#notice how in a flashback El has earlier of the massacre

[chirpsythismorning]

Something something Willel twins.

[chirpsythismorning]

YES!!

This scene in the desert at Project Nina allegedly hinted at Will recognizing Brenner, according to the 4x08: Papa 8Flix script.

While it's possible (and highly likely) Will is going to interact with Owens again, to address the truth of his connection to the UD and the lab, as well as Sullivan, assuming that he's still on the hunt for El, I think it's also very likely this scene was meant to parallel a scene we already got in s4, from a flashback in the lab.

Assuming Will is 12, that means here at Nina, he could have just been recalling a repressed memory (or previous timeline? assuming we might subscribe to the time-loop theory) of Brenner, related to the shock collar, ie:

I think based on what we saw in s4, it's worth noting the test subject 13 (between 11 and 12 here above) was shown in the frame near Will/El quite a bit in these flashbacks.

I think this was partly because we were seeing El at an older age, alongside these kids who were younger, in the past. So putting aged up 11, next to young 12, in an attempt to give off that twin imagery, wouldn’t have hit as much. Whereas putting 12 next to 13, the number directly after him (paralleling 12 with 11) who also happens to look like El, could be their way of giving that twin imagery.

For example, this would be a similar technique to them focusing on 10 at the start of s4, despite him just being a red herring:

Or how they kept repeatedly showing 7 and 5's tattoos in every flashback.

Or how they focused on the twins 16 & 17 in every flashback.

It isn't because there's some deeper meaning behind these specific test subjects, indicating that we’re going to get a whole backstory for each of them in s5. It's meant to subtly hint at the overarching truth hidden within El's memories connected to the lab and the massacre.

This shot below also follows this same technique with 13. I think this sequence here could represent El subconsciously remembering her and 12 (Will). However, instead of having her directly interact with him, they have 13, her lookalike, sitting beside 12 as El sees him for the first time in the Rainbow room (in front of the red tower, which she also has a drawing of in her room).

For those that don't know, the actress who played 13 revealed that, on set, she was constantly being recognized for her resemblance to Millie in s1 of the series. So this is indeed something that I think was intentional.

To understand that collar parallel better, notice that in the lab sequence, they make a point to have 12 be visible, but with only his eye-line just barely making the frame, and with 13 between him and 11. This could simply be a hint that both Will and El witnessed these events, side by side, in the past (different timeline?) at Hawkins lab AND now in the present at Nina.

We also see a repetition of shots just like this one above, earlier in the season, where Will is being kept in the frame with El in these moments that are building up to her remembering the massacre.

These ones below kind of remind me of 12 during the day of the massacre, where we see him in the frame sort of peaking in from El's right. Also that line from the teacher had me cackling...

And then of course more twin imagery.

This is when it starts to get sort of real though, in terms of them very subtly in early s4 hinting at the massacre, placing El (and Will) in these situations that feel uncannily similar to what happened leading up to and on the day of the massacre.

That first shot from 4x01, with Will reacting to El as he walks outside to see her getting bullied, reminds me of Brenner entering the double doors of the rainbow room. We even get a shot of El looking angry after that shot of Will, almost directly paralleling to her expression upon Brenner's arrival, right before she fainted. What's interesting in this instance, is that unlike what we were shown in the massacre, here we are shown Will comforting El, even going as far as to apologize. Also note the song that plays during this moment? Crib? Yeah, the twin allegations aren't going away any time soon...

The scene at Rink-O-Mania also operates as a parallel to El's (+ Will's?) repressed memories of the massacre, with Will AGAIN witnessing El in a confrontation, freezing in response (also a lot of twin repetition going on here…)

I'm sensing a pattern here.

Next, you'll notice they took Mike out of that last shot below, with El at the center in focus. Though, why keep Will in the frame? Unless of course this was to serve a specific purpose? Perhaps to hint at the fact that Will was also present that day alongside El at the massacre, despite our assumption he has no connection to it at all?...

I'm going to end this here bc otherwise I'll go on forever. However this has inspired me to make a new part for the original twelvegate theory posts bc my latest post is from months ago, and I have quite a few things to correct from part 4 that I need re-explain and expand on!

@chirpsythismorning Thinking about this screenshot you posted.

It's interesting because Brenner didn't use the electroshock collar on El. We only see him use it to punish Two in a flashback. And now it's between Brenner and Will.

Seems like a Chekhov's gun to me. Maybe in S5 someone will use it on Will because Henry is trying to control him? Or they want to block his powers? Maybe Sullivan and/or Owens.