#lettergate is so real

[byerseason]

the more i think about it the more i’m convinced lettergate is one of our best theories, no seriously.

« this post won’t have anything that wasn’t discussed before but i was just having a brainrot so i need to talk. »

i’m a firm believer letters are gonna play a big role in revealing mike’s true colors to the audience before everything. it just makes so much sense.

the way will expressed his love for mike through his art. he drew him in his d&d costume, guiding the party using a shield, with a heart on it, and that was his “i love you” in his own way as the artist he is.

then we have mike. wants to be a writer. writes d&d campaigns. sends letters to his girlfriend. but then we have “you can’t even write it, mike.” because you’re supposed to be able to write it. that’s what you’re good at.

and then we have will and mike’s fight over this. “meanwhile el has like a book of letters from you” “that’s because she’s my girlfriend, will.” “and us?” “we’re friends, we’re friends!”

we always talk about how mike made this romantic without will implying anything, and i think the reason is mike associating “sending letters to will” with something romantic, because that’s exactly what he did in the letters he never sent. whenever he attempts to write something to him, it ends up looking like something you’d send to your girlfriend, and they’re friends, so that’s stupid.

then we have the soundtrack “letter to willy”.. the name is already suspicious since billy’s “william” name wasn’t used in the show let alone using it in a childish way as “willy”. anyone who knows stranger things would think of will when they see that, not billy. but what’s more interesting is when this song plays other than max’ letter scene.

it plays right before the painting reveal. when mike is talking about feeling insecure about his relationship with el. as we know from later episodes what max said in her letter to billy wasn’t the full truth. just like whatever mike said in this scene. and right after “letter to willy” plays, will reveals his painting to mike and gives him his veiled love confession.

considering how this was a hot topic between mike and el & mike and will in season 4, i think that would be one of the best ways to reveal his feelings to the audience, as a contrast to him not even being able to «write it»

praying for lettergate canonization, it’s such a heartwarming theory fr 🙏

[stranger-theory]

me when mike starts digging out a box of crumpled papers out of his closet after a breakdown

[greenfiend]

Dear Willy…

[cr4zytogetherr]

”letter to willy” being a literal song used on a byler scene? ohhh lettergate you’re so canon

“love, mike” on s5 is real

[pinksmonkey]

Posting my Ultimate Byler Evidence/Analysis List here directly because it probably makes it more convenient and I should have done this a while ago. XD

There is so much proof for Byler being endgame in S5 of Stranger Things. They are so cute together, and so much in the show has been building up to their relationship. I just wanted to share some of my favourite Byler analyses, because they are so cool, detailed, and in-depth. I love reading about all the hints, symbolism, and subtext for Byler, it's amazing how much thought must have been put into all these things. Why go through all the effort of adding these details if they aren't actually going anywhere with them? Mike is so queercoded, and they are truly in love with each other.

🫥 Just gonna leave some good Byler analyses here 🤐

Most of the links go to written Tumblr posts, and a couple of them are Reddit posts. So it's a lot of reading. If you prefer watching videos over reading, I highlighted my Byler YouTube playlist in green so it's easy to find.

And apologies for any of the links that aren't working, I know some of the posts have been deleted now sadly, but there's no way I'm re-numbering all these so I'm just leaving them in. My fellow Bylers, please stop deleting your amazing posts. ;-;

So anyway, here is the list of some of my favourite Byler evidence/analyses of all time (not in any particular order):

1. Mike's Season 4 Monologue To El

2. Camera Roll Byler Proof Part 3

3. Mike's Monologue and Milkvan

4. Mostly Byler Post Index

5. Dawson's Creek Parallel

6. "My Experience With Stranger Things"

7. What Ollie Learned From Film School

8. Byler Music Analysis

9. Why Don't The Duffers Discuss This?

10. ST Theories Masterpost

11. If Byler Isn't Endgame Then Someone Screwed Up

12. Byler Crumbs From The Cast and Crew

13. Favourite Combination of Endgame Byler Proof

14. I Doubt Byler Then I Remember This

15. The Fact That We Have This Interview

16. You Know Your Ship is Endgame When

17. Mostly Byler Post Index 2

18. Losing Hope Of Byler Endgame?

19. Why I Think Byler is Endgame

20. So Many Thoughts on This

21. Mike's Wall Art

22. Painting Miscommunication Leading to Mike's Monologue Coded

23. Yes, That Scene Did Foreshadow Mike's Monologue as Disingenuous

24. Mike's Monologue Didn't Sit Right With Me

25. Blue And Yellow Pen

26. That Tweet Is So Sweet

27. Heart Eyes, Literally

28. "My Process of Realizing Byler is Real"

