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rainbownixie · 2 years

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omg i'm so sorry for the never ending onslaught of asks

but i'm curious to see if you can convert me into a dustin + will shipper with ur headcanons (i'm sure you can ehe <3)

no please!!! i love your asks so don't ever apologize <33 they make my day!

and oh yes thank you so so much for this. i love this ship so so much??? like i was already thinking about them when s2 came out ngl i always thought "if i didn't ship will with mike, he would be really happy dating dustin" but since there's barely any content i never talk about them! (i think i only told my girlfriend about them like once and that's it).

before the headcanons, i would like to say that i love their dynamic. dustin cares so so much about will and will is always so caring with dustin too?? they're also really sassy and i think they'd be a really really sweet but annoying couple and i love that for them tbh.

anyway, headcanons/my thoughts abt their story etc etc this is probably going to be LONG (i'm sorry):

i don't think they had a crush on each other while growing up. in fact, i think will liked mike and dustin knew because dustin is the smartest person in the world. he was aware of the way will looked at mike, and honestly he didn't really care as long as will was happy and okay.

dustin's always been protective of will and cared for him maybe more than he cared for the other two (in another way, perhaps). he looks after him and often gets frustrated when mike is the one taking care of will instead of him (remember the halloween episode when he tried to help him but mike didn't let him? yeah. like that).

he doesn't know he likes will yet, just that he cares about him in a different way and wants him to be happy. he gets internally angry at mike for showing interest in el in s1 because he wants will to be happy. he knows will loves mike so seeing him with el bothered him. but there was also this relief? i would call it? because he thinks that maybe that way he will spend more time with will.

i think dustin fell first and has always been jealous of mike in a way. he doesn't show it much because he knows he doesn't have a chance with will and just accepts it as long as mike doesn't hurt him.

when they started middle school and had to choose their seats in class, he wanted to seat next to will. ofc, mike was the one who actually got to do it, so he settled on sitting in front of him.

he likes will before even realizing, and he just thinks he feels all dizzy and excited around him because they're really close friends. he's so so happy when will comes back from the upside down and often stares at him just to make sure he's real. that he's okay. that's why he likes to casually touch him (pats on the shoulder, hugs...). he just feels at peace being with will because he's so so genuine and dustin just... enjoys that feeling.

he thinks he likes max and- well- dustin does like her, but not in that way. he has this little crush on her but that's all. however, he does realizes he likes will when he starts talking with steve! in s2? steve tells him about nancy and turns out he feels the same for will, because he's really special too. and maybe he is jealous of mike for being able to be with him during all that time in s2. but it's okay, he doesn't care. because he knows mike is helping him and that's all that matters. but damn, steve's right: he's too young to be heartbroken, because it hurts A LOT already.

then mike starts dating el, and it bothers him so much??? like "man, will loves you like crazy and you don't even realize??? and you date her instead of him????? i hate straight people". btw, seeing will staring at mike while he danced with that girl killed his poor soul. nancy helped, though <3

oh, and i don't think he cares about his sexuality much. he likes both boys and girls? cool. he's not going to announce it to the whole world anyway so.

will notices that dustin goes easy on him when they play video games together, and finds it pretty sweet (actually, dustin is just too weak and gets lost looking at will and that's why he only loses when he goes against him)

will sees how dustin often forgets his jacket so he starts giving him his whenever he's cold (dustin isn't even cold he just loves wearing his clothes)

dustin and will pass each other little notes in the middle of class without the teachers noticing. they also play tic tac toe!

they buy comics together! they both try to save money to do it, and dustin sometimes lies about the actual price so will doesn't have to pay as much as him

okay so in s3 he goes to that camp and he meets suzie!!! he likes suzie. he has a crush on suzie. and they start being really close friends! to the point where he tells her about will, and she just nods and says that she also likes both girls and boys. they start dating, and she doesn't mind that he likes will too! suzie is sure that will is great and just wants his dusty-bun to be happy!! caring is sharing besties, fuck the love triangle!

okay so he comes back! aaaand he's really excited to tell them about suzie, but worried about how they're going to react. about how will's going to react. he knows he won't care because he likes mike, but maybe dustin wants him to care a bit. y'know. but dustin still wants them to meet suzie because he loves her a lot too!

