Last Personal Blog

 I'm gonna start keeping a journal, so I am only gonna put rants and stuff on here.

The losers get to win.

- Basil 

My Argument for Byler

I initially did not think Byler was an actual possibility- until I saw the interview where Finn explicitly says Mike is oblivious. That made me realize that sometimes you can become so wrapped up in fandom you become disconnected with the actual content of the show, especially with how long it took to make this one. A lot of the analysis from Byler enthusiasts gets way too granular and reads too deeply into it, forgetting that it hasn't even ever been explicitly told to the audience that Will is gay. Only strongly implied in a way that you would pick up on easily. 

The reality is that the audience is supposed to pick up on things when they are watching the show without analyzing every frame. 

(this next bit is just a summary of things that someone watching the show for the first time would notice about these 2, skip if you just want to get to the point) 

An attentive watcher would notice the several instances of homophobia directed at Will in season 1, and that Mike got mad enough to shove his bully over it, and would call that being a good friend. An attentive watcher would notice how close the two friends are in season 2 and that Will is pining after Mike in season 3 while Mike begins to act strangely now that he's dealing with girls and girlfriends. They would notice Mike and Will making up after their argument and Mike not reciprocating a kiss from El at the Byers house. They would notice El talking about how she doesn't know what Will is painting, that Mike is suddenly very awkward around Will, and that he immediately asks about the painting. They would definitely notice the rocky relationship of all 3 characters through season 4, Mike's inability to say, "I love you," and his apology to Will. They might notice, "from El," in her letter, but they would certainly notice Will's emotions in the van scene, and that he is lying about the painting to help Mike's relationship with El. That should be the first time its becomes truly obvious that Will is gay for Mike, and would naturally leave someone wondering about how Mike feels. Mike at this point knows that either Will or El is lying about this painting, since their stories conflict. Past this the only things that a first time watcher would notice that really pertain to these two is how Mike's, "I love you," makes El upset since it was paired up with him calling her a superhero, that Mike and El make up by episode 1 of season 5, but don't kiss at all or really talk about each other for the rest of Vol 1. They'd see that Will has a desire to date Mike and that he flirts with him after talking to Robin, which he probably wouldn't do if Mike and El were still dating. And that's it. 

All that points to either a 1-sided love from Will and some really strange behavior from Mike, or mutual feelings between both of them. It definitely DOESN'T suggest that THEY ABSOLUTELY ARE GOING TO GET TOGETHER, nor does suggest that THEY ABSOLUTELY WON'T. It's almost like there's more of the story to tell, and we have yet to be shown Mike's perspective of any of it. There is no confirming of anything. 

I don't claim to know what the duffers are planning with these characters, nor do I claim that Mike 100% has feelings for Will, I just wish people would let their guards down and realize that IF it happens, it isn't a blindside or a rug-pull. The bread crumbs are there, and loudly proclaiming it won't happen doesn't change the fact that it very well COULD happen.