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S5 Mike Wheeler confesses his feelings for Will to El because he doesn't know what to do with them, constantly stumbling over his words, fidgeting with his hands, making absolutely no eye contact, totally freaked out by the fact he's saying all of it out loud, and finally El stops him, looks directly into his eyes, and says, "Mike, it's okay, I understand." smiling warmly which immediately calms him down, stopping his multiple attempts to explain himself out of anxiousness

Paralleling this scene S01 - EP03

Also the outfits matching hello?

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I'm so hyped for the Robin - Will interactions I have no idea how their relationship will be because he's super closed off with new people and she's so extroverted, maybe Robin sees him being sad about Mike and tells him she can understand or maybe she does what Steve did for her and says something like "well, you never know, people might surprise you... but I think you should tell him anyway"

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It’s the way Maya is grinning through that answer + she sounds so excited her voice keeps going up in pitch + the cheeky eyebrow raises + I can’t think why she’d be this happy about coaching Will through gay heartbreak lol yeah Robin + Byler is coming to us 2025

(If you haven’t seen the question was something about which kid Robin would have a mentorship relationship with)

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Hot take: the main st cast knows all about endgame byler. It’s called NDAs and being an actor. Their occupation is pretending. And yet nobody’s perfect, so yes, they have cracked a few times along the way. Still, I can’t help but notice how happy they get whenever they talk about the overall story and its ending, it’s like praise and appreciation, with this hint of defensiveness about audience expectations. Hmm wonder why…

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Does Flaying Combine People With Their Alternate Timeline Selves?

So, today I was thinking about how Will’s S1 missing poster said that he had brown eyes:

Versus S2 Will not having brown eyes-

-until he gets flayed/the flaying progresses:

And then I was also thinking about how flayed TFS Henry has all of these Edward references surrounding him, but still doesnt seem to entirely be Edward, and how he also speaks about “us,” and says “he’s right here,” when Alice asks where Henry is:

Point is, he speaks as if he’s two people in the same body.

Which makes me wonder: does being flayed result in a person being merged with their timeline counterpart?

Ive theorized before about the idea that the hivemind transcends timeline/dimensions (ie a person flayed in 1959 might be simultaneously mentally connected to a person that got flayed in 1983, two flayed people in separate timelines might be simultaneously mentally connected etc etc), but now I wonder if that goes beyond just a connection, and instead, ends up merging a person with their alternate timeline self, maybe if both selves are flayed.

Like what I mean is that because two flayed versions of a person from alternate timelines (ie Henry and Edward) are connected to the hivemind, theyre therefore connected to eachother, right? But what happens if you connect the “same” person to themselves? Like if we think of the hivemind as being sort of like a computer, then what typically happens when two identical files are put in the same folder? One of then gets overwritten.

So, I wonder if that’s what’s happening here- if one version of a person is overwriting the other (but not as smoothly/quickly as it happens with computer files), and if that’s why Will’s eye colour changed as his flaying progressed- he may have been “overwritten” by the alternate timeline brown-eyed Will, just as TFS Henry may have been “overwritten” by Edward or vice versa.

This would also explain why Flayed Billy’s eye colour doesn’t change to brown- because the alt timeline Billy still has blue eyes.

This could also explain the emphasis on “weakness” in TFS and why Henry gets so upset when Brenner calls him weak- because the “weaker” version of a person might be the one that gets overwritten.

Anyway! Lots to think about.

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I'm not sure I have it in me to survive the leaks that are coming in suddenly.

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JDSGJBDNKFJEDN HELP I can't understand who's screaming that to Steve, maybe Jonathan???

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commission for @nothoughts-onlywomen !!!

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how did jonathan (guy whose whole family has been wrapped up in the supernatural) end up being the only one who hasnt been to the upside down yet

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Probably the funniest contrast within the show.

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when everything's made to be broken (i just want you to know who i am) by @hoteadepresso pt 1

‘Stop.’ Will forced out, shaking his head in disbelief, hurt painting his features ‘Mike, that’s not funny. It’s mean.’ He thought he was joking. Mike was throwing his bleeding heart onto his floor, and he thought it was some sort of a prank. Fuck. ‘You really think I would joke about it?’ his voice sounded like it came from far away, weak and broken. His hand twitched, yearning to touch Will, to take his hand, to brush his fingertips against his warm skin for just one second even if that was all he could ever get.

late happy birthday present for Alex, the bestestest person out there!!!

a little bit of backstory; Once upon a time user @hoteadepresso wrote a fic (click here!!) (read it, its fucking amazing!!!!!!) which I immediately wanted to make fanart of, so, ofc it took me like, over a year to finish just this pt 1 <33

thus, the artstyle changes, which are a thing in this thing

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Stranger Things 5 will have a "Lord of the Rings" ending

Finn Wolfhard, when asked in a recent interview what he hoped for in the last episode of Stranger Things, he said a "Lord of the Rings happy ending." (He's read every script but the last.) So it will be epic like LOTR, but HOW?

