#endgame theories

[kmze]

Stefan and Elena would have been endgame if Nina had not quit

Stefan and Caroline would have been endgame if Kevin had not killed Stefan

Stefan and Lexi would have been endgame if Damon had not killed Lexi

It's getting crazier with each passing day/year.What is the truth?

(I guess you know what I'm talking about)

Good to have you back,Kris.Miss your metas and smuts!

Oh Anon I know exactly what you are talking about, although I hadn't heard the Lexi/Stefan one until now that just seems like she's talking just to talk. Thank you for the welcome back! I missed this site and now that it's usable again (it was awful for a few years) I came back since it's the only site not taken over by ad-based algorithms and influencers. Plus now that I'm doing a TVD rewatch maybe I'll try to write some mini-metas if I feel inspired (the smut I can't promise as much I have complete writers block sadly.)

My thoughts under the cut because this got long oops!

Lets get to that tweet that started this discourse again, which I'm sure that was her intention, and honestly, I think she believes that on some level but it's simply not true. And I don't mean not true in the sense that the Stefan and Elena couldn't have been endgame because of how the story evolved after Nina left (or even before) but because they absolutely could have been! In fact it would have been rather simple to give Stefan and Elena an implied endgame with only having Nina for the finale. I remember a few weeks before the finale there was a pretty easy to believe "spoiler" of how they could pull it off. Basically Damon dies instead of Stefan, Elena wakes up and Caroline compels them both to forget about vampires, witches all of Mystic Falls etc. to protect them. Then there's a time jump where they run into each other again as strangers and do the whole "I'm Stefan" "I'm Elena" meet-cute from the Pilot and 5x18 visions. All that full circle jazz and now they get to be together without all the baggage so viewers can theorize how that unfolds. I can't even emphasize enough how EASY they made this a possibility when Stefan turned human (probably why I felt so much dread when I knew they were going to do that). This was also around the time the SE King Kevin Williamson (who also likes to blame Nina for not getting his endgame) and I cannot believe he wouldn't have been all for this. Hell lets even go back further because Nina told them at the beginning of S6 she was leaving so they had all of S6 to redirect the story back to Stefan and Elena, which again would have been easy with the mind-erase storyline and Damon being dead, but they didn't! They made them super platonic and after years of hints made Stefan and Caroline a main love story.

So yeah sorry Jules that is not the reason Stefan and Elena weren't endgame, they had tons of time to redirect the storyline. Even if she was determined to have Stefan and Caroline get together she could have done that, had them break up for good during the 54678 obstacles she put them through and then had Caroline date Enzo (kill me) before sending her off to Klaus (because apparently that was also a possibility until Caroline married Stefan if you're keeping track).

So what's the real reason Stefan and Elena weren't endgame? I'm not going to pretend like I know for certain but I do have a working theory, I don't think they could have made Stefan and Elena endgame without hurting Caroline's ending and that was more important to Julie by the end. I know lots of people will probably think I'm crazy for saying that but it is truly what I believe. Especially after seeing where Caroline started (like it was painful watching how prop-y she was treated in S1 during my rewatch) and where she ended up (last vampire standing running a magic school in the Salvatore house one of the biggest landmarks in the verse). I don't see how Caroline's ending wouldn't have taken a hit if Stefan reunited with Elena, even if she was the one who compelled him to forget about her. Instead the show used Stefan and Elena to prop Stefan and Caroline in the finale! They made it so Stefan couldn't find peace until he was sure Caroline knew he got her message and he'd love her forever too (the teaser cut away shot and "there's something I have to say" sells this IMO). That's what Julie used to set-up Legacies as the foundation of the school, it was Caroline's love for Stefan and how he helped her become the best vampire ever and now she's doing the same for supernatural kids. Candice King confirmed this in an article when Legacies ended, it's also implied via song in the Salvatore musical episode of Legacies about the founding of the school. That might be why Julie said it would "dishonor Stefan" to make Klaus and Caroline get together because she still needed Caroline's love for Stefan to be strong even in death, that's why this parallel lives in my head rent-free.

I'm sure some people will say it was because of Damon and Elena and their powerful chemistry and love story but that's for people who give a damn about that relationship (not I) who genuinely believe the writers HAD to deliver the chin kiss endgame.