29. Looking at Will, Not El

30. High School Musical Parallel

31. Said It Before and I'll Say It Again

32. Delusional Milkdud?

33. ST Writers Twitter Analysis 1

34. ST Writers Twitter Analysis 2

35. For When You Are Doubting Byler

36. Is Mike Bi or Gay?

37. Fully Convinced

38. The Ultimate Byler Playlist (my Byler YouTube playlist)

39. 100% Confident

40. Mike in S4 and S2

41. Mike Is Angry With Himself

42. It's Been A Year, Mike

43. Rink-O-Mania Remodel

44. The Development Of Will And Mike's Relationship

45. Mike's Lies

46. El Was Holding So Much In

47. Flickergate + Lettergate

48. Did Mike Ever Like El Romantically?

49. Mike Is Stupid

50. Byler Won't Write Itself

51. What's The Alternative Explanation?

52. Comparing Mileven and Byler

53. It Was Always About Them

54. Mike Is Not Ok

55. He Has A Love Interest

56. Will's Happy Ending

57. Trying To Be Normal

58. It's Not That Milevens Are Homophobic

59. Byler Is Reality

60. A Proper Look At El's Shrine To Mike

61. Mileven Through The Seasons

62. Suspicious

63. I Can't Doubt Byler

64. D&D Soulmates

65. Let's Talk Phones

66. Not Delusional

67. What Do They Want?

68. The Main Character

69. Mike's Mental Health

70. So Close

71. This Look Confirms Byler Isn't One Sided

72. Mileven Is Bones

73. They Don't Care About Mileven?

74. The Airport Hug Will Always Be Famous

75. The Monologue Mystery, Why Did They Lose?

76. The Cabin Scene

77. Why Couldn't Mike Say It For 2 Seasons?

78. He Was Trying To Find Will

79. Mike The Surfer Boy

80. Mike Definitely Shows Attraction To Girls

81. The Cast Knows

82. Mileven Loses On All Fronts

83. The Bouquet

84. 53 Minutes And 5 Seconds

85. Pink Panther

86. El And Choice

87. Will's Spotify Playlist

88. He'll Come Crawling Back To You, Begging For Forgiveness

89. Mike's Character Arc Prediction

90. It's The Same Look

91. Will's Truly Happy Ending

92. That's The Same Look, Right?

93. You're The Heart

94. Mike And El's Relationship In S4 Was Really Weird

95. Fireworks Parallel

96. Mileven Has Been Built Up For 4 Seasons

97. Not Stupid: The Fate of Mileven and Byler

98. This Suddenly Makes So Much Sense

99. Metaphors In Filmmaking

And unfortunately Tumblr will only let me add 100 links per post, so when I've posted part 2 of this list, I'll link it here: Part 2

[chirpsythismorning]

Same episode only a couple scenes apart… lettergate is so real

[mikeslawyer]

sometimes i need to remind myself that lettergate is, in fact, not canon confirmed because it just feels so real to me that i can almost see the dear will and love, mike when i close my eyes.

[onewaycloset7]

Byler questions bc why not.

1.Out of Mike and Will who do you relate to more and why?

2.What season did you start shipping Byler and why?

3.Are there any songs you associate with them?

4.What is your favourite Byler scene?

5.Whats your favourite Byler quote? (I.e “cool cool” “it was a 7”

6.What is your favourite gate?

7.What type of confession would you like them to have?

THANK YOU FOR THE ASKS!!! 🫶🫶🫶

1. I always thought I was a will my whole life I have always been artistic and very kept to myself about my love life. But recently I was like god damn… I’m a Mike. Im extremely closeted I can’t even say it aloud or come to terms with it. I have spent my life acting like I liked the opposite gender for others (and still do…). I’m told that I act like him a lot (I can’t control my face when I’m around people basically…) EVERY TIME I say something everybody is like “okay Mike!🤗” also I’m so clueless when somebody likes me 🙏

2. Oooo I started shipping them in s2! I never really thought about their friendship or anything till season 2 and ofc through all the scenes I saw in s2 I was like lawdddd they are gay! This was about 2018 I think and when s3 came out I was so obsessed with them I had an editing account (a horrible one) for them but nobody knew I shipped them because I was so scared what others would think… but now I write about them every day on tumblr so look at me now!!! 😌

3. I have a whole playlist associated with them!! Called STurn 2:

(Tell me if it doesn’t work!!!)

