#ted wheeler

[thefirstlioveyou]

"i just pay for us to say something nice to you. i don't write it nor care to" has gotta be the most fucked up thing to write in (what i think is) a yearbook for everyone to see including your own kid. might as well not say anything at all

[lavenderstobins]

stranger tweets part 7

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all previous parts: [part 1] [part 2] [part 3] [part 4] [part 5] [part 5.5]

[hawkinsschoolcounselor]

If Will is really living with the Wheelers, I want to see Ted Wheeler be an unwitting instigator of drama.

I want Karen to be ready for a fight when she brings up the idea of Will staying with them to Ted, only for him to be all for it because they're better together.

I want him to have a soft spot for Will since he's the quietest and most polite of Mike's friends.

I want him to comment that to Will that he's glad he's s back because Mike has been unbearable in his absence.

I want him to mention that he's glad Mike isn't adding daily long distance charges to the phone bill. (IIRC, long distance phone rates applied even if nobody answered.)

I want him to make a joking-but-not-really comment at Mike being happier with his sweetie pie back that confuses Will because he doesn't think Ted knows about El.

Maybe this is just me being tired of fans assuming he'd not like Will for being gay or being against their relationship. I dunno. I just like the idea of Ted appreciating Will because of the positive impact he has on his son, leading to him being all for them being together.

[conflictofthemind]

Thoughts on "Escape from Camazotz"

Oppressive Suburbia, Conformity, and Season 5 Themes

I've long thought that a major focus of Season 5 will be the contrast between the families of The Wheelers and The Byers, and exploring how non-traditional family environments can be freeing vs the oppressive structure of the nuclear family.

In a Wrinkle In Time, Camazotz is a planet controlled by the big bad of the book, the "IT", who forces the citizens into a conformity that resembles American suburbia. All of the houses the same, the citizens the same, doing the same things at the same time without individual identity. Without anything different. Different means a lot of things, but with Stranger Things dropping different in reference to Will's identity and the presumable themes of this season, it will heavily codify as queerness and how it threatens the cisheterosexual family model.

Henry was raised in the 1950s, a decade still revered by conservatives for it's traditional family dynamics that supposedly were the peak of culture and happiness for all. That was all a lie, of course, and Henry knew so as he shows to Nancy and Eleven during his monologue. The second most conservative decade aside from the 1950s in American society is widely considered to be the 1980s.

The Creels will serve in parallel to The Wheelers; the worst example of what they could become and the damage that this type of family could do to a child that is different in any way. Notice how Vecna selectively shows Nancy visions of The Wheelers dying, but not anyone else she may consider family or friends (like Jonathan).

That is; unless they change their ways and come together as a healthy functioning family facing their traumas, The Wheelers will be toast.

Karen has been moved up to a main character role this season. Ted's actor says the father starts to show up more for Holly (hold that) and realizes he wants to act differently. Holly has been recast. Finn has said Mike goes on a much more personal journey this season, and steps up as a leader.

Oh, also: the catalyst for all of this is that Holly goes missing. The contrast will help show how the Byers (including El and Hopper here) were able to pull together and help solve Will's disappearance, versus how the Wheelers as a closed off nuclear family grapple with Holly's vanishing.

Each of the Byers is in some kind of a non-1950s conformist relationship, but particularly Will (not in one now but we all know he will be). I think El might represent, after she breaks up with Mike, the fear of the unmarried woman being satisfied without a husband. The above shot really emphasizes my point.

I predict that Will will end up coming out to his family rather early on, and we will see all of them immediately accept him with little surprise or push-back. Will is a visible gay man who comes from an open minded non traditional family (divorced, non-married, adoptive) that is willing to have honest conversations.

But this theme will place the most focus on the Wheelers. Mike is the main character of said family and this will particularly focus on his arc, and his acceptance of his queerness in the midst of suburban conformity.