that day, will actually stays with dustin for a little while when lumax goes home. dustin tells him about suzie and he tries to focus, but will is just too pretty under the stars and- he just can't handle it. because will looks so peaceful and calm... and he seems a bit upset too, so dustin asks. will tells him that it's nothing, that he's okay. and somehow dustin knows it's because of mike. then will goes home and dustin hears the russians etc etc etc

okay so here is when will catches feelings! after the rain fight that literally breaks his heart, he's obviously upset and angry at both lucas and mike. and i know dustin is busy with steve and robin, but just imagine that this thing with the russians happens before the rain fight. and dustin is riding back home after that and just happens to be close to castle byers! he hears screaming and crying and, well, castle byers being destroyed. so he ends up seeing the whole thing and asks what happened, but will just... hugs him and breaks down crying. obviously dustin comforts him and will tells him what happened, the "it's not my fault you don't like girls" included because will knows that dustin knows he's gay. and dustin is so so furious at mike??? he wants to yell at him and put him in his place for treating will like that. he's also angry at lucas, but, yeah, mike is the one who angers dustin the most. however, will asks him to not do anything because he doesn't want any drama and he just stays there hugging him.

eventually dustin has to go home and asks will if he wants him to come with him, but he just says he wants to be alone there. then everything is the same, except for the fact that will sees dustin in a different way now.

s3 is all the same except for the ending. because will spends those three months before moving away with dustin. they hang out together alone more. they have sleepovers and movie nights. they both talk with suzie at the same time. etc etc etc. and will doesn't forget about mike, but ends up liking dustin too. a lot, actually. and it's kind of as if they both knew there's something between them, but don't do anything about it. they're comfortable around each other like that. they're happy.

but then dustin confesses to will (steve and robin told him to because otherwise he would regret it) on his last day in hawkins, and will kisses him and tells him that he wished he had said something sooner.

so now dustin has two long distance relationships! he's literally one of us pffft

when the others find out they're happy. except mike... who's pretty much jealous about it but can't tell them why

dustin sends will letters constantly, and he's so cheesy. so so so so cheesy. and will finds it endearing, so he keeps them all in a box he painted himself <3 and will sends him drawings and mixtapes and polaroid pictures!!!

will is still in love with mike, and dustin knows. in fact, will tells him about el having a lot of letters from him and all. dustin is already mad at how mike is acting at school, but the way he treats will???? it makes him so angry. however, he doesn't say any of this to will (steve has to deal with that) and always tries to be there for him and support him with his idea of gifting mike a painting!

s4 happens etc etc they hug and kiss and all when will comes back to hawkins!! actually, because he doesn't have a place to stay, he stays with dustin! and he tells him about meeting suzie!! (they definitely talked about how much they love dustin)

will is there to comfort him about eddie :( <3 dustin often has nightmares and will hugs him and runs his fingers through his hair to make him feel better.

this is long and i don't know if i explained it correctly but i hope it worked!!! if you ever want to know more about my hcs about them (this was actually more their story than hcs tbh) just ask me <33

btw i feel bad for mike so he probably starts dating will too after the microwave break-up!! i can totally see dustin and him fighting for will's love and will reconsidering all of his life choices

#i love them #does this ship even have a name???? is this a thing???? i doubt it #but i really like their dynamic so #dustin x will #will x dustin #whatever dustin x will is called #byler #kind of??? more or less byler too ig #duzie #will byers #dustin henderson

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thefandombringer · 2 years

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oop copying @elumax-truther bc now i want ppl to send me at hot takes (it can be anything as long as it’s legal and not creepy) let’s have fun with this

#byler #elmax #elumax #mileven #jancy #ronance #lumax #stancy #steddie #jopper #duzie #stranger things #st4 #< tagging all the ships just to reach more ppl #sorry for flooding tags

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jaegerisim · 10 months

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Vent post y'all are gonna hate me for.

I viscerally hate how the Duffers treat most of their non white or queer characters and I hate even more viscerally, how y'all big byler blogs in your circle jerk of other 5 big byler blogs casually like to ignore many red flags the show has.

Y'all like to say: "tHe DufFeRs ArE gReAt WrIteRs" and it's like girl, who are you lying to??? They aren't top shit writers at all. The Duffers are pretty mid imo. Yeah, they run a good show that's fun to watch and theorize abt , but that doesn't mean they're good writers cuz they're not.

1. they completely side lined Will during s3 for the sake of their straight romances: lumax, jancy, mlvn, duzie and partly stobin (even if stobin wasn't endgame, thankfully, Steve's intentions were clearly wanting to date Robin and they gave it a lot of screen time). Will was sidelined bc he didn't fit the straight romance plotline bc they planned to make him gay or whatever. Now in s4 Will and his feelings have been used as mlvn toilet paper. Yes, we like to say this is build up for byler but canonically, Will's feelings have been used to clean the shit mlvn leaves behind.

