#no one there wants to see this

[mike-haters-dni]

Another Unpopular Mike Opinion Post Woah How Do I Still Have Things To Say

Alright, so I know nobody wants to hear this but: Mike as a character does in fact function almost solely in relation to the people around him. Specifically, the Party and Eleven. What do I mean by that? I mean his main hobbies are playing Dungeons and Dragons, something he literally can’t do without his friends, and being El’s boyfriend—which I know is an even more unpopular sentiment but guess what. He exists in the story to be the leader of the Party and El’s love interest. He almost literally never does anything for just himself unless you count those two episodes in s4 where he’s playing/trying to find a sub for dnd—which I kinda do? but also don’t because he's with Dustin (and Lucas’ ghost), and also he has a Leader Moment during the game. Every other character (probably) gets some Thing or plot line(s) they get to do at least partially solo. Dustin gets Dart in s2, Lucas has the basketball team, Max deals with Billy and then his death, Will has the whole possession arc, El....I mean she literally got her own solo episode. But Mike? He barely interacts with his own family, who are mostly also main characters. Really the only time we see Mike alone on screen is in s2 when he’s going through his depression, but he’s depressed because he's mourning Eleven, aka acting as her love interest. But the thing is, that actually is his special solo plotline. Its actually the most significant of the whole show. Or it would be, if it didn't mean that everyone's favorite Main Boy of s1 became a supporting character for the new Mainest Character of the Show, who now gets to do way more shit than him because like, she has magic powers and is the plot. But yeah, that's why people say Mike was ruined after s1 even though he's the same exact guy throughout the show.

But anyway, I think this investment in others is what makes Mike the things people like about him too. Being a character that is solely focused on those around him is what makes him such a natural leader and caretaker, and he was and will continue to be that. And just to prove the haters wrong here is a list of every time Mike acted as a leader in each season:

S1: I mean do I need to explain this one it’s the only season anyone likes

S2: He definitely takes more of a backseat this season (having less to do) but still, he acts like he has the authority to prevent people from joining the friend group and takes charge when Dart becomes a problem. Also, no one else showed up to check on Will and stay by his side to help him through the Events, almost like Mike feels a natural responsibility for his friends or something. At the very end of the season he's right back to form when El needs help and he comes up with and executes the plan to set the tunnel on fire.

S3: Again, he spends a good amount of time being “helped” by Lucas this season, but he’s the one who comes up with the sauna plan (and uses his own voice as bait lol). Also it’s small but he’s the one at the head of the group when they go to sneak into the movies. (Worth noting that Mike spends a lot of action time with Nancy this season, who he is definitely outranked by in terms of group leadership, so he naturally takes more of a backseat. As he should)

S4: You’re expecting me to say he takes a backseat again right? WRONG. He's the one yelling after Eleven that he’s going to fix everything, he's the one who finds the number in the pen, he’s the one who thinks to go to Suzie’s, he’s the one who spots El out in the desert. He spends the whole season bossing Jonathan around and you know, he deserves some credit for that. Also during the meeting with Suzie Mike is in the center of the frame doing the most talking. ALSO, again it's small, but during the dnd game even after his own character was dead and he didn’t have any real input on the situation, Dustin still makes a point to ask Mike what he thinks they should do. Like, he's a leader idk what to tell you.

(Also can I say, god forbid Mike spend a few scenes not in charge. God forbid he get supported himself every once in a while. Like, wtf do people want from him actually. He's a clever kid with a personality so strong it makes all his friends listen to him. Give him a fuckin break.

Personally I don't think any of this is bad writing or whatever. I think its good writing for a leader/love interest to the MC character. I think Mike is someone who, due to his insecurities, defines himself based on his relationships. He wants to be useful and important to people, and this causes him to both selflessly protect the people he loves and freak out whenever he feels like they're pulling away from him. He's useful to the story for both action and drama. And like, realistically, only finding self-worth in other people is unhealthy—but also, valuing your relationships is good and wanting to protect your friends is good. And also he's a character in a story about the power of friendship. And I suppose you could take Will's speech to mean that instead of feeling all this pressure to Do Good to be loved he doesn't need to try at all and its not something he can earn or lose, he's loved because he just is That Guy and always will be. However...if both El and Mike's arcs in s5 involve letting go of responsibility and accepting love and support from people around you just know I called it.

Anyway everyone hates how Mike only ever gets to be Eleven's boyfriend except for ME. Because its WHAT SHE DESERVES

[captainjonnitkessler]

>Join a union

>Hear people constantly complaining that the current union leadership is super corrupt, it's all just the same ten guys making all the decisions in secret and nobody else in the union ever gets to know what's going on

>Go to the monthly union meetings that are completely open to all 1200 union members

>The only attendees are the same ten guys every month, giving detailed reports about everything that's going on

[bookwyrminspiration]

god I would be UNSTOPPABLE if I was capable of consistently initiating tasks. just you wait. you'll be waiting a while but just you wait

[unsung-idiot]

don't show him modern technology; it won't end well

bonus under the cut:

[butchfalin]

the funniest meltdown ive ever had was in college when i got so overstimulated that i could Not speak, including over text. one of my friends was trying to talk me through it but i was solely using emojis because they were easier than trying to come up with words so he started using primarily emojis as well just to make things feel balanced. this was not the Most effective strategy... until. he tried to ask me "you okay?" but the way he chose to do that was by sending "👉🏼👌🏼❓" and i was so shocked by suddenly being asked if i was dtf that i was like WHAT???? WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY TO ME?????????? and thus was verbal again

[batcavescolony]

Katniss is such an unreliable narrator. She says "Then something unexpected happens. At least, I don't expect it because I don't think of District 12 as a place that cares about me" girl you deliver strawberries to the Mayor, you hunt and trade for the district, when you fell at Prim being chosen someone caught you, when you went to Prim people parted for you, when you volunteered EVERYONE stopped. Idk how to tell you but I think you're a pillar of the community.

[demaparbat-hp]

Arsonist's Lullaby

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

The math just adds up!

[captainbee66]

I miss the era of the internet where everyone had an evil alter ego/character that would show up on their channel, just to be silly, that eventually got a lot of lore from the fandom for no reason. It was a simpler time.

[unreal-unearthed]

i think about the way they shot this picture every day.

hellooooooooo where is the behind the scenes video for THIS!!!!!! i need it

[autismjester]

People still tend to lump JK Rowling in with the category of ~problematic artists~ and I need everyone to understand that is not the problem with her. She is not comparable to anyone who wrote a piece of fiction you hate, or someone who made rude comments in 2015 and has since learned better.

She is far more like Elon Musk. She is a radicalized person with an extreme amount of social and financial power, and for YEARS she has been using that power to try to influence her government into hurting vulnerable people, on purpose. And she has succeeded. THAT is the problem with her, and THAT is why spending money on her books is so dangerous, not because her books aged badly.

Critiquing her work is fine, of course (I personally was never a fan so I really don’t care) but you NEED to understand that fiction is not the main issue here. And I truly think acting like she’s the same as the rest of any giant list of ~problematic creators of the week~ waters down how dangerous she is.

[lamina-tsrif]

they are already planning your spontaneous burial (slingshot incident)

[eydilily]

gem n joel the strongest duo (family) that you are

and of course. her

[catmask]

SNAPDEX REPORT: WEEK 1

actually, i guess nows as good a time as any. heres all my pokemon warmups from the past 9 days! i wonder how long i can keep going