#bc the basement is essentially the exact same as it's always been in terms of decor (will's art)

[chirpsythismorning]

Thinking about how we didn't get one scene of Mike in his basement in s4, though we got almost everyone else in the party down there (Lucas, Max, Dustin, Steve, Robin, Nancy).

At the start of s4, we got Mike in his room and in the kitchen getting pop-tarts out of the pantry (near the phone on the main floor), but nothing of him in his 'sanctuary'.

Considering Mike and Will and that damn basement metaphor, it makes me wonder if that was entirely intentional.

Because although there is a phone in the kitchen, I highly doubt that's where Mike made all his calls to Will since the Byers moved, most of which went unanswered. That's very likely the kind of thing he would do in the basement...

Makes you think they're saving Mike in his basement again for the last season, bc what we'll see is something that'll definitely shock the average viewer... something the Duffers had to wait until the end to reveal.

#stranger things #byler #mike wheeler #no but think about it #that basement is mike's safe place #it's arguably where he can be himself #so it is interesting that they didn't let us see him in said safe space #bc i think if they were to show us mike alone in that basement #we'd see some pretty incriminating stuff. #like him just sitting there gaming endlessly #occasionally looking over at the table where they used to play dnd #or even the drawings by will on the walls #or even just staring at the phone contemplating whether he should risk the disappointment of not reaching will for the 100th time. #like we haven't seen mike's room since s1 i don't think??? but they brought it back to give us more insight into his character #bc the basement is essentially the exact same as it's always been in terms of decor (will's art) #I think that also played a part in why they made that choice though #bc mike would have came off as reminiscent of that space and what it used to represent #and now it's just a depression dungeon... #I imagine that they could even be saving this sort of acknowledgement for when Will is also present... #i am intrigued to see how they confront the fact that mike DID try to call will #i do think the basement aspect would be an interesting angle to go at it #like all they gotta do is show mike somberly looking at that landline on the wall near the stairs #and i would be pointing at the screen like that leonardo dicaprio meme