2. Billy was sympathized a lot during the last 2 seasons. They gave him the sad backstoryTM in order for ppl to feel sorry for him. Billy's backstory is literally Jonathan's but whatever.

3. El's anger issues are constantly girlboss-ified. They down play her bullying situation and literally just use it for El to be a ''girlboss" without realizing how triggering that is. As someone who has lived bullying, seeing it be ignored by canon and fanon is super sad. The whole Rink-O' Mania experience must have been so traumatizing for her yet, everyone absolutely forgets abt it 🤷🏻‍♀️

4. Robin, Erica and Argyle are stereotypical characters. Robin is the quirky lesbian with social anxiety, Erica is the badass black woman and Argyle is the Latino stoner that sells weed to white kids and works as a pizza delivery guy.

5. Altho Argyle and Eddie both do drugs, (Eddie actually sells K-12 to a minor and nobody batted an eye. He has a huge fan base). Eddie is held in a pedestal bc "poor thing 🥺 he lives in a trailer with his uncle 🥺". Tell me a single fact you know abt Argyle that isn't "he smokes weed", "he is Jonathan's only friend", "drives a van" and "he works at a pizzeria". Exactly, Eddie is given a useless backstory and Argyle isn't.

6. Dustin stopped being important to the plot sometime around s2 and s3. He is only there to curse and be mildly funny. My guy needs to hangout with ppl his age cuz he only hangs out with seniors.

7. El needs to stop having so much "I'M THAT BITCH" screentime like I need in s5 for El's arc to not just be her becoming more powerful and falling in love with Mike. I need the Duffers to explore her trauma and problems.

8. Angela should have been run over by the van.

9. Patrick should have been given a backstory that isn't the basic "strict black parents that hit their kids cuz they are a disgrace". Patrick's backstory is actually racist af, fight w the wall.

10. As Lex already said, they didn't trigger tag the ep where Jason and his friends assault Lucas and Erica. Like wtf? Why was that necessary? Why did I have to see a black boy being held at gunpoint by some white guy?? Was it relevant to the plot?? I don't think so. And then I've got to see ppl online be like "Jason wasn't that bad. He was just mourning" like bitch you can stfu. This is what happens when you make the racist assholes conventionally attractive.

Also the fact that Lucas's arc is fulfilled by him fist-fighting Jason and "embracing his weirdness" aka accepting he is black. His arc was not fulfilled at all cuz that ending spoke so loud to me. It showed how little empathy ppl have towards the struggles poc ppl living in the Midwest have. Y'all circle jerks can only see racism when it's super obvious.

Furthermore, parents complained when ST showed "an excessive amount of smoking" yet nobody batted an eye when Billy tried to run over Lucas, when Erica (an 11 y.o ffs) was chased by white kids or when Lucas was held at gunpoint by Jason.

All of this happened while they focused on Max's guilt and mourning that, yeah, are important but certainly not less important than racism!!!

11. In s3, they gave us that whole Nancy vs The Bigots arc that was honestly just triggering and useless. It didn't help Nancy's character at all, quite the opposite it put unnecessary angst.

12. Lonnie being presented as an abuser just for him to never be spoken of again. Can we please get to explore the trauma he left the Byers's with?

13. The fact that both queer relationships are considered "sloppy seconds" is extremely sad. Both Vickie and Mike are rebounding from their failed relationship with Robin and Will. These 2 ships have caused more commotion than Jancy and Jopper together! (These last ships are technically sloppy seconds too but everybody forgets that. Shocker!!)

14. Last but not least, ppl blame Argyle for being the one to get Jonathan into smoking weed as if Jonathan probably wasn't the one looking for it. Let me tell you, that you only find weed if you look for it.

#P.S: I'm gonna pay attention to how many ppl send me hate bc of this or block me #stranger things #lucas sinclair #st vickie #robin buckley #jason stranger things #will byers #dustin henderson #eddie munson #argyle #jonathan byers #erica sinclair #byler #← target audience #byler target audience

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wakeupthemembersofbylernation · 11 months

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If Mike really loved El romantically, they wouldn’t have dragged out a weird plot of not being able to say ILY for two seasons. One season? Sure. I can let Season 3 slide somewhat if one discounts all the queer longing that takes place and the odd finale kiss. You could interpret S3 as an awkward kid building up the courage to say the L word.

