Maybe The War Is Finally Over 🐙

This was flirting btw. They were flirting here. Just in case you forgot.

let’s talk about finn giggling and kicking his feet whenever he’s asked about byler

Staying at a motel on the way to Nevada.

I love this theory so much I had to draw it bc its so real and true and it happened!!!

They both had butterflies in their stomachs in these scenes and I'm sure their little hearts were beating so fast and 🥲

i'm pretty sure i've said this before, but if will doesn't start bawling after the byler kiss (his first ever kiss!!!!!!) then i don't want it

Thinking about the fact that Mike and Will are insinuated and blatantly shown to be attached at the hip, crying-screaming-throwing up over each other for an entire decade and now fighting / showing signs of romantic interest in each other (one confirmed)….but NOT ONE SINGLE SOUL over the course of this entire show (including their parents) has ever called their relationship brotherly or said they were like family?

honestly I’m still floored. Like.

As someone who has watched a million and a half shows and movies, “you’re my brother” or “they’re like family” is one of the easiest plausible deniability things you can do in writing to give yourself an out for a queercoded friendship (especially one with a confirmed gay character)…and the duffers absolutely refused to do it—and instead gave the familial coding to mlvn. It’s iconic.

He thinks Will is cute 🥹

Mike Likes Cute Things

Dustin, Lucas, Steve, Max, and Robin all use the word “hot” to describe people that they’re attracted to in S3.

For Dustin, Lucas, and Steve, it’s in reference to Phoebe Cates, who Dustin compares Suzie to.

Dustin: “Think Phoebe Cates, only hotter.”

Lucas: “She’s a genius and she’s hotter than Phoebe Cates? No girl is that perfect!”

Steve: “No no. No way. Hotter than Phoebe Cates? No.”

It’s implied that they all view Phoebe Cates as the pinnacle of hotness - a common opinion at the time as a result of her role in Fast Times.

Similarly, Max uses the word hot to describe Ralph Macchio. Another actor that was popular at the time as a result of his looks.

Max: “Yeah he’s the Karate Kid. […] He’s so hot right?”

Finally, Robin uses the word hot in reference to girls when she tries to convince Keith to give Steve a job at Family Video. She bribes him by talking about all the ladies he’ll bring in.

Robin: “And these ladies… These ladies are hot. They’re so very hot.”

This is all to say that most teenagers are attracted to people that they consider “hot.”

When Mike finds out about Suzie though, he doesn’t ask Dustin if she’s hot. Mike asks…

“Is she cute?”

Mike is the only one to use this word. He’s the only one who is primarily concerned with cuteness rather than hotness, and his word choice is so telling. Unlike many teenagers, Mike is drawn to cute things still.

Things like the little teddy bear with the bow tie at the mall…

…and, ya know, his best friend, who happens to be strategically placed right behind him throughout the entire shot…

… in bright red shorts…

… as if he’s Mike’s version of a certain someone.

Dragons and Tigers

So I know it’s well established that Will has been associated with tigers since pretty much season one. First it was with very similar tiger stuffies with El and Sarah (This is still something that I’m wondering why exactly they made that initial connection between the three of them.) It adds to my belief that El and Will are tied in some way, and that Hawkin’s Lab may have more involvement in Sarah’s sickness/care/death than we were originally led to believe. But I digress.

And then in season four tigers are everywhere in relation to Will.

First we see it when he’s introduced:

Then we see it all throughout his room:

I am sure there are way more instances I missed, but these are just a few examples. There is also the fact that Hawkins school team are the tigers.

Anyway, from what I’ve gathered I think that Vecna (or his great evil) is represented by the dragon.

I think that it’s interesting that Will chose to draw the party fighting a dragon. And so I did a little light research into it with the thought okay, so how are dragons and tigers related? What’s the significance of the symbolism? And then I came across this:

And this really stuck out to me because a lot of theories revolving around Will potentially having powers have him as light vs. Henry’s darkness, creation vs. destruction etc. So if Will is connected to El in some way or ends up having powers I really am starting to think that he (or him and El as one) will be the tiger. I think that’s what the connection between him and Henry is. They are two sides of the same coin, yin and yang. That is why he can never escape him. But as of now things are out of balance because Will hasn’t realized his full role and significance to his connection to the Upside Down and Henry. So I truly think that there will be something in season 5 brought to light that tells us he is the “key” to bringing equilibrium back to the Upside Down. He can heal what Henry has destroyed. He can bring balance back, and reset the Upside Down to it’s neutral state.

But because of this significant connection to Henry, I think there’s going to be some sort of temptation or trickery. Some sort of darkness pulling at him that he’ll have to overcome. I think that Henry will try his damnedest to use his self-worth, sexuality, and trauma against him. I think he will use Mike against him as well.

It also makes me wonder if Will x El’s “Wonder Twin” connection ends up being what we’ve all been hoping it will be maybe together they are the “key” or “The Tiger.” And that’s why El hasn’t been able to succeed against Henry as of yet.

My music just blasted in the middle of a silent class 😭

Soulmate au but Will uses an aphrodisiac on Mike to get him to love him. Turns out they’re actually soulmates