#whew that was a lot #I will forever wonder what could have been though if kevin never returned #sigh #or if legacies had gotten a S5 with caro as headmistress #deep sigh #anon for ts #I don't even know how to tag this #endgame theories

[doctorsiren]

thinking about Phoenix Fulwright….😳

#doctorsiren #ace attorney #phoenix wright #bobby fulbright #ace attorney spoilers #aa5 spoilers #miles edgeworth #apollo justice #simon blackquill #judge ace attorney #the phantom ace attorney #ace attorney fanart #digital art #my art #procreate #dude… #when I think about Bobby I GET SO SAD #because we never knew the real him… #AND I THINK AHOUT #about Blackquill… #blackbright please save me BUT YOU CANT BC ONE OF YOU IS FAKE #SIMON NEVER GOT TO KNOW THE REAL BOBBY #I really like the theory that Bobby was Sebastian’s older brother (i haven’t played AAI2 yet shh) #and like…he would have been friends with everyone….BUT NOO #LIKE CMON I DREW BOBBY BEING AN ANNOYING YOUNGER BROTHER FIGURE TO GUMSHOE MONTHS BACK #AND THEN A FEW **DAYS** AFTER I DREW THAT I WAS SPOILED ABOUT THE PHANTOM #BY BOBBY’S WIKI PAGE #I WAS JUST LOOKING FOR THE DUDE’S HEIGHT AND I GOT ENDGAME SPOILERS LIKE BRO WHAT #I WAS DEVASTAED #anyways yeah thanks Capcom for putting Phoenix’s face on that body hehehehehehehehe

[alcalystrasz]

I predict a foreshadowing to Mike being a target of Vecna (the first or second one) to introduce: the Villain (Vecna), El and his internalized homophobia along with his feelings for Will...

#stranger things #byler #noah schnapp #will byers #byler tumblr #finn wolfhard #mike wheeler #byler is canon #love #byler is endgame #byler nation #stranger things 5 #stranger things theory

[romainlettusdinnerparty]

HOLY SHIT THIS IS SO BIRTHDAY GATE CODED

#SOMETHING ABOUT SITING ACTUAL TEXT FROM THE SHOW #IT FEELS LIKE THEY HAVE TO DO SOMETHING WITH THAT RIGHT?? #byler #will byers #mike wheeler #stranger things #stranger things 5 #byler tumblr #st5 #byler endgame #byler fic #noah schnapp #birthdaygate #st5 leaks #st5 speculation #st5 theory #stranger things theory #stranger things analysis #byler theory #byler analysis #byler leak #mine

[pandabyler]

me when byler is in the upside down at mikes garage and heros by peter gabriel starts playing

#byler s5 #byler brainrot #byler analysis #byler endgame #byler #byler proof #stranger things #mike wheeler #byler theory #byler tumblr #flickergate

[hotchocolatebeforebed]

I don't want Mike and Will to get Murrayed.. I *need* them to get Clarked.

Like Mr Clarke has known them since they were 12 and obviously knows them very well. He's literally the sweetest and I feel like the boys trust him and his opinion a lot (even years later) so him talking to them and telling them it's ok would be so cute 😭

#stranger things #byler #mike wheeler #will byers #mr clarke #scott clarke #stranger things season 5 #byler endgame #byler theory #mike x will

[ven0moir]

Mike is deliberately queercoded

So was nobody going to tell me that there is a Freddy Krueger movie filled with gay subtext that the Duffers very clearly and obviously referenced to queercode both Mike and Will since S1?

The main character is Jessie, a suburban teenager that finds himself haunted by Freddy Krueger, who wishes to possess him and go on a killing spree. Now this reminds me of Will initially, but Jessie has way more similarities with Mike than Will.

For example, Jessie's father 100% inspired Ted Wheeler, in fact he's a straight up rip off.

And this is Holly.

Look at how the screenwriters discuss this, including Robert freaking Englund himself (who plays Freddy Krueger and Victor Creel)

The screenwriters specifically talk about how one of the things the production designer (who was gay) did to add gay subtext was a sign on Jessie's bedroom door that said 'NO out of town CHICKS ALLOWED'

The Duffers know this, I'm sure.

So this ....

This freaking ONE WAY sign pointing into Mike's closet? Deliberate, legitimate gay subtext.