But two seasons? Nah. If the first interpretation were true, things would’ve been resolved when El confesses that she loves him back at the end of S3. But things were not resolved? And the show goes out of its way to emphasize that Mike isn’t even writing “I love you” in his letters? And they have a big, explosive fight about it… and he still can’t say it? Nah Michael, I diagnose you with homosexuality.

“But saying I love you is scary and a big deal and yada yada…” Okay sure. Saying ILY is a big deal. But middle school kids still say it pretty casually. And they certainly at least write it. It’s not uncommon for a kid to drop the “L” bomb to someone they’ve only been dating for a short period of time, only to break up the next day. Things are fluid and chaotic and unpredictable and messy. In Romeo and Juliet, Romeo thought he was in love with Rosaline until seeing Juliet, and he immediately changed his mind.

But even if we just assume it’s harder for Mike to say ILY to El because Mlvn is serious and more meaningful than a fleeting crush, that still doesn’t let Mike off the hook. If Mlvn really is as soulmate-coded as Mlievens believe, when have you ever heard of a soulmate-coded relationship in media where the writers went out of their way to show that saying ILY was like pulling teeth? Imagine if there was a whole section of Titanic where Jack struggled with saying ILY to Rose? Imagine Leia got into a fight with Han because he couldn’t write “love” in his romantic letters, and Han was all like, “I care for you so much, Leia.”Imagine Katara pulled out the receipts, and Aang was like, “Okay, okay. Katara, you’re being ridiculous. Like what is this?”

That would be absurd. And you’d either demand an explanation or stop rooting for them. It’s not that ILY isn’t often a big deal in stories. It’s that when it’s emphasized in a weird way and dragged out for two seasons, you have to side-eye it. It’s one thing when the big ILY is the logical and natural culmination of an arc, whether at the end of a season or the end of a series. That makes sense. It’s another thing entirely when someone is literally begging you to say it, and you still can’t say it. And then when you finally do say it, it’s in the penultimate season, and it’s extremely anticlimactic. And everyone has to emphasize how you said it 9 times to cope/compensate.

If Mlvn was meant to be endgame, and Mike really loved El romantically, they would’ve just… shown Mike and El being in love with each other. There wouldn’t be any doubt. None of the other couples, other than Stancy, have ever gone through this weird kind of ritual where words are emphasized over actions. No one doubts that Lumax, Jopper, and Duzie are in love with each other. Jancy is a little more complicated cause they were separated throughout S4 and doubts were raised, but even so, it’s nowhere near the odd situation with Milkvan. Jancy, Lumax, Jopper, and Duzie have all shown they love each other through their actions. They don’t rely on big gestures or words to prove it. In fact, Lucas even specifically says to Max, “I don’t want a letter.”

All I’m saying is, if Mlvn is treated with a considerable lack of seriousness post Season 2, if the show keeps them in a weird Groundhog Day plot of constant fights and lies and not being on the same page, and if it takes a third party with vested romantic interest in the situation for Mike to finally monologue a measly ILY to his girlfriend, then maybe there’s a reason for this? 🤔

#byler #mike wheeler #will byers #mike wheeler i know what you are #stranger things #Byler endgame #el hopper

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gayofthefae · 1 year

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Jopper: You can find love again after being divorced.

Duzie: Love isn’t about social status and the validation of having a partner but rather things like common interests and love of each other’s company.

Stobin: Your “true love” doesn’t have to be a romantic one and you can be entirely fulfilled by a best friend.

Jancy: Love and family does not need to be the focus of your life. You can have those things while still being career driven and oriented.

ElMike: Romantic and platonic love are not hierarchal. Sometimes one relationship is closer and better as friends than as lovers. (similar to Stobin but rather than exchanging a friend for a romantic partner, shifting the nature of one relationship)

Lumax: A loving and supporting relationship is more important than the social disapproval that may come with it. (similar to Duzie but with higher stakes of racist consequences rather than just a lack of societal approval, an active disapproval)

Byler: Queer people are just as deserving of love and romance and do not need to settle for platonic relationships if they want more.

#ship analysis #stranger things #themes #narrative arcs #sorry but 'even bullied kids can eventually find the societally accepted picket fence life' just doesn't fit #there is nothing wrong with that irl but as far as narrative themes go it doesn't fit into this show #the one that does a nature of their relationship shift #which also inherently means stop being toxic antis and saying they shouldn't have any relationship at all #byler #jopper #platonic stobin #platonic elmike #lumax #duzie #dustin x suzie #jancy #character arcs

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a-strangers-thoughtss · 24 days

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I’ve been re-watching season one and two again.

