#wasn't really mature of them and apologizes to him about it ( and basically confesses on accident but don't worry about that— )

[flowerakatsuka]

thinking about kuroba going through the 5 stages of grief on repeat after remembering who karamatsu was only for him to hit them with a " it's a shame we were never in the same class together! :) "

[zaine-m]

Okay so thoughts I want to get out before the next episode about the Gicky scene

Gina's let's start over felt like a huge step back for her character. Her season 2a climax was when she finally confronted Ricky about how he had been treating her, she finally wasn't doing anything for him hoping that maybe he would give her attention if she did enough and was finally respecting herself. And we don't really see Ricky's end of that, he kind of has a shocked face but he pretty much just goes back to focusing on Nini. He doesn't try to talk to Gina after to apologize or really even seem upset about losing her as a friend.

But now in this scene she's really just asking for them to forget about all the ways he hurt her. Normally the "can we start over" trope happens when both people have done bad but Gina really didn't do anything wrong. She kinda put him in an uncomfortable position when she confessed to him but she had no idea he had just started dating Nini or that she was going to stay.

She's basically apologizing for him after she had an entire arc about not putting up with his behavior. I don't think on the timeline they have they could've hade them reconcile in a way that I would be happy with. But even just having Ricky apologize before would be a big improvement.

I think the reasons they didn't have him apologize is because it would be out of character for him to do it during him "summer of fun". He wants things to be light and happy and taking responsibility for how you hurt someone just isn't. Which kinda leads into how he hasn't changed from the boy who hurt Gina. A lot of the season 1a conflict was caused by him not wanting to deal with or think about the girl who he outspokenly rejected because he just wanted to have fun with Nini. Now he's ignoring how he hurt her so they can have fun together.

I think by taking Nini out and having the same Ricky they're almost saying that it was Nini's fault that Ricky hurt Gina when it was 100% not. He's 17, he's old enough to understand his actions and he needs to apologize.

That being said I think having him say "I know your wanted to start over but I was thinking about last semester and I just wanted to apologize for how I treated you before we have our new start" in this episode would be really amazing and probably better than having him apologize in the last episode. Having him choose to take responsibility for his actions even after he "got away with it" would just be so mature of him and would really show that he isn't the same boy who hurt her. I doubt they would since they have a track record of not having characters apologize (everyone expect EJ in the stealing incident) but if they did I think it would really open up Gicky as something that I could ship

[serendipitousrambles]

Was i the only that felt El was wrong at siding Hopper even when Mike explained himself and apologized for her dad forcing him to lie? And the fact that she never apologizes for betraying him by spying on him? His third apology at the grocery with El was even necessary at this point? He simply didn't had to anymore, it was her turn to own her mistake and apologize and not Mike for the hundred time for something that wasn't even a issue in the fisrt place "jealous of max" when tho?

part 2. It just kinda felt to me that Mike was way more invested in their relationship than Eleven, that he cared for her way more than she cares for him, and I hate the Duffers for writing such a shallow and generic mileven plot this season, and somehow that makes me even less excited for s4 mileven, hard to cheer for them, even Finn said that Mike didn't say the love word at the ending scene because he felt betrayed by her. Don't know what to expect from now on, mileven was ruined for me s3..

____

I politely disagree anon.

I think mileven this season have some of the best mileven moments of the show. Both of them were very invested in their relationship, El was clearly really upset that Mike wasn't going to see her even though she's seen him every day for 6 months. That seems quite invested if you ask me.

I don't think Mike felt betrayed by El? I haven't heard Finn say anything like that? But I think Mike was just shocked that she said she loves him. Because he had tried before but being an awkward 14 year old boy he struggles to actually say the word "love".

But she knows. She understood. (She always does) So even though he didn't say it back, she knows he loves her (hence why she said "I love you, too" and not just "I love you")

So like it or not... mileven is endgame. They genuinely are in love and care for each other in a way that maybe even some adults haven't experienced. (I sound like a broken record saying over and over again how mileven is so much more than a highschool romance)

As for El siding with Hopper when Mike told her he forced him to lie...I think El was just feeling hurt. From her point of view, Mike randomly lied to her about his nana being sick and then she finds him at the mall hanging with his friends. I actually think of Mike had just said he's seeing his friends El probably would have understood or not been as upset. But basically she's already had him lie to her. So from her point of view why should she believe him? He could be lying about her dad just to make him seem like the bad guy and get out of trouble. She kind of has a right to not believe him.

I'll agree that El should have apologised for spying on Mike, that was a bit uncalled for. But again she was upset and just trying to have some fun with Max. She did something wrong but she didn't do it with malicious intent. (But yes she probably should have apologised for spying).

Mike's apology in the grocery store was actually one of my favourite moments. He's being vulnerable and open with her, something he hasn't done lately. It feels very much like season 1 and 2 mileven. He was jealous of Max, he was used to having El to himself and suddenly Max comes along and El starts hanging out with her and dumping him. He's bound to be a little prickly about that. He hasn't been on the best terms with Max from the beginning and this probably didn't make matters any better. He probably feels vulnerable and maybe even scared that Max will make El think she deserves better or something.

He's an awkward 14 year old boy in his first relationship. He's not going to do everything right first time. It's new territory and they're both unsure how to handle it. But he was mature and talked to her about it. About his feelings. He opened up and it was one of the sweetest and intimate scenes of the season. I think it was necessary for them to both grow and I think their relationship is stronger now because of this and this scene is definitely proof of Mike growing and realising the truth of his feelings for El. He blurted it out that he loves her but I think in this scene is where it really hits home to him that he loves her. So that's why he apologises and tried to explain. (And awkwardly confess). I think he might have even gotten there (slowly and painfully) but Dustin interrupted.

I think in no way was their plotline shallow but deep and intimate. On the surface and in the first episodes maybe. They were attached at the hip and that maybe was shallow. But once they were apart they still sought each other out for comfort which returned to their bond from S1 where they're relying on each other in a very intimate way. They're seeking comfort and safety in each other's arms and I think that's a really strong, special bond. Not artificial or shallow.

Overall, mileven this season was everything I hoped it would be. I have no doubt that their relationship is stronger than ever now after being through all this. (They're offically in love as of the finale so....)

Sorry this post was really long