But some of my favourites are “Hero’s” - David Bowie because duh I think any Conan gray song match them so well especially “the cut that always bleeds”, Strangers - Ethel Cain, love of my life - Queen, seven - Taylor swift (TRUSTT) and of course the classics Me and Micheal by mgmt (ANGST IN MY PANTS IS A BANGER TOO)

4. My favourite scene would definitely have to be ethier the van scene or the “shed” scene. The van scene portrays their love for eachother in such a clear way and really keeps us all on edge how this painting will be brought up next season. Aswell as this scene showing that what they ultimately need is eachother🫶🫶🫶. The shed scene is just perfection. I think that scene is Mike being his truest self and really showing the audience the real him. For me it was like a coming out scene the whole “it was the best thing I’ve ever done” is mikes way of trying to tell will how special he is to him. But I will say the rain fight is an honourable mention BECAUSE LAWDDDD

5. “It was a seven” is my favourite I think it shows their bond and trust from the jump + that scene linking up to flickergate. “If we both go crazy then we’ll go crazy toghere right?” Is ALSO my favourite 😌🙏

6. Pastagate ofc 🫶😈 rigatoni is gonna come right in and swoop will off of his feet!! But LETTERGATE 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️ will it happen? Probably not but the way my jaw would drop to the floor if bro just pulled out a box of letter he never sent I would go into cardiac arrest! Same with church gate my love ❤️❤️

7. I’m a basic bitch 💔 I want the confession to be in rain to parallel the rain fight… BUT MIKE needs to be the one to initiate the kiss!!! I also would love for church gate confession!!! LIKE HELLO?!?! That would be abousetly insane gays kissing in a church?!?!? Abousetly iconic I must say. I need them to be yelling at eachother and then will says something and Mike is like “what?” 🙏🙏 I wish I could broadcast the vision I’m horrible at writing 😋

[royalsy-queen]

I actually can't believe it, we got an HD pic of him, he looks amazing and they've listened to the shaggy wavy bowlcut prayers, he's wearing blue yellow AND green, he has a pair of headphones and the second one? Confirmed season one upside down flashback, baby Byers is back and they're gonna do the same thing they did with baby Eleven in s4, Noah is acting the scene and the kid has motion tracking dots in his face. Like, it's confirmed, we're gonna see the events of s1 as Will lived them stuck in the Upside Down and I don't think I'll be able to watch without my heart breaking. Seeing tiny Noah all wet and sick and alone in s1 hurts everytime, I can't do that again.

Back to the main pic, I actually CAN'T believe how good he looks. Like, it's so good it almost looks fanmade? It looks like people ACTUALLY predicted him to look like. I'm in love with the longer wavier bowlcut I really am <3

Also, Birthdaygate confirmed. They're saying happy birthday EVERYWHERE, saying they could never forget. So now I'm fully convinced the Duffers just lied about forgetting the birthday because it's gonna be an important plot point of s5. I'm holding onto hope that Lettergate is also real, I need to see that. Also, now that we've seen both Mike and Will, Byler is THAT couple. They're both gorgeous, they're deff sharing clothes and I'm not fully procesing that THIS Will and THIS Mike are gonna kiss, we're actually gonna see the Byler kiss with THESE looks oh my gods. I'm just gonna go stare at both pictures for an undisclosed amount of time because I need to settle in the fact that it's no longer a leak or fanart, it's real. It's happening woooow

[lucystark12]

Your opinion on birthdaygate?

alongside lettergate i think birthdaygate is 1000% happening. birthdaygate was something that they didn't expect us to notice, but everything is intentional. i hear so much discourse about the validity of bdaygate but there's no reason for all of the merch and little jokes about it if it's not real.