He is not visible, he comes from a Reagan-supporting family who don't communicate with each other. He is not particularly close with his family like Will is. He pushes his feelings down and tries his damn hardest to be normal despite it all. His trauma hasn't really been addressed at all. He is falling back into his usual habits - the one thing he dared to do different (grow his hair long) has gone back to how it was.

It's not all doom and gloom though. This season above all will be a redemption arc of the American nuclear family, how they choose to escape their conformity and learn to be there for each other, thus overpowering Vecna. Not that the Wheelers are going to end this personally.

"Great, more hysteria. Just what we need". "It's the news, now indistinguishable from the tabloids".

[katimanki]

From Hate When I Sin by @foodiewithdahoodie 💖🫶🏻

When I started this fic and read the first scene, I had to put my phone down, grab my iPad and sketch it out immediately!!

[tender-emotional-music]

Dustin and Ted’s little feud is one of my favourite background subplots of stranger things, btw

[will80sbyers]

If they make out at the start of the season, it means the relationship is not compatible enough/superficial/not endgame.

[samgelina-jolie]

Stranger things + headlines (6/?)

[trvbblemaker]

can’t wait until “our son with a girl?” becomes “our son with a boy???”

[strnger1985]

how did he turn into this

[thefirstlioveyou]

How Smalltown Boy Connects with Mike's Relationship with his Parents

I can't get over how they chose Smalltown Boy for the FIRST track on Mike's playlist. I just can't. That's the gayest thing ever. Gayer than his staring I fear. The lyrics perfectly fit him, but not only because he's a closeted homosexual. It's also highlighting his dynamic with his family.

Of course, if we are getting into specifics, Smalltown Boy is a song about a young gay man running away from his homophobic home and town to live in the city to somewhere he can be himself. But generally, it's a song about not belonging and not feeling understood within a place, and the crippling loneliness that comes with it. So you seek a place where you can feel accepted and heard.

Struggling to figure out your place in the world, struggling with your sexuality and relationships, facing severe bullying, wanting to be understood and seen by your family for who you actually are while still struggling to accept who you are to begin with, desiring the escape from the place that brings you all those unmanageable problems -- That's Mike Wheeler.

"Mother will never understand why you had to leave, but the answers you seek will never be found at home. The love that you need will never be found at home"

Obviously, the actual plot of the music video features homophobic parents. I don't believe Karen is, and I see Ted as more brainwashed yet careless. But "the love that you need will never be found at home" reminds me of the Wheeler family's emotional distance and lack of actual attention, and how it's damaging Mike especially. Nancy's already seen right through the bullshit. Mike hasn't.

I don't see them as the worst parents on the planet, but they're haven't been great. They have questionable parenting choices and the show wants us to pick up on that. If you haven't yet asked yourself "where the hell are his parents?" at least ONCE while watching ST, then idk lmao.

Come on. Not knowing your son has been hiding a whole child in your basement for a week?

Never talking to your son about his best friend's death and instead letting him take the responsibility to go to you first?

Not taking concern as to why your son is suddenly misbehaving at school? And instead, you force your child to get rid of 2 boxes worth of toys that hold emotional value to him (while mocking him for having said emotional connection)?

Not even being aware that your child is constantly bullied physically and verbally, and not even questioning visible marks that could indicate that sort of abuse?

Although it's unintentional and we see Karen aware that it's wrong, you're still essentially teaching your child that 1) their feelings or voice do not matter 2) they cannot trust or rely on you 3) their 'childish' interests that make them who they are do not matter and are something they need move on from because they "have to."

And we see this play out.

If his parents can't even accept his innocent interests or show more consideration for them, if it just makes him a future high school dropout or a failure, what makes Mike believe they'd ever accept he's Gay?

Mike NEEDS a support system. He NEEDS parents who care MORE instead of waiting until government is at their doorstep. That type of love has not been consistent whatsoever at the Wheelers. To Mike, that kind of love cannot be found in his home. The answers to his problems cannot be found in his home. In fact, his upbringing is a big reason why he's in this complicated relationship with El to begin with. and he's accepted all that to be fine, despite us seeing how it's turning him into someone unable to manage their emotions who struggles with their relationships communication-wise.