#1 - What the General Audience thinks:

#2 - What Milevens think:

#3 - What Bylers think:

I'm for a mix of #1 and #3 myself =D

Some Milevens online said the LOTR reference somehow supports a Mileven endgame. I'm like DUDE Lord of the Rings is literally a Byler fanfic about two boys who love each other going into the Upside Down lol

P.S. Follow and read my blog! I have so much to say!

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flickergate we are SO FUCKING BACK

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Omg this makes sense we are getting another byler and j*ncy parallel 😭

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personally still a big fan of mike rebuilding castle byers to make up for being an asshole to will and accidentally coming across little M+W carved into the wood.

#and don't forget the hearts around them!!!

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The Significance of Lover’s Lake and Byler (Theory) Part 2

Sequel to this post

(Warning: mentions of sex and drugs)

Okay so first of all, if you haven’t seen my previous post on my theory involving Lovers Lake and Byler, please read it first. I go over my theory and predictions for Byler and the heart shaped lake. This is a secondary post to it, outlining some VERY interesting details involving the owner of the lakeside house, the lakeside house itself, and all the romantic and sexual elements present. I’m saving the best for last here.

Let’s start with the owner of the lakeside house.

Reefer Rick

So I recently made a silly post arguing that the most queer coded character in Stranger Things is not Mike nor Will (nor Robin, Henry, Eddie etc), and I stand by this statement. The most queer coded character is: Reefer Rick. Now, I know we never see the guy, but literally all the information we have on him is either queer coding or drug references.

Synonyms of his name are literally f*g Dick, with a shared last name with the famous tea company founder who so happens to have been a homosexual: Lipton.

We know he doesn’t have a family, thus he’s a single man who occasionally has his buddy/fellow dealer Eddie stay over. Hm, not very heterosexual of him.

Then we have his movie list.

Now, as many of us know, the movie “Fast Times” is used within Stranger Things as a way to gage if someone is attracted to women or not. We have Steve, Dustin, Lucas, and Vickie all confirmed to have enjoyed this movie… specifically for that shot at 53 minutes and 5 seconds. Sure, Reefer Rick rented the film, but why is it the only movie he rented that was returned on time? For context, he’s the only character who had films listed as “late” returns. So, he obviously enjoyed Cheech & Chong a lot more. Two guys doing drugs is more interesting to him than a sexy lady. Okay, noted.

Now, how is he perceived by the people of Hawkins?

Oooof. Okay. He’s not well liked it seems. He apparently is causing some fear and anger amongst the Hawkins residents. Kind of similar of a reaction these people would have towards an openly gay man during the 1980s.

Now, where’s this guy live while outside of jail?

I don’t blame the guy for “hiding” when the town is not too fond of him. Of course he is a drug dealer so there’s that as well. But interesting they used the word “hide”, which has been associated with queerness within the show already (plus this line was said by Robin (featured in the middle of the shot!!!) who is queer herself).

(Both of these screenshots are from 1x02 interestingly enough.)

Wouldn’t it make sense for these two “hiders” to hide out in “a perfect place to hide” together? Find refuge in a fellow gay man’s secluded house?

I will say it’s also worth noting that he does not have any women featured on the walls within his house. Also, he has a phallic shaped bong (we’ll get back to that soon).

Phew okay so that’s Reefer Rick. Are you still with me? Hopefully I didn’t bore any of you with this. I promise you this all leads back to Byler.

So, moving on to his house.

So as @/therainscene kindly pointed out, this poster with the smiley face can be related to rave culture and ecstasy in the 1980s. So a drug reference, in a drug dealer’s house… shocker I know. But I gotta say, ecstasy is also a term often related to sex. I also have to add this little tidbit from one of our favourite directors of Stranger Things, Shawn Levy. Keep in mind, he knows what’ll happen in the next season… and he’s directing episodes after 3 and 4…

Interesting word choice, no?

So, back to the symbolism within (and near) the house.

Let’s talk about the phallic symbolism that appears in pairs in these shots. It’s a choice, isn’t it? With two males in each shot. We know the Duffers love details and foreshadowing… I doubt it’s a coincidence. Also, anyone else notice that phone in the background? Just had to mention it, since our boys are frequently associated with phones and calls.