[pythoness94]

Okay, so, basically. I got in an argument with someone IRL about, if Lettergate was real, how many letters Mike could write. They said, "it couldn't be more then like 12, you can't write that many letters in that time frame and still be sincere." So I, of course, said. "Um no? It had to be close to 20, 25. He really cared for Will and if he called that much, he MUST have tried to reach out but words just kept failing him." and they just kept arguing that it can't be that amount. So, here I am, writing 30 letters to my girlfriend in the spend of two weeks, completely sincere. I'm on letter 16, I'm popping off tonight. And yes, a lot are HELLA vulnerable because ,funny thing, you run out of mindless content 4 letters in and start speaking from the heart. So, now, i'm imagining how HARD those letters must go. I cried a couple times writing these to my girl, Mike isn't even OUT, he's in a loveless relationship with El. Those Letter must be tear soaked and crumbled because if I wanted to tear a few of these things out, he must have wanted to light this shit on FIRE. This is an exercise in why you don't make bets people but it IS giving me lots of insight for my Byler fanfics so...yay? I guess?

[greenfiend]

The Nested Universes Theory

and the high chance of a very literal bitter/sweet ending…

Yes, Will and Mike will end up together, but their ending may be both happy and tragic simultaneously.

(This theory may explain why the cast and Netflix executives were crying heavily when informed of the show’s ending…)

I'm warning you guys, take care of yourself while reading this. This isn't an easy read.

CW: CSA, sex, drugs, HIV/AIDS, period typical homophobia, death

Framed Narratives/Stories

Framed narratives are basically a story within a story. Common examples of this are the movie “The Princess Bride” and “Titanic”. Both stories have the story of the narrator and the story within.

Another example is Stranger Things itself. When we see the boys playing Dungeons and Dragons, they are creating a story within a story.

Sometimes, framed narratives are nested, meaning multiple layers of storytelling. An example of this would be the movie “Inception”. In that movie there are dreams within dreams within dreams… It’s a complex but fascinating way to tell stories.

Now, I do think Stranger Things is also a nested narrative story. Meaning, there may be a layer of a story that hasn’t been revealed to us yet (or more than one).

Basically I’m saying: the show itself may be a story created by some of the characters.

I’m guessing two characters in particular. Which two characters? The two most associated with creating stories. The writer and artist. Two of the characters that have existed since the show’s inception.

Mike and Will.

Multiple Universes

I do think there are multiple timelines/universes within Stranger Things… but it’s not exactly what you think. It’s not parallel universes/timelines. They do not exist parallel to each other, they exist within each other.

This is the reason for the “memory within a memory”, “play within a play” references.

It’s a story within a story within a story.

While Mike and Will are creating their DnD campaigns, there is another version of Mike and Will creating the story we see within the show.

Let’s break it down:

Inner layer: Mike and Will’s characters existing within a DnD campaign

Middle layer: Mike and Will within the show creating the DnD campaign

Outer layer: Mike and Will creating the story of the show

Mike and Will’s story within the frame (the outer layer) likely does share a lot in common with the story within the show, with one major difference:

There’s no Upside Down, and no supernatural elements. No superpowers, and no superheroes. There are still monster(s) and heroes, but these monsters and heroes are real.

Living on as “Heroes”

Ever notice the association between characters being referred to as “a hero” after facing their demise?

We have seen this time and time again. It’s not a coincidence, it’s a pattern.

Love for horror and escapism

@threemanoperation has a great post on Will’s love for horror.

It makes perfect sense for a boy like Will to enjoy horror. It can be a great way to process trauma and grief.

We also know even from the earliest descriptions for Mike and Will’s characters that they both love to “escape” into fantasy. They do this together, through DnD.

Gods/Puppet Masters/Creators

Within the show, there are many subtle nods to Will and Mike somehow controlling/manipulating things. These hints have lead to many interesting theories about Mike and/or Will having powers. In a sense, they both are absolutely right! But if this theory is correct, their influence over the show is mainly due to them creating it. They’re the authors, so in a way, they’re both “Gods”.

Solving the “Letter to Willy”/Lettergate puzzle

"Letter to Willy" is a song that plays over three different scenes within ST4. Each scene involves regrets, and survivor's guilt.

Max mourns Billy and reads out her letter "before it's too late" aka before she dies too.

Mike and Will have a heart-to-heart and Mike expresses guilt over El leaving, thinking there was more he could have done. This occurs while they are burying a dead man's body.