I may just be over exhausted and sleep deprived but

To me, Mike doesn’t have romantic feelings for El. I mean, season one could seem pretty cute, but it just takes me so much out of it when I remember that El literally has no idea what’s going on? Like they’re just never on the same page.

(Even in season 1, like “so I’d be your sister?” And so on. I don’t think they’ve been on the same page for very often either)

It feels very Steve and Nancy tbh. Like all the cannon couples just get eachother, but Mileven just don’t? Stancy is the only other one that they’ve just kind of never fully been on the same page (I’m not talking about miscommunication, all the cannon couples struggle with that)

I just don’t feel it ig? Like Lumax and Jopper you can just feel it, same with Duzi (qnd byler but we’re going off of current cannon) but with Mileven it feels more awkward?

I’m probably rambling, but again, I’m so over exausted rn.

Also when Mike talks about El in the Crazy together scene it feels like he’s more focused on the fact that she could solve their ud problems-

Just none of it feels romantic at all

(His face also rlly doesn’t light up that much when els around, but Will has his own voice 🤨)

Like their reunion in season 2 was fucking adorable, I’ll admit. But it just didn’t feel very romance to me? Again, maybe I’m just not watching it fully but even the snow ball feels very platonic to me.

Mike very obviously doesn’t have romantic feelings for El. At least bc I’m watching from a new perspective. She’s definitely his friend, and he 100% misses her really badly. But I personally see no attraction there at all. Like he sees her again for the first time in a year and it’s this really sweet moment, but it just feels like two besties reuniting?

Maybe I’m spouting comète nonsense though.

THE VIBES ARE NOT VIBING

#byler #stranger things #mike wheeler #will byers #el hopper #mike wheeler i know what you are #what’s gayer? being gay or constantly looking at your besties lips #girl does not look at el like that #platonic elmike #THE VIBES ARE NOT VIBING

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londondziban · 6 months

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No one asked but I'm bored so here are my ratings of popular Stranger Things ships! (kind of a long post).

Disclaimer: Ship who you wanna ship. This is just for fun :)

Byler: 100/10, I love my boys. No notes.

Lumax: Also a 100/10. They're just so!!!

Elmax: 9/10. I love them with my whole heart but I'm a Lumax shipper first and foremost.

Elumax: 100000/10. Literal perfection. Elmax AND Lumax (and Hopclair, depending on how you view the ship dynamic)? Literally what more could you want?

Duzie: 7/10. They're cute and I really like Suzie. I wish we could've seen more of them, maybe Suzie will come back with a bigger role next season.

Henderhop: 6/10. Typically I HC El as a lesbian but I actually like this pairing. Definitely not a ship I'd die on but I enjoy interacting with the fan content.

Henderclair: 6/10. Listen, I love their dynamic. If I didn't HC Dustin as the token straight, I'd probably rate them higher. Platonically? Literally everything to me. Romantically? I'm not opposed.

Byclair: 8/10. I also like them a lot but I'm a die-hard Byler shipper. I do enjoy interacting with the fan content though!

Wheelclair: 7/10. They're silly and I love them but this is a particular dynamic I prefer platonic. I do HC that Mike had a crush on Lucas when they were younger though.

Mileven: 1/10. I'm just not a fan. I'm giving them a one solely cuz I enjoyed them in season 1 when I first watched the show in middle school, but I'm definitely not a fan of this ship at all. Platonically though?? Amazing.

Jancy: 10/10. I love them. I'm praying every day that the Duffers didn't completely fuck them up and that they'll be endgame.

Ronance: 9/10. I like them, they're cute. I interact with a lot of their fan content. Let's go lesbians.

Rovickie/Rockie: 7/10. I just don't know enough about Vickie yet to know if them as endgame is what I'm rooting for, but from what we've seen they're cute.

Stonathan: 10/10. I love them and I'm so excited for their interactions in season 5! They're the enemies to lovers.

Jargyle: 9/10. Love me some stoner boyfriends. They've definitely kissed before at least once.

Stancy: -10000/10. BOOOOOOO 🍅🍅🍅. They are not right for each other. Steve deserves someone who loves him and Nancy deserves someone she loves.

Stoncy: 3/10. If it's in the way that Steve and Jonathan are dating and Jonathan and Nancy are dating with Nancy and Steve being platonic, then sure. But if it's all three dating, nah. Steve and Nancy just don't work imo.

Buckingham (Chrissy x Robin): 8/10. I think this is considered a rare pair but I think they're adorable and I love the fan content around them.

