be a fight you can't come back from? Sure, it'd make sense to feel anxious about it. But to feel hopeless about it? If all you needed to do was say "I love you, and I'm sorry I made you feel like I didn't. I want to do better. I will do better." and then do better - because really that's all he had to do - then why is that a fight you can't come back from?

It's because he knows that he doesn't love her. And he knows she knows. And he knows that saying "I love you" won't fix that.

And that was the conclusion I came to as a casual watcher.

[pinksmonkey]

The Ultimate Byler Evidence/Analysis List (Part 3)

If you missed parts 1 or 2, here they are: Part 1 and Part 2

198. Bi Mike Masterpost

199. Byler Parallels Masterpost

200. The Choices The Writers Made

201. The Significance Of Mileven Not Getting Each Other

202. The Importance Of Byler Getting Each Other

203. The Importance Of Byler Getting Each Other - Part 2

204. Moments I've Been Thinking About

205. The Painting Ensures Byler Endgame

206. Byler Canon-Comforts

207. Will's Season 5 Arc

208. Elmike's Transition

209. Mike, Will, And El's Individual Arcs Each Season

210. Mike Wheeler's Playlist

211. I Ship It Because It's Endgame

212. I Love You On Your Bad Days

213. Mike Wasn't Lying When He Said "I Love You" And It Doesn't Rule Out Byler Endgame

214. Mike Was Thinking About Will When He Jumped Off The Cliff

215. Will Needs Mike

216. So Many Things Wrong With This Post

217. Why Byler Is Endgame

218. Amount Of Byler Scenes Compared To Mileven

219. Mike's Choice Of Words

220. Fundamentally A Story About Queer Themes

221. We Should Talk About This Way More

222. The Gay Beautician/Hairdresser Trope

223. If Byler Doesn't Happen

224. You Only Need To Understand Five Things

225. Who's Getting Books And Who Isn't?

226. Crafting A Confession

227. You're The Heart

228. Pocketgate Details You Might Have Missed

229. The Piggyback Drawing

230. Green Socks

231. Byler Fights VS Mileven Fights

232. I Didn't Say It, You Didn't Have To

233. Heroes

234. The Difference Between The Monologues Is Obvious

235. "Something I Never Stop Thinking About"

236. The Importance of Tiger Pride

237. Why Heroes Will Be Back

238. Season 1 Mike Queercoding

239. Fandom's Reaction To The Will Is Gay Theory Repeating With Mike

240. Tropes and Byler

241. The Superman Reference

242. Milevens Are Insane

If you have anything else you think should be added to the list, let me know, leave a link in the comments or a repost. I will continue updating this list with any new awesome analyses. Happy Byler-ing! ☺️

243. Mileven's Season

244. Master Byler Analysis

245. Mike's Truth

246. Awkward Mike and Will Hugs

247. Season 4 Analysis Stuff

248. Gay Love Will Save The Day

249. The Significance Of Lover's Lake

250. Byler Is 100% Endgame

[noihavenosanitythanksforasking]

broski, you keep saying mike is unable to say i love you to his gf, but at the end he finally said it (9 times) so whats your point literally?

you are holding onto old crap, and beating a dead horse. He said he loves her multiple times, boys are generally hesitant in expressing their emotions (patriarchy asks them to be tough ,not open up and everything), but he overcame that by the end of the season

do you think mileven is gonna break up after how explicitly he told el he loves her???? el also loves mike very much, its just a fight she's upset about, but people can FORGIVE and move on from past misunderstandings you know? el is veryymuch in love with mike since season 1, she can forgive mike for his one mistake (he basically rectified it too at the end of the day)

y'all keep saying mike gets upset when will doesn't talk to him but at the end of season 4 mike is upset that el is not talking to him much because she's grieving

ahhhh this is so exciting!!! i feel like ive made it or smth!

sorry for my late response i was in my physics class 😔

now, we dont KNOW for SURE what mike truly feels. you dont know. i dont know. no one will ever know until s5 comes out. however i have my speculations and so do you. and thats okay!! we dont have to agree :3 your allowed to believe whatever you want in regards to mike and els relationship. it doesnt affect me at all.

however, sense you app care about what i have to say so much i will yapp somemore about what i think. you dont have to agree with me. in fact ik you wont. and thats okay, clearly you are insecure enough about your own opinion that you feel the need to go to the other side and argue with someone in their anons. bc if your opinions were solid and unshakable youd have your url showing. but i get it i really do :)

anywayssss. charecters can lie.

just like people can lie.

