Unbetitelt

So, one idea I had immediately after finishing Vol 2 and that I now see emerging on social media as well, is that maybe we as an audience have gotten Vecna'd as well. The theory basically says that Vol 2 feels off because there ARE key scenes that recontextualize everything missing, but on purpose and starting at the moment Will entered Vecna's mind and they became connected even more.

It would explain why some actors talked about the last season being a "Meta" experience, and also why we were introduced to 4th wall breaks for the first time this season. Specifically Lucas saying "I don't believe in coincidences anymore", as well as Will in Vecnas body during the "You need to run!". What if not only Max and Holly needed to run from Vecna, but us as an audience too?

It would also explain the whole uproar about alleged deleted stuff on Twitter right now (iykyk). Not saying it is anyhow true, obviously.

So, after days of being sure we were queerbaited, I tried picking myself back up again and noticed something about Robin's speech to Will.

Obviously, we as viewers as well as Robin herself interpreted the whole "I was looking for the answers in somebody else while having them myself" thing as referring to having a crush whose validation you desperately need to feel whole. And yes, this is an important part for Will's self acceptance arc.

However, in Vol 2, Will is already confident of himself. In Vol 1, he seemed at least hopeful of Mike somewhat sending him Signals, especially considering how depressed he was in Season 4 about his crush. And in both Volumes, he goes to Robin, trying to relate to her and her experience, thinking his has to mirror hers — understandably so, since he finally met another queer person. So what if "I had all the answers myself" simply implies Will himself should be certain of Mike's feelings and the bond they share, but outside forces (Robin's first crush gone wrong, Vecna's visions about him being alone) keep throwing him off?

What if the implied thing all along, towards Will and us as viewers, was always: "You already know it – be secure in that"?

That's why Mike was in his tape. Yes, sure, the Duffers confirmed it meant to highlight Will's happy childhood moments, but that isn't mutually exclusive to also meaning he already knows all he needs to know about what is between him and Mike. For a second, he felt hopeful, was confident, and then, Robin told him she came out first, Vecna made him lose all faith in himself and made him feel like a danger to everyone.

Will hasn't found himself, he made himself small, which makes him vulnerable to Vecna, which is probably the exact intent Vecna had all along. And who would be the only one to bring him back, other than the living proof that all that doubt in his head, about Mike, about himself, was actually wrong? Right, Mike, confessing his love.