Hellcheer: 5/10. Not my favorite but I have no issues with this ship. I see the vision of them as best friends mainly.

Steddie: 5/10. They're not bad and I interact with some of their fan content (some of their tiktok edits go hard), but they're just kind of okay, you know?

Jopper: 10/10. I love them. Been a Jopper fan since day one. They're so endgame.

If there's any other ships you want to know my opinion on, let me know!

(All fun and games here, y'all. Ship whatever you want)

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will80sbyers · 2 months

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Hi, I am working on the set of st 5, and I want to tell you all to give up all hopes.

Because nothing is going to happen as you guys think. Byler, mileven, Jopper, Jancy, Stancy, Lumax, Duzie, elmax none of them are endgame.

Mike will end up with Mikhail, and William will end up with Mikhail's brother. El will end up with Angela. Max and Dustin will come more closer, so does Lucas and Kali. Robin will slowly turn into bisexual, and will end up with Vickie's ex bf. And Nancy will end up with Vickie. Jonathan and Steve are gonna kiss and do some very naughty things. Joyce and Claudia will fall in love with eachother. Hopper will end up with Lonnie.

And the most unbelievable thing is that, Hopper, Ted and Mr. Harrington had a threesom in their old days 😭

Nancy ending up with Vickie would be so fucking funny to me they should actually do that after all the hate my girl Vickie got lmao

Anyway this is hilarious and I like that in any case Mike is not straight

#byler #stranger things #ask

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yes-17-15 · 2 months

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Rating Stranger Things Ships

Byler - 10/10, definitely my favorite M*leven - 0/10, yucky poopoo Jopper - 10/10, super pookie bear Rovickie - 4/10, I like it but Vickie has like 1 second of screen time so it's really hard to want them to be together Ronance - 0/10, Nancy is as straight as a ruler, sorry not sorry Jancy - 7/10, I don't really care for it Stancy - 0/10, not cool yucky Steddie - 9/10, I like it but it would never be canon Stonathan - 4/10, it's a nice concept but I personally just don't like it Harringrove - 0/10, what the fuck who thought of this JonEddie - 8/10, absolutely love this one Jargyle - 7/10, I'm sad we don't get to see more of them :( Lumax - 8/10, they're sooo cute Elmax - 7/10, I really like the concept but I just don't really ship it if that makes sense Elumax - 3/10, I just don't see El being into Lucas Bywheelclair - 4/10, I don't know what else to add Henclair - 1/10, I don't really see it, I think Dustin is straight Duzie - 6/10, cute but it's hard to ship since we don't see much of Suzie Murrlexi - 10/10, awww so cutie patootie

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bitofanupsidedowner · 1 year

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people who want will to get a boyfriend who isn't mike make zero sense to me ngl... i get that mike is kind of a jerk but i just don't feel like it makes a lick of sense tbh, and i also just think anything bad thing mike’s done is best justified/made sympathetic and solved by the conclusion he’s been struggling with his feelings towards will.

mike is in no way this unredeemable person and i think it’s pretty extreme to treat it like he is. he isn’t perfect, but he’s shown that he does care about will much more often than he’s hurt him. just the facts.

like. yeah sure byler has been built up since season one and mike has been written in a way that made it literally impossible for will TO get a separate love interest. despite mike having a literal girlfriend, his jealousy and protectiveness over will didn’t leave any empty space. we all saw his weird reaction to the painting at the airport and how when dustin and lucas wanted to help will on halloween he yelled at them and shoved them away.

but like... yeah, let's throw him with some random guy we have no time to get invested in so mike and el can keep being a dysfunctional mess with no chemistry or shared interests even though it would make no sense, have no emotional payout and is not in any way what mike or will need for a satisfying conclusion to their character arcs (or el! it negatively affects all three.)

separating the two would be the only opportunity possible to give will someone new. it would’ve been tricky to make it believable, but it was their only chance after mike’s emphasis in will’s storyline. that in itself is suspicious, but they essentially told us with mike’s little ‘oh shit’ closet moment that they would not be doing that.

instead, they kept doubling down on mike and will. they even made the cali plotline sort of agonize over it, with mike and will pulling in the most heart-to-hearts of any duo in any one season afaik. the emphasis on their relationship has been too integral to the show. having had wills sexuality in mind from season one, making mike as big an element in that storyline to begin with is not without consequence. they wrote it in a way that made it almost impossible to reasonably go in another direction.

