The Crownless Again Shall Be Queen

There’s nothing simple, basic, or heteronormative about mileven.

We have two kids who fell for each other in the midst of an inter-dimensional fallout and unmasked government conspiracy, despite the fact that one was almost entirely non-verbal and the other was racked with insecurities.

Mike is an outcast; a skinny nerd with no desire to pursue sports, or cars, or anything else traditionally masculine. He even refers to himself as Lois Lane, giving the title of Superman to his girlfriend. He’s an excellent portrayal of quiet, non-toxic, non-traditional masculinity. Within his relationship with El, he takes on the traditionally “feminine” role of the gentle, patient supporter, and he does so without second thought or grudge.

El on the other hand is otherworldly. Not super feminine, she treads her own path, acquiring both masculine and feminine traits as she grows into herself. She’s a rebel, a scrappy fighter, and a challenger. If she was allowed to participate in sports, she make one hell of a competitive athlete. In her relationship, she’s the decision maker, and the protector.

Not one of the main ensemble are conventional, and Mike and El are no exception. They complete each other. They do more than push the boundaries of typical relationship expectations — they completely subvert them.

This tweet really opened my mind 👀

maybe i’m just reading into it too much but to me it does feel a bit weird the direction in which ALL of the female characters are being treated this season.

like take nancy, for example - for the past four seasons she’s been this super strong, independent, fierce young woman and she takes a leading role in all her endeavours. this season she was reduced to the stancy/jancy love triangle? her parents were brutally attacked and somehow the love triangle was still at the forefront of her characters conversation.

robin, she’s always been a great character but for some reason is always reduced to further developing a male character? her entire character in season 3 is focused around steve and developing + redeeming steve. now, in season 5 again she’s being reduced to developing will’s arc???

joyce has lost genuinely all her personality, all she does is baby will this season?

el is completely isolated from the others?? even though she is integral to the fight against vecna? and don’t get me started on the online el vs will debate (REEKS of misogyny)

max and holly i guess are sort of safe in this sense but even max and holly… idk its nice i guess…

"anti mileven" and "mileven critical" tags exist for a reason. people come to the plain "mileven" tag looking for fancontent and positive analysis of mileven

Goddamn it it has become so hard for me to log onto this website and just get fics, fanarts, and edits for the ships I like due to all this dunking and tag cross-contamination.

I even saw someone begging for El to be freed from this ending she was going to become a slave or something.

I noticed that in recent years, the idea of characters, especially women, getting married and living out their lives peacefully has been villainised. In a lot of cases, when done poorly, there is merit to that. Nobody likes to see their inspiration suddenly throw away what defined them just to be a house wife.

But that's not the case with Eleven.

Eleven never got a normal life. She never knew peace for most of her childhood. She was osrochised and isolated for most of her life, not finding any solice even in the children trapped in the Lab with her.

Time and time again, we see Eleven at her happiest when she is with her friends and family, doing things a normal hirl should be doing. Exploring the house with Mike. Eating Eggo Extravaganzas with Hopper. Going to the Snowball with Mike. Throwing a suprise party for Dustin. Kissing and just hanging out with Mike. Going on a shopping spree with Max. Exchanging letters with Mike. Watching Mike goofing off. Trying to force-feed Mike pizza. Just seeing Mike puts a smile on her face.

Eleven is never happy when she has to fight, whether it be monsters or the government. The show thas made it very clear that El just wants to feel normal. She doesn't want to have to fight anymore. She just wants to live a peaceful life where she can be happy.

And more than likely, that life will be spent with Mike, the one who turned her from a number to a person. The one who has stuck by her side. The one who saw the girl before the powers.

Eleven has a right to choose what makes her happy.