Then, of course, I gotta bring back this shot.

The bed. Blue meets yellow. You know it! We all heard it a thousand times by now. Let’s look at what else is in the shot. A closed closet. Another reference to our boys. To the right, you’ll see a toilet paper roll. Now, if you have a brother, you might see the same thing in his room. Sure it can be used as a tissue for your nose but let’s just say there’s usually another use for it. I’ll call it “self love”. So, basically, another sexual reference.

To sum up this house: lake/water, drugs, and ecstasy/smiley face. Now, let’s go back to a scene featuring our boys with all these elements in the background.

Makes you wonder doesn’t it?

You know, I also wouldn’t rule out every aspect of Murray’s prediction here.

Shout out to the Hylers out there!

Perhaps after a lot of stressful days of fighting interdimentional demons, these boys want to wind down and de-stress in their hiding spot. I can see Reefer Rick as a fellow Nintendo player, leaving his console behind, as well as his weed, for our boys to use. I also wouldn't be surprised if Eddie left a few of his beers behind. I mean… Murray has a pretty good track record for predictions. This would also really double down on the message that Mike and Will “aren’t kids anymore.”

Also, wouldn’t it be fun to look back at Murray’s predictions and realize that they’ve all come to be?

Okay, now let’s finally get to the romance elements!

First thing I want to start with is this shot:

So… they had to show us a mailbox, didn’t they? With that name “Lipton” which as I mentioned in my previous post… is associated with Thomas Lipton who had a lover named William Love.

1 point for #lettergate

And…

“Hope Our Love Lives/Lasts And Never Dies”

WWII solders used the acronym H.O.L.L.A.N.D. to convey a love message in a letter. The whole love letters association with Mike and Will never end, do they?

2 points for #lettergate!

As for the “2121”, I think it’s possible that it’s referencing multiple things… number references are tricky like that in my opinion. But I will say that @/thestrangestthing89 brought up the fact that “2121” could be a reference to “Twin Flames” which is yet another reference to romance.

Continuing on with the romance…

Let’s return back to the scene where Reefer Rick is first mentioned. After Max mentioned him, we are cut to Steve talking about a movie.

A movie filled with action and romance, you say?

So… Doctor Zhivago.

Basically a tale of two people in love during a difficult time (Russian Revolution) being separated, with other people, then finally reunited. Not completely unlike our boys. Notice how the “adult” sign is noticeable in the background. Not kids anymore.

He mentions action, which I’m sure there will be some of as well at the famous lake.

Okay enough with the silly details, let’s stop and look at the bigger picture.

Our beloved lake. Look how gorgeous it truly is. Plus the fact that it’s a literal heart? You can’t get more “on the nose” than that.

Now, who else is known as a heart? (Tough question I know…)

This boy is, without a doubt, narratively tied to the lake. He is “the heart”… he is THE LAKE (symbolically).

Thank you to @/everaster for bringing attention to the fact that after Mike was pushed to deliver that monologue to El by Will, Max “died”, then the gates opened WIDE. One of those gates, as we know, is located within Lover’s Lake… known was “watergate” (term coined by Dustin).

So, as of now in this story… Lover’s Lake is literally broken in two. A broken heart in need of mending.

Who better to accomplish that task than the boy who has known him for a decade and loves him completely and selflessly?

💌📬❤️‍🩹

Hope you enjoyed these posts as much as I enjoyed making them! It’s honestly so much fun looking for evidence and finding such interesting stuff. Some of it may be reaching, and that’s okay because it’s all in good fun! That’s what fandoms are all about.

The level of attention to detail in this show never ceases to amaze me! There’s so much depth and clues to look for and play around with. I hope to have sparked some inspiration and creativity for some people! 💛💙💚

As always, would love to know your thoughts!

#and my mind is blown yet again

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“You’ve always been my heart, Mike,” Will told me, voice steady and sure. “You never really stopped.”

I felt my jaw drop, barely able to process what I was hearing. The words that left Will’s lips ricocheted around my brain, and I might have forgotten how to breathe for a minute. I needed Will to pinch me, so I could wake up from this… if it wasn’t real, it would be a nightmare. Instead of asking Will to do it for me, I pinched myself, and felt butterflies erupt in my stomach when I didn’t snap my eyes open to the sight of my bedroom back in Indianapolis. I was still here, in Will’s room, and Will was holding me rather sensually, and I felt so fucking alive.

screaming crying throwing up at this gorgeous commission done for me by @taeiris !!! (from my fic this is me trying) 🖤 thank you for this masterpiece