they spent a lot of time especially in season 4 showing us how mike and will’s relationship comes naturally to them, has a good foundation of mutual love and respect, and just generally functions better than mike and el and can repair itself without that much effort. even when mike and el are in their ‘good’ phases, they have less going for them than mike and will in their ‘bad’ phases.

will’s feelings for mike are directly contrasted with el’s. mike makes will feel better for being different. he makes EL feel like a monster. with el, she begged him to say it and he denied her, implying he didn’t ‘know what to say’ and agreeing when will said ‘what if they don’t like the truth?’ he denied her what she wanted until will told him to say it. the text is very directly comparing el and will’s dynamics with mike for a reason.

you never say it > i say it

oh, i didn’t say it. > you didn’t have to.

it doesn't make sense to set this up and then retreat back into a relationship that is mutually destructive, that hinders all three characters growth and self worth, and goes directly against their character arcs. it makes no sense to make will in love with mike at all if it was going to end up with a new guy shoehorned in last minute.

there’s a reason it’s mike and not lucas or dustin that will fell for. there’s a reason that the majority of people are ecstatic about lumax, jopper, jancy and duzie but find milkvan tedious and forced.

it's filling the same place in my brain rn as when people want will to have a villain arc. it just does not make any sense to me to actively desire conclusions to arcs that would undo character progress or just completely misshape the character profile permanently.

it isn’t JUST a romantic relationship will wants. he doesn’t just have a hankering for a boyfriend. it’s not just about having SOMEONE. it’s specifically mike’s love. it is specifically spending his life with mike that has been explicitly stated over and over again as what he truly wants.

i feel like it’s fairly rare for characters to both know and state plainly what they want, but will does, which i think is honestly so admirable. he admits it when he is at his most vulnerable (rain fight) when it would be more beneficial for him to just pretend. but he doesn’t. he’s hurt, but he doesn’t hide from it.

the fact he doesn’t even surprises mike, who was expecting for will to agree that changing drastically and obsessing about girlfriends was the natural progression they were supposed to take. after his wish is put into the open and seemingly rejected, he destroys castle byers.

mike is insecure about wanting this, but we know he wants that too, we just dont have the explicit confirmation if it’s romantic yet.

the point being that the emphasis has already been placed on not only who/what will wants, but how confident he is in that never changing. he wants it deeply and forever.

it isn’t just a boyfriend he wants, it’s mike.

that’s the person he has the deepest connection to, that’s the guy who saved him, who pulled him out of the upside down, fought the hardest for him, stayed by his side when he needed him, befriended him when he was five years old because he thought, ‘he’s like me.’ mike gets a lot of criticism, but none of that is how will himself feels. to him, that’s the guy who makes him brave enough to accept his sexuality. it’s mike, it's always been mike, and it doesn’t make sense narratively for him to be with anyone else.

‘what if you want to join another party? > not possible.

#anti villain will byers #anti milkvan #anti melvin #byler #will byers #i edited it a bit idk i have some many thoughts on them

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astreinomane · 3 months

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things you’re looking forward to in stranger things s5?

(Also I’m sorry I haven’t gotten to your asks yet 😭 I’ll try to answer them soon though!)

hope you’re doing well :)

Ok, first of all, I'm doing fine, thank you for asking.

As for your ask...

Well, I surely look forward to Ronance being endgame (I know it's probably impossibile, but a man can dream, can't he?).

Oh, and Byler. Byler needs to be endgame, too.

Another thing I look forward to is Steve and Nancy finally having an heart-to-heart and realizing that they simply aren't made for each other romantically (because, say it with me, NANCY DOES NOT WANT SIX NUGGETS), and so they both decide to stay friends.

In this way, Steve will find someone else to realize his dream of having a family with, and Nancy will find someone who truly gets her and makes her happy ( *cough* Robin *cough*).

And in general, I look forward to Nancy being finally freed from this stupid ass love triangle that shouldn't have existed in the first place.

Another thing I look forward to is Max waking up from her coma.

But I also really hope that she won't wake up in the last minute, but on the contrary, that she will be important to the plot, even in her state.

I'm sure the Duffers can find a way to make that happen.

And also, I hope that Erica will be an important part of the team 'cause she's awesome and she deserves it (and I also hope to see more of her bonding with the Party).

And also, if they aren't going to bring Eddie back, I at least hope that Dustin and the others will be able to restore his name to Hawkins and make people understand that he wasn't a monster, but quite the opposite, 'cause it would be fucking awful for Eddie to have sacrificed himself only for Hawkins to still see him as a monster.

He at least deserve a good memory on people's minds.