Dustin tells Eddie's uncle that Eddie died a hero, despite what the town thought.

This all leads back to Mike and Will within the story's outer layer. This also connects with the writer's incomplete letter they posted years ago on Twitter. I'll get back to this.

A father infecting his child

Oh boy. I hate this part but it requires context so…

Hopper admits to indirectly causing the death of his daughter, Sarah. He had been exposed to Agent Orange which led to his daughter developing cancer at a young age. He has remorse and has been grieving Sarah this whole time.

Now, Hopper is a decent guy and father, and is written as an almost “fix it” version of Mike and Will’s own fathers. He isn’t perfect, but he’s a man who strives to grow and improve himself.

Papa, is not a decent guy, and we also see him injecting El and Henry with needles.

So, what I’m saying is that this may be a hint to what happened to Will (in the 99/100 timeline). Lonnie is hinted to be a drug user, and it wouldn’t be far fetched to say he may have used IV drugs. Exposure to IV drugs is a way to transmit diseases, as blood may be exchanged through contaminated needles. Also, Lonnie has been hinted at, through subtext, to be a horrible monster. (<- click that link for a post about him.)

The “1/100” Timeline

The show itself is the 1 out of 100 timeline. It is the only one where Will was not kidnapped by his parent/guardian (Lonnie).

This means, it is the one where none of the tragic stuff ever happened, specifically to Will and Mike’s story at least. They may encounter challenges, but nothing they cannot overcome together, as a team.

1983: The Demogorgon got Will. He survives the horrors done to him in the Upside Down… but barely. He is taken to the hospital and heals from it all, including flu-like symptoms (cough, nausea/vomiting).

1984: Will suffers from flashbacks. He is also plagued with the nickname “Zombie Boy” and suffering from the Mind Flayer’s possession of him. But with the love of his family, and Mike, is able to return back to his reality.

1985: He then begins to struggle with the pressures of growing up, and having to move away. Plus the Mind Flayer returns and reeks more havoc.

1986: He then moves to a pleasant place. Where things are sunny and warm. Things on the surface seem happy and “normal” but there’s a looming threat hidden beneath the surface. Henry/1/Vecna. This opportunistic threat preys on the weak and begins to take over Hawkins.

1987-1989: Will is back in Hawkins and his ties to the Upside Down increase. He can’t shake it off as easily as before. He also can’t shake off his love for Mike, who grows even closer to him. One thing leads to another and they become lovers (they have sex). They eventually are able to stop the contamination of Hawkins, and save everyone. Will also realizes that he has developed superpowers from his time in the Upside Down, through his blood. Mike also develops superpowers, given to him by Will.

Okay… you might understand where I’m going with this but I still must warn you before reading the next part. It’s devastatingly tragic.

The “99/100” Timeline

(I’m probably wrong on some of these details but this is what I theorize thus far):

1983: Lonnie “got” Will (CSA). Will survives the horrors done to him by his father… but barely. He is taken to the hospital and heals from it all and from flu-like symptoms (cough, nausea/vomiting).

1984: Will suffers from flashbacks. He is also plagued with the nickname “Zombie Boy” and suffering from the flashbacks of his father’s possession of him. But with the love of his family, and Mike, is able to return back to reality.

1985: He then begins to struggle with the pressures of growing up. Plus the memories of Lonnie return and reek more havoc.

1986: Things on the surface seem happy and “normal” but there’s a looming threat hidden beneath the surface. HIV -> AIDS. Opportunistic infections slowly begin to prey on Will.

1987-?: Will can’t shake off colds and infections as easily as before. He also can’t shake off his love for Mike, who grows even closer to him. One thing leads to another and they become lovers (they have sex). Will soon discovers he has HIV/AIDS, which he had transmitted to Mike. Devastated by the news, they do everything they can to fight it together. They cope through creating a DnD campaign together to process everything they’ve gone through. They play DnD in Mike’s basement until Will’s condition becomes critical. Will is forced to stay in the hospital, while Mike is unable to visit (strict rules about visitation due to the disease and because they aren’t/cannot be considered legal partners). So, Mike does the only thing he can do: he writes letters to Will and continues the story. Mike eventually loses Will, for real this time. He’s devastated, and plagued with grief, depression, and survivor’s guilt. He didn’t complete their story in time. But his family and friends support him and encourage him to finish the story. To change the ending before his time runs out too. He completes their story himself, and reads his final letter to Will’s grave.