"And as hard as they would try they'd hurt to make you cry. But you never cried to them, just to your soul. No, you never cried to them, just to your soul"

This refers to the severe bullying he faces that Mike confirms he's put up with all his life (just for it to be shut down immediately). His parents aren't aware. If Karen, his own mother, doesn't question a giant scab on his chin but some girl who is barely learning what friends are does, don't you think that says something?

"I'm here for you" doesn't mean anything if you aren't actively trying to actually be there. you have to look harder. look at what's right in front of you.

Sure, his mom hugs him! But I really hope we can all agree physical affection isn't the only thing that a child needs to trust. There is reason behind why we've never actually seen them talk about anything that's actually bothering him. Mike is not yet convinced he can go to his parents about the things we know he's facing, and the things that are implied that he's facing. Instead he handles it alone as a result of just "letting him come when he's ready."

The only adult who wasn't afraid to actually talk to him and not let his emotions bottle up was...

"Pushed around and kicked around, always a lonely boy. You were the one that they'd talk about around town as they put you down."

Part of this could be about his bullying experience in general, but I also believe this was foreshadowing for events in S5. Mike and the rest of hellfire are now targets and deemed part of a satanic cult. The whole town are against them and want them gone. Going from to feeling insecure for your 'childish' interests because of your parents, to becoming accepting of that part again, to now wanting to be killed for it by your town. Ain't that nice? Won't that gonna do wonders for this boy? :)

I actually predict they will take some inspiration next season from the hate crime scene in the music video. Perhaps The Hellfire Club/The Core Four/Mike will be attacked and Mike will be brought home/come home beaten.

In the actual music video, the boy's parents find out he's gay from that and they do not accept it.

However, in the show, I think it'll be focused on him being in Hellfire (since DND is a metaphor for gay love between Mike and Will). I imagine it'll be like, "Michael, why are you still associating with them? You know what would happen!" They'd get mad at him for essentially "walking right into it himself." This sets off conflict in the Wheeler Family this season. Mike finally snaps at them, telling them it was bound to happen anyway. He mentions the bullying he's already delt with his whole life. He sees his parents' sudden care in his life as BS and how it had to take the entire town to hate him for them to finally see him.

Another scene they could parallel within this one scene (or in another) could be Jack McPhee's coming out scene from Dawson's Creek, a show the Duffers loved growing up. We often see parallels to that show when it comes to the show's drama, primarily with the El-Mike-Will Love triangle to the Joey-Dawson-Jen Triangle. Mike is also heavily paralleled to Jack McPhee.

In the coming out scene, Jack tells his emotionally neglectful father (who is definitely worse than Ted) - "I was different. And as hard as you've tried to stamp it out and ignore it, I have tried harder than you to be quiet and to forget it and to not bother my family with my problem."

If this doesn't sum up what's going on then idk what does.

It's not that his parents hate him for what they know about him, but they also aren't supportive either. They ignore him. They ignore everything outside of their own little bubble. They close themselves from the truth of what's going on in the town. They close themselves from their kids. They push them to hide and stay quiet, but that's just not who Mike and Nancy are.

We also know we're into some Wheeler drama this season considering all the leaks with Karen/Holly(?)/Henry and the interview with Joe Chrest (Ted's Actor). So scenes like this aren't far off the table.

Mike is a character that is struggling overall with his place in the world and identity. He is struggling with his self worth, his sexual orientation, his relationships, accepting the interests that make him who he is. He is conforming to societal pressures (much similar to his parents) because he doesn't know where else to go. He is confused. He struggles with self-worth and severe insecurity. He does not feel needed unless he is actively doing someone of service to the point of sacrificing his life, much like a superhero, hence his fixation of them. Superheroes are people who are wanted, who are heard and seen - Something Mike feels he isn't.