And also, I know Eduardo has confirmed he won't be returning this season, but I hope Argyle will still get to make an appearance, because I refuse to believe they'll completely throw away his character without even a mention.

Oh, and Kali, Kali needs to return as well.

And I also hope that Suzie will come to Hawkins to help Dustin save the world again.

This way, we'll finally see Dustin and Suzie interact with each other in person, and Suzie will finally be aware of all the Upside Down stuff, and so we will have more content for Duzie shippers.

And also, Jonathan needs to have more importance as a character this season.

And maybe a coming out scene from both Will and Robin, where they tell the others they're gay and immediately gets hugs and support, 'cause they both deserve it.

And finally, another thing I really hope to see in this season are more moments between the Party at complete (Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas, El and Max).

And also, I really hope that they won't split up the characters, but that they will all stay together.

And I think that's all.

Damn, I didn't planned this list to be this long.

Anyway, thank you for the ask.

And tell me, what do you look forward to in season 5?

(And also, don't worry about my asks. Take your time. I can wait.)

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wakeupthemembersofbylernation · 11 months

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A maladaptive daydreaming endgame would be the most boring, dry, anticlimactic, and nonsensical endgame possible. There’s no arc. There’s no stakes. There’s nothing to look forward to. There’s no pizzaz. There’s no mystery. They have no goals. They aren’t building towards anything. Plus, there’s a giant, unanswered, blue and yellow coded, bowlcut-shaped elephant standing in the middle of their storyline.

Like, push aside the minutiae of the shipping war for a second. Push aside the debate over Mike’s sexuality. Macy's Day Parade staying together and finally being a happy couple in Season 5 is a genuinely absurd concept because they have no momentum. And that in and of itself is so incriminating. Yes, on a surface level (boy protagonist makes grand confession love monologue to girl protagonist, wooo, romance go brr) level, I suppose one could think they do. But they do not. Where are they going, narratively? What do Mike and El like doing together for fun? Brodie made a whole monologue and that answer is still a giant question mark. What are their shared hopes for the future?

They have none. Even without being in the same state, it’s clear why Duzie is into each other. Lumax, Jancy, Jopper, and Rockie all are building towards something. Even a hypothetical STANCY revival has more of a raison d’être. Love them or hate them, they do fall into tropes of rekindling old sparks, and Steve’s pitch was rooted in how much he’s changed and what his hopes are for his future- which he sees Nancy in (even if Nancy’s future goals don’t actually align). And for El, it’s clear that saving Max is her priority. So even Elmax has more momentum than Mlvn.

For Migration Pattern, it’s like Mike finally did the thing, finally said ILY, finally confessed his apparently undying love for his superpowered girlfriend (in the penultimate season, I might add, which is never a good sign), only for there to be crickets. It’s like okay… and now what?

No one knows. It doesn’t feel right. Mike finally did everything El asked of him, finally (allegedly) explained why he couldn’t say it before, and it’s narratively unsatisfying in every possible way. Not only this, but this is not your imagination playing tricks on you. These aren’t Byler shipping goggles. The show goes out of its way to emphasize that Mike and El aren’t on speaking terms, which is an odd choice for a couple entering their endgame era. And everyone has lost. Nothing is in a good place. It’s all a mess. Max is in a coma. It’s a nightmare. Yeah, it’s not looking good for Minotaur Endgame.

“But you don’t get it, Bitcoin! They're saving her response to Mike’s monologue for Season 5. They do have something to look forward to. You just don’t like it.” Okay… and what do they expect her response to be? “Oh Mike, my darling loverboy, I love you so. l'm glad you see me as a superhero. And I’m so glad you fell in love with me in the woods. I love you too. Let’s make out and eat eggo waffles forever.” And then what?

They also expect Mike to just start saying I Love You a lot more often? They expect them to finally be on the same page and have meaningful heart-to-hearts? They expect him to suddenly show interest in what she likes instead of gritting his teeth and acting awkward?

They expect Mlvn to glide off into the sunset as if any of their structural problems have been resolved? Despite the fact that Will’s thinly veiled love confession/ the painting lie was the whole catalyst for the monologue in the first place? That just doesn’t make sense? Like, objectively.

But know who does have momentum? Miwi. Byler arguably has the strongest momentum going into Season 5 of any couple or would-be couple. They have romantic momentum, friendship momentum, individual character arc momentum, and narrative momentum. The cinematography makes that crystal-clear.

#byler #mike wheeler #will byers #el hopper #stranger things #Byler endgame

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