“anyway I think you’ll like [the ending]. sorry I couldn’t get it done [on time] but you mean so [much to me] and it’s been [so hard being without you] hope this is [enough to] last until [we meet again]. Love, [Mike].”

Attached to this letter is the full campaign. The full story of the show itself, which started on November 6th, 1983. He successfully turned back the clock, and changed their ending. They became superheroes within their story, saving Hawkins with their love. Mike dies soon after and we are met with…

Mike and Will reuniting within their own story. Blue meeting yellow at a gate, one final time, that leads “into the west”.

They continue their story and it’s a never ending story… Living on as heroes, forever and ever.

Some thoughts:

To simplify things, I didn’t include other characters much here but they likely all play an important role in the story. Many characters likely only exist within the mid layer (the 1/100 timeline).

I do think their story likely will be published, and this will be done by another character (my guess is Lucas). Their story will impact others profoundly, perhaps completely altering perspectives. This will lead towards positive change, and increase pressure for the development of a “cure”.

Lonnie obviously dies too, but we won’t see it. He’s significant but irrelevant. We don’t need to see him. Perhaps he rots in jail.

If characters like Nancy, Jonathan, Joyce, and Hopper all exist within the outer layer (the 99/100 timeline) in a similar way, they too may be inflicted with HIV/AIDS. Remember, it wasn’t just gay men, everyone was affected by this awful epidemic.

The time period is super relevant in this story. There’s no way that HIV/AIDS will not play an important role. Think about it… it revolves around two gay boys growing up during that time. This epidemic was widespread and terrifying. Had they been born a decade later, there would have been treatments/“cures” accessible to them.

The biggest reason why I strongly believe this theory is because… this is basically the ending of Stranger Things season 1, on a much grander scale. Think about it. Mike changed the ending of the DnD campaign so Will could be a hero, not a victim. This was further established in the comics.

While Mike and Will within the outer layer (99/100) have a tragic ending, Mike and Will within the show (1/100) do not. They beat the odds. Although it is undeniably a tragic end, remember that somewhere out there Mike and Will are still playing DnD and Nintendo for the rest of their lives.

Free Will and Writing your Own Ending

Free will has always been a reoccurring theme within Stranger Things; meaning we can choose our own destiny, fight chance, and beat the odds.

Do we truly have free will though? Obviously, we don’t know. The point is, we should still live life as if we do have it. To take control where we can, and not let external forces dictate who we are and what our destiny is. I think that’s the message there.

[pinkeoni]

Thoughts on the time jump:

This is a relevant conversation today, so I thought I would throw in my two cents (this isn’t a targeted post btw, just speaking thoughts aloud)

I like the time jump. It not only allows for darker and more mature plotlines, but it allows for a new dynamic with the characters. There is already a timejump at the beginning of each season for this reason, this would just be the most severe.

I can’t imagine the painting lie reveal happening before the time jump. It is too dramatic of a plot point that begins to move too many pieces too early in the game. I also don’t think it’s unrealistic to keep it unresolved for two years, gay bitches be bottling shit up.

For the same reasons as listed above I can’t imagine Max waking up pre-time jump either. It would be a huge reversal way too early. Yes leaving her in a coma for two years feels long but thats how I see it happening. This is likely a plotpoint that will happen midseason or later.

Milkvan will likely break up pre-time jump.

J*ncy will break up pre-time jump. This is the likely conclusion after having that much unresolved conflict left open at the end of last season— if they kept them together after that it would feel like a cop out. Them getting back together post-time jump I’m less clear on but open to.

Contrary to the above bullet, St*ncy will not get together post J*ncy breakup, I don’t see their love triangle as a case where one couple is going to win, unlike the Willelmike one.

Byler will not be established pre-time jump. They are milking the shit out of that slow burn cow.

I do think that Mike’s sexuality will be revealed at least to the audience pre-time jump. He won’t come out or anything but there will be a huge signifier. Lettergate Either way I think that the direction that milkvan and subsequently Byler will be heading in should be set up in episode one.