#byler evidence #byler theory #byler analysis #byler proof #anti milkvan #byler endgame #byler nation #byler #will byers #mike wheeler

[stranger-theory]

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

#bestie aint no way lettergate aint real #theres AT LEAST one note he wrote #but im a big fan of: #'my god this man wrote so many notes with tear stanes on them because he couldnt get the words right' #byler #stranger things #mike wheeler #will byers #byler endgame #stranger things theory

[byleranalysis]

I FOUND THE SIGN ITS REAL

USE #StrangerFansforWGA to kick Netflix 👹🤡 (not the writers 🥰) in the ~balls~ <3

#byler #byler analysis #stranger things #byler endgame #miwi #mike wheeler i know what you are #byler evidence #byler theory #stranger things analysis #will byers #byler cinematography

[thatkeira9000]

CASTLE BYERS CONFESSION ANYONE?! MIKE SEEING WHAT WILL DID TO CASTLE BYERS IN SEASON 3 AND FEELINGS HORRIBLE ABOUT IT?!?

#will byers #stranger things #byler #mike wheeler #stranger things 5 #mike x will #byler endgame #st5 #st5 leaks #st5 theory

[willsboyfriend]

„I didn‘t say it“/„You didn’t have to“

gif by @prettyteenvamp

They are subtly hinting at this idea that Will doesn‘t have to say things outright and spell it out in order for Mike to understand because Mike&Will can understand each other without words:

GIFs by u/flutterstrange on Reddit

#soulmatism #if they aren‘t canon in s5 #byler #will byers #stranger things #byler endgame #mike wheeler #byler nation #mike x will #byler proof #byler theory #byler analysis #byler tumblr

[theidiotmikewheeler]

SHUT UP RN I JUST SAW SOMEONE SAY THAT MIKE ONLY SAID HE FELL IN LOVE W EL WHEN HE FIRST SAW HER BECAUSE HE THOUGHT SHE WAS A BOY. IM LOOSING IT

#byler #stranger things #will byers #anti mileven #mike wheeler #lgbtqia #byler endgame #finn wolfhard #byler is canon #i have a theory #send help #i cant do this #they’re my favorite

[bibylers]

I’m slowly rotting. Where. Is. Will.

#byler #< target audience #will byers #mike wheeler #stranger things #byler tumblr #byler endgame #stranger things 5 #byler theories

[romainlettusdinnerparty]

ok so i talked to a professional lighting designer i know and here’s what’s going on with the picture:

basically sets will use a key light that will highlight the subject of a scene. this light is normally yellow in tone and the brightest one on a set. you can see here its coming from the upper right corner and making the girl’s hair and shoulder the most highlighted part of the shot and also very yellow in tone. she is most likely standing in will’s light, preventing him from being properly highlighted.

now, to ensure that that bright yellow light doesn’t over expose the shot, another light needs to counteract it. it needs to create a shadow for the highlight to contrast with. this is called a fill light. because the key light is yellow, the opposite color will be taken from the color wheel to contrast it: blue. this is why will looks so pale, the blue tones of the fill light are the only thing shining on him due to her blocking him from the key light. the fill light looks like its coming from the opposite direction as the key light thus she is not obscuring him from it.

this would also explain what looks on the surface to be mistakes in makeup application. stranger things is netflix’s darling, they have good makeup artists!! they wouldnt just not apply makeup under his bangs or around the collar of his shirt!! this is just the result of where she isn’t blocking the key light contrasting with the fill light that he’s mostly bathed in.

the reason the lighting looks so dramatic is because the white balance in the picture was likely off due to this being a paparazzi photo where they were unaware of the lighting conditions, whereas that’s something they adjust to using the filming cameras when they know what lighting to expect.

ok thats all thank you for coming to my ted talk!!!

(he also said that an actor would never wear an earpiece mic like that so sorry to burst anyone’s bubble, this is a PA not millie😭)

#stranger things #byler #will byers #byler tumblr #stranger things 5 #byler endgame #st5 #st5 leaks #st5 speculation #mike wheeler #st5 filming #st5 predictions #st5 theory #st5 production #stranger things theory #stranger things analysis #stranger things leaks #noah schnapp #mine

[pandabyler]

the biggest byler proof imo

#byler s5 #byler brainrot #byler analysis #byler endgame #stranger things #byler #byler proof #mike wheeler #byler theory #byler tumblr #will byers

[paladintoyourcleric]

"But Mileven had been built up for 4 seasons"

What tf do you mean built up, they kissed a week after they met.

#byler s4 #byler tumblr #byler s5 #mike x will #byler theory #byler proof #byler nation #byler is real #byler #bylerweek2023 #byler analysis #byler edit #byler headcanon #will byers #mike wheeler #stranger things 5 #will x mike #anti mileven #anti milkvan #byler endgame #byler is endgame #byler is canon