#but by then mike's already made his peace with el and they're good

[chirpsythismorning]

Thinking about the what if El was never interested in Mike romantically, she just assumed she was discourse on the tag today and how it's very possible what could make El fully realize this, is when in s5 she see's Will's love for Mike in real time, for the first time, and she's just like damn! That is not me!

#byler #no but arguably that already happened.. #remember that! you're the heart #el listening: you're the what now?? im sorry but that's corny as hell. could not be me! #i feel like this could be how el confronts will in s5 about lying to mike #i think it's interesting they had that talk with will and el about her lying to him with will calling her out #if to not circle back to it in some way for her to be like hypocrite much? #tho i doubt that's how it would happen #i have a feeling el is going to understand in will's case in contrast to her and mike's argument #like will and el are siblings so yeah they fight #but i just get the feeling she's going to sense something is up with them (already does) #and something big will happen and i feel like she's going to see the truth before they're able to #and i think will is probably going to realize last because he really does not think it could ever happen now #and also because of el i think will would feel like its wrong unless he was confident she would be okay with it #so i could totally see will not allowing himself to be happy in that sense even if he realized mike could return his feelings #but by then mike's already made his peace with el and they're good #UGHHGHHG s5 arrive now! #no but isn't it kind of side eye that they've never shown us el be confronted with mike and wills friendship at all? #like in s1 and s3 at the end Mike mentions will in his plans with el #and that's about where it ends #we have not seen her exposed to their dynamic and like reacting to it before #UNTIL THE END OF S4!!!

[thranduel]

they wanted mike and el to be together? fine.

they wanted them to have a relationship where they constantly lie and can't be themselves with each other? fine.

they wanted to introduce a storyline where they argue because mike can't say he loves her? fine.

they wanted mike to end up saying he loves her during a monologue? fine.

they could've easily done all of this WITHOUT involving will and messing with his feelings, but they didn't.

they could’ve avoided making will be in love with mike since the beginning, but they didn’t.

they could've given will a different love interest (and i mean a proper, well-developed character who was introduced a long time ago, not some random person in the last season that we barely know) and let him have at least one moment of peace and happiness while being in love, but they didn't.

they could've made mike and el sort out their own relationship problems themselves and actually communicate with each other properly and have a healthy relationship instead of constantly lying to each other, but they didn't.

they could’ve avoided using a gay child’s feelings and heartbreak to push another ship back together, but they didn’t.

they could’ve avoided including will in EVERY single mike and el scene (except their big fight in 4x03), but they didn’t.

they could've made it 100% clear that byler wasn’t happening instead of keeping it ambiguous with so many unanswered questions, hyping it up and teasing it, dragging it out and giving people hope, but they didn't. (and no, mike telling el he loved her doesn’t confirm that byler can’t happen. he lied throughout the entire monologue and only said it because of will’s confession and painting and because he was under pressure and trying to save her. will put a false image of el into mike’s head and convinced him that she needed him and that he doesn’t make her feel like a mistake, but we know that isn’t true. el literally told mike she felt like a monster because of him just a few episodes ago during their big fight when he couldn’t even tell her he loved her while she was crying. then she made the decision to leave him even though owens warned her she might not see him again. el doesn’t need mike, will does. will was talking about himself the entire time in that scene. that’s why mike needs to find out the painting and monologue was from will because it’ll change everything).

they've already done too much now and they can't just suddenly go back and say "haha so we just took advantage of a gay character’s suffering for extra drama and used his feelings for mike as a plot device and turned him into a couple's therapist for mike and el. but guess what? he's going to end up lonely and suffer again, like he does every season, instead of ending up happy with the boy he’s loved for most of his life". nope. absolutely not.

they chose to involve a young gay child who has been suffering his entire life after being abused, bullied, outcasted, excluded, kidnapped and possessed. they chose to make will be in love with mike from the very BEGINNING and then forced him to watch him start dating someone else right in front of him (and to make things worse, mike couldn't even remain a good friend to him?? he completely changed. he started excluding him and pushing him to the side because he can't even be himself with his own girlfriend. this isn't healthy or fair to anyone involved). then they chose to introduce will's love for mike directly in season 4 with will's car monologue, the painting and all the other scenes where they're staring at each other with heart eyes. noah has also confirmed will has been in love with mike since the beginning. it's not a little crush. he's not confused. will byers is gay and has been IN LOVE with mike wheeler since the beginning. he even told him that he will ALWAYS need him. they also chose to use will's painting and feelings for mike as a plot device to force mike into telling his own girlfriend he loves her because he couldn't even say it (or write it on paper) when she was crying and begging to hear it. there was no reason to do all of this unless it’s intentional and going to be brought up again.

if this doesn't end up with mike finding out the car monologue and painting was from will so that he ends up realising his own feelings for him AND we find out he was struggling with repressed feelings and internalised homophobia (which would explain his weird behaviour towards will, like not being able to hug him at the airport), then all of this would be so cruel and unnecessary. it would just be horrible writing too because mike has had no character development at all, constantly lies and contradicts himself and has been reduced to el’s boyfriend. it’s also disgusting if they used a gay character’s suffering and heartbreak for “extra drama” and to force another ship back together.

if they wanted mike and el to stay a couple, they should’ve never brought will into this.

#the fact that people are okay with will’s love being unrequited actually makes me sick #like how are you okay with a gay kid being used as a plot device like this #how do you not see the issues?? #he had a breakdown in that van #he broke down in his brother’s arms #this is destroying him and people are praising a forced monologue that only happened BECAUSE OF HIM?????? #mike wouldn’t have said it without will and he doesn’t even get appreciation #byler #mike wheeler #will byers #stranger things #byler analysis