i was in a romantic relationship with someone for about a year. and throughout that time, i told them i loved them multiple times. did i? no. did i want to? yes. i wanted to be in love with them. they were very very important to me and when they asked me out, i thought to myself 'well i do really like this person. why not?'

i was not in love with this person. i did not have romantic feelings for them. but i convinced myself i did. in the end, one day we were sitting next to each other and it just hit me. i didnt want to be here anymore. i had met someone else and was developing a crush on them at the time. so i broke up with them.

all this to say, mike can lie. hes not a high fantasy elf. something i feel is a big disconnect between bylers and milevens is that milevens tend to read most things at face value. just bc you say you love someone doesnt mean you do.

as for the patriarchy comment, mikes story line has never had to do with being tough, or not being man enough. he repeatedly says that he doesnt want to be popular, he doesnt care about fitting in. ofc this can still be a factor but i doubt its a huge point of his character arc. if it was they would have made a point of adressing him struggling with it before this.

on your point about moving on from fights, your so right about that. i dont in the slightest think that elmike are going to be on BAD terms in endgame but i dont think they'll be on romantic terms. even if byler isnt canon, and mike is straight. i still believe that.

as for his mistake being rectified. girl what u yappin ab. no it wasnt. if it was why was el not talking to mike in the van on the way back to hawkins

mike says in the last episode that they werent really talking. a little bit but not much. you could say that el was greiving max. but el DIDNT KNOW max was in a coma. when they get back to hawkins, dustin has a line where he explicitly says

"oh you guys dont know" in refrence to max.

is el traumatized? definitely!!! but she doesnt know max is in a coma. and even if she did, why wouldnt el seek comfort in her bf if they had fixed everything???

as for your last point, yeah mike is upset about el not talking to him. duh. however lets compare.

when mike is mad at will for not paying attention to him at rink o mania he actively brings it up. he actively pursues will and expresses his frustration over will being dismissive. he is visably upset. on the other hand, in the last ep of s4, mike doesnt even bring up el until will does. he seems mildly annoyed and confused about the situation and makes no moves to pursue her or seek out resolution. he makes no moves to comfort her about max ever. he doesnt walk with her, he doesnt hug her. nothing. the only affection between then is when EL puts her head on mikes sholder. mike makes no moves to comfort her more but he doesnt push her away. this is also right after mike activly began walking sideways to be able to stand next to will when there was an open space for him to stand right next to el im front of him. odd.

also you do realize that someone can be upset at the prospect of two people that are important to them being upset at them

its not will or el

its never been will or el

this has always been about mike and how he handles conflict and shit.

anywayssss my hands r going to freeze off bc its like 19 F outside and i wrote this walking across campus

hope this helps 💙💛

[will80sbyers]

STRANGER THINGS 4x03 El & Mike's fight | next

[gayofthefae]

And curtains associated with Elmike

Closed....then open

Windows associated with byler

Hrrrmmm(mincraft villager)

[qulizalfos]

!! just in case we have any byler doubt over elmike bts pics:

we haven't had Any will bts (to my knowledge??) so who knows!!! but let's not assume anything!! maybe ross duffers gonna post a grainy photo of mike and will on insta tomorrow

el's s4 arc was realizing who she was and developing outside of her relationships

narratively it makes the most sense for byler to happen because of All the reasons we've established but especially regarding character arcs

mileven breakup being fun and bright and pop music and high fives and that day becoming one of maxs lifesaving memories vs byler fight being shot like an actual breakup scene

gayass road trip (im talking abt the lip glances PLURAL btw)

we have no context for the photo (maybe it's post breakup)

We Haven't Even Seen Will Yet

are u gonna look me in the eye and tell me that shawn levy will let them disregard byler endgame that man has been on our team since day one

will's queer storyline (and mike's Heavy queercoding) have to be resolved SOMEHOW and the only realistic option is byler endgame atp

we have yet to see william byers

stay

strong

yall

<3

[lightstarz]

VOLUME TWO CAME OUT TWO YEARS AGO

(part 2 to my volume one rant)

Two years ago today, we witnessed the FUCKING VAN SCENE for the first time and lives were changed, Russia gang escaped the prison, El’s whole fight with Brenner who ultimately died and she also blew up a bunch of stuff, Elmike and Willel reunion,Hawkins gang preparing for battle, Jopper FINALLY KISSED after all these years, Hawkins gang + Cali gang working to defeat Vecna, MASTER OF PUPPETS, Max gets Vecna’d, Mike’s goofy ah monologue, Vecna revealed to have been behind everything,Eddie and Max die(max did technically die), everybody thinking they lost but they Kinda won(for now), everybody reunites and that’s the last time we’ve seen our favourite characters. Well, other than BTS.