crashout discourse aside, i’m still hopeful byler is endgame in the finale, and this scene is exactly why.
this is mike’s reaction to will’s coming out.
when i watched this scene, i couldn’t stop fixating on mike. especially on this line from will: “And it just makes me feel like something’s wrong with me. So I… I push you away. And the rest of us, we just drift apart more and more and more and more and more until I’m alone.”
Does that not remind you of something?
Because it mirrors Mike’s behavior in season 4 almost beat for beat. Not writing letters to Will. Barely calling “maybe a couple of times,” according to Will. Not hugging him back at the airport. Ignoring him all day. Then suddenly saying, “we’re friends, we’re friends!” when no one even suggested otherwise.
Mike was projecting so hard. He was dealing with feelings for Will that made him feel like “something's wrong with him.” So he pushed Will away. They drifted apart more and more and more, exactly like Will describes. And it’s during these exact lines that the camera lingers on Mike’s face. His eyes are red. He’s clearly holding back tears. He swallows, listens closely, like Will just put words to something he’s been carrying all season. Like it resonates with him.
walk with me.
I think that in the finale Mike may gather courage from Will’s coming out to come to terms with his own sexuality and feelings, especially after seeing how BRAVE Will was, to tell everyone.
Mike the Brave, anyone?