I feel like I have a different idea than most on exactly how post-apocalyptic Hawkins will actually be post-time jump. I don’t imagine democreatures roaming in the streets, Henry would have to regain strength in order to do that, which I imagine will be an important plot point post-time jump. I also think that businesses and schools would still be operating. I do think that the particles will have an effect on the environment and that the town will be placed under martial law, however. There will still be plenty of damage and livlihoods loss but usually in situations like these people attempt to maintain normalcy as much as possible. (Which would reflect real world events as well ergo pandemic)

Time jump will likely happen either between episode one and two or a little bit into episode two. Anything after could be done but would feel extremely late to me.

As stated with the first bullet, characters are usually a little different after a time jump and I imagine this will be no different. I think that if explained well and realistic this is a good and exciting thing. But the character who is going to be acting the most different post-time jump is Will.

[ladyfromaspookyforest]

Mail in Stranger Things 4

And Why I Hate Lettergate

Letters are a recurring motif throughout season 4. And if we broaden that to not just letters but MAIL, the first episode opens with a flashback beginning with a paperboy.

This shot of the paper on the doorstep is the very first shot we get of Brenner as he steps out to grab it. Then once he has the paper, he doesn't read it, he does the crossword. What this tells me is that the mail isn't to be purely read. It's to be solved.

The first scene after the flashback in our current time is Mike reading El's letter to him, A) reiterating the significance of mail and B) reiterating the dishonesty of it by visually showing us that the letter is false while it is being read. Joyce gets her Russian package. Inside the package is a doll, inside the doll is a letter (kinda like the Russian nesting doll of mail, eh?) Jonathan has a college acceptance letter. El is hoarding her letters from Mike. There's the letter she writes him when she leaves. We have Max's letters. Letters galore.

Depending on how you look at it, the flowers and the painting could also be considered mail despite the fact that they were delivered in person.

Aaaand there's the good ole envelope pocket symbolism.

Generally what we've seen so far from mail is that it sucks. It's dishonest and misleading and like the newspaper at the very start of the season, needs to be deciphered rather than simply read and taken at face value. El's letter was at least partially a lie. Jonathan's letter is a truth that he is withholding. Mike's letters are accidentally revealing a hidden truth about him. Joyce's letter is true, but it's used against her to set her up. And if you consider the flowers and the painting, they are both visually revealing the truth (the 70/30 split and the heart shield) while being presented in a way that tries to hide it. None of this mail is 100% false and none of it is 100% honest (with the exception of Jonathan's, but he's lying about it and it is also not FROM him. It's TO him from an external source). It ALL has to be examined.

Max wrote 8 letters. We only heard what was in one of them. Going into season 5, we have those other 7 letters and Jonathan's letter still left to be addressed (and Will's painting recontextualized). And we have no idea if we'll ever hear what's in any of Max's other letters.

You've Got Mail was on the ST4 inspo board, and I know people have called out the Mike/Will/painting situation as where this is reflected. But I think it can also extend to Max. While the plot of You've Got Mail is an utterly ridiculous, corny romcom, the premise can be boiled down to people who can't be bothered to try to establish relationships in the real world developing one through email because they feel safer with that barrier between them. Max is the same way throughout this season. She opts to write letters to her friends instead of talking to them because it's easier for her to express her emotions with an artificial self-imposed distance between her and the recipients.

Mail is being portrayed as both a complex, layered thing that needs to be deciphered and a boundary. I actually hate the idea of lettergate for this exact reason. We've been shown throughout the season and particularly in the scene I GIFed above that letters are unnecessary complications. The idea that Will is going to find out about a letter/letters Mike wrote him while he was in Lenora and that this will be some emotional, revealing scene frankly goes against everything we've been shown about letters up to this point.

If Will read a letter Mike wrote him, it would probably have to give him the wrong idea in order to be thematically consistent. And Mike writing El letters but not Will and then spending the season having in-person heart-to-hearts with Will actually emphasizes that they are closer because this barrier does not exist between them. They spent the season growing closer to one another after the discomfort caused by distance and lack of communication only for Will to put up a barrier with the painting. Lettergate seems like it would be very much the same thing rather than a revelation. Season 4 spent its time telling us that if you want to really get a message across, use your words. With your mouth. IRL.

I want to quickly mention Hopper's letter from the season 3 finale, because it was very emotional and honest. It was also never intended to be given to El. It was meant to be read to her, delivered in person as a speech. This was sort of the opposite of all the other letters we've seen, as it was meant to break down a barrier rather than build one. And I think the fact that it wasn't supposed to be a letter at all is really important.