He's growing up in a small and conservative town, internalizing the homophobia he witnesses, internalizing what he HAS to be and has to feel - He has to want girls (and yeah, believe it or not, homophobia still impacts queer people regardless who it's directed to. there's reason why we see mike's reaction over anyone else's). But he just can't, yet he still tries because otherwise that'd be falling off a "normal path." He has to get rid of his toys and grow up to keep on a "normal path." He has to conform because he fears what would happen if you don't. That's something he's unfamiliar with.

Mike needs to be finally seen by his family. His overall major struggle with conformity stems from there. It's what he needs emotionally, but it also makes sense narratively. It has to be from them. His whole arc along with them is to break free from their conformity, and it starts with the facing their truths as a family.

Mike won't end up making the choice the boy has to in the music video. In the end, he will have his family's support and acceptance. He will be able to be true to who he is. He will accept himself. He won't need to runway in fear. I do still believe he will leave Hawkins (with Will). It just won't be on a bad note!!

[lavenderstobins]

ted wheeler, to dustin, max and lucas: if you were my kids, i'd punish you

dustin, side-eyeing him: if we were your kids we'd punish ourselves

[galactiicpup]

reasons i think that "the vanishing of ***** wheeler" is holly —

biggest reason: holly was recast for the final season, meaning she'll probably bave a bigger role than before

we know holly has a tendency to wander, obv she was very little in season one but still it could be a habit she never grew out of!

what we've seen of st5 so far, there's a clip, blink and you'll miss it, of holly screaming

in season one, the only two people other than will (that we know of) who attracted the demogorgon without blood were joyce and holly. the demogorgon wanted holly like it wanted will for no real reason!

holly has a tendency to notice upside down related things, like in season one when she wandered into will's room, season three when she sees the mind flayer in the trees, season four when she calls out "look mom it's snowing!" after the upside down starts to leak through

the wheelers have to have some weird connection to the upside down the same way the byers do, even if karen isn't alice creel, something is just very off when it comes to the wheelers and the upside down

[8em-em-em8]

I want a bit in a fanfic where Steve's go to non-sexy though to not come too fast is Ted Wheeler, to the point where he Pavlov's himself and now he's mortified because seeing Ted Wheeler makes him horny for no reason. Even better if he has to explain it to someone.

[stranger-theory]

Stranger Theories by my mom, part 1:

Holly's gonna go missing and the reason is because it's gonna draw the Wheelers into focus again.

Karen's child just went missing and she has no idea what's going on. She's terrified that her daughter is dead and she has no idea what she's gonna do about it. She feels like she's going crazy. Who else had this storyline? Joyce. Karen isn't going to be alone because Joyce understands. Karen won't be clueless because Joyce understands.

Nancy and Mike get to spend time with each other more and actually talk about the things they said they would back in s1. "No more secrets" never really came to fruition. This gives HUGE leeway for the audience to actually, finally, understand what's going on inside that bigass head of his. We could also see what Nancy thinks about the whole Steve vs Jonathan thing.

We get to see how all of this affects Ted Wheeler and actually understand who he is as a person, give him some flavor. Does he actually care about his family? I don't know but s5 can answer that now. Maybe he ends up leaving Hawkins, who knows. The point is that we have a definite answer now.

Holly is the catalyst for clearing the air in the Wheeler family. She can answer so many questions we as the audience have and I'm thankful for that.

My mom also made a great point that the town will respond incredibly different to Holly's disappearance. Will Byers is known as "the queer" who has a crazy mom and comes from a low class family. Yes, there were absolutely search parties out for Will, but we still saw so much bullying from people, too. People like Troy and Tommy H. are actually going to care about her because she's a pretty blond girl from a middle class family.

I'm very curious as to what the characters reactions of this are gonna be. Is Will gonna be sad that he didn't have this much attention on him? Is Mike gonna be sad? Is anybody going to notice at all?

I suppose I'll just stay on the edge of my seat for now.

(everybody thank my mom for this)

[jazz-penguin]

the lighting during Byler scenes is intentional 🌝