I know Max said her letters weren't to be read until she was gone, but I'm super curious about what she wrote in them. My ideal vision of how this plays out is that no one ever reads them and she tells everyone what she wrote when she wakes up, finally accepting what Lucas has been telling her: that her friends are right there and they don't NEED letters!

Starting a motion to BANISH LETTERS FROM SEASON FIVE!!!! That is all.

[hnbka]

What's one of your favorite bylergates??

yay! anon, i love you

okay, so i'm a lettergate girlie forever, it just makes too much sense to me for it not to be true ngl, and it would literally perfectly encapsulate byler and how hard it contrasts milkvan.

thoughts on other byler gates

-> birthday gate

ngl, i feel like it would have been subtly hinted at as something will was bitter about, or at least joyce and jonathon would have remembered. so i actually do think that it was a collective accident.

however! it is a possibility to me that the duffers will maybe retcon it into the script. i am not against that right now, but it depends on how well they pull it off.

-> flickergate

i don't know much about this one but it seems so sweet to me like i want to know!! if anyone's passionate about flickergate, lmk?? it's just that the lights flickered right? i think it does provide ample opportunity to do a flashback in s5

-> my most hot take - will powers gate

will won't have powers in s5, or at least i hope he won't. i think it's so important that will and el are different in fundamental ways, and i think from a byler standpoint it doesn't make sense to mix up such a defining part of mileven's relationship (not a good thing!) with byler's relationship.

as for the sci-fi lore, i'm not too aware of how it would impact the story, but i don't think it makes sense. will is a victim, yes, he has been a victim. but i don't think he needs superpowers to break himself out of it, and i think it would tell a better story if he doesn't have superpowers when he finally reclaims his role as not a victim.

again, i come from a storytelling and byler perspective NOT the sci fi lore. maybe will having powers ties up every thread, and will make sense.

-> phonegate

faves!!!! its so cute and i do think it makes enough sense for it to be real. mike was also really defensive in the roller rink fight but not in a damn i SHOULD have called, but in a this isn't just my fault but i don't want to let you know why way.

-> new coke gate

this makes a lot of sense when you explain it to me, but i was 80 percent sure that it was just a sponsorship (a very long one) when i watched the lucas mike scene originally. i did my research once and i believe that no one really knows, but they have partnered. i don't know that partnering with a brand, (aka NO MONEY) warrants the excessive use of coke, so i do see this being just one of those things that the duffers would do to us.

on the other hand, it is strange to use coke as such a huge part of byler symbolism.

-> any sort of number gate

i'm obsessed with number gates because they always come back to seven and i love seven symbolism with byler. (mainly because of seven by taylor swift and HOW MUCH IT FITS THEM but still)

-> my babies, mikhailgate and localvillagegate

faves 🤞🤞 too good

[cloudycleric]

I have 3 questions, sorry if you've been asked any of these before

1 Did you come up with the name Cloudycleric because of stranger things? Specifically the "Cleric" part

2 do you believe in lettergate/pocketgate idk which one it is but the one theory that Mike has a letter for Will which ends with "Love, Mike."

3 what are your thoughts on the theory (is it even a theory???) That the three headed dragon from Will's painting will actually become real maybe as an antagonist or not? (there's little to no proof whatsoever that this is even a possibility for season 5 but I entertain the idea because I love dragons and think that we really need more good movies/series with dragons in them)

hihi!!

yes! the first part comes from my favorite band tally hall, my fav song from them is "spring & a storm" so that's where the cloudy comes from haha. the original url/the url that this tumblr account is technically under is cloudyhall, bc rhyme & song & reference or whatever. when i made this blog i just made the hall into cleric because alliteration, branding i guess lol, it just sounded right to me, & i never changed it.

yes ofc. i believe that mike never intentionally meant to write "from, mike" on his letters to el, it was very much a subconscious thing, but if mike wrote letters to will & 100% agree that at least ONE of those letters ends with a "love, mike"

that's an interesting one i haven't heard before!!! i think if that was going to happen, that the mindflayer would parallel the dragon instead of it being an entirely separate entity we haven't seen in the show yet, but that would be fucking awesome as hell

thank you for your ask!!! have a great day:)