I'll say it as a non Stranger Things fan, the ending is exactly why Queer people need to stop relying on non-queer writers to get proper representation in their stories. I saw the character examination videos, and let me tell you there definitely was nothing straight about Mike Wheeler. HOWEVER, straight male directors won't always see that, or even if they do, they will not let it happen because of the time period it was set in and "realism."
Mike Wheeler's story end is basically a way to "bury your gays" without being directly accused of it— because on a technicality, none of the queer characters died. But, Mike buried the part of him that could've accepted himself so far down, that when he lost El it was never going to happen regardless after that. El dying was exactly when Mike being able to potentially accept who he really is got cut off and "killed" so to speak.
If El had lived (and the group knew it)? Maybe, for his character, it would've been easier. Their relationship maybe would've naturally drifted as it was already looking like it was. But if you put it in a "realistic" lense? A man whose first "love," who wasn't someone he was truly fully in love with, dying suddenly isn't going to open him up to being with the real person he loves. It'll make him hide away further because he feels like a failure and disgusting for being too "cowardly" to say he loved her before she died– Even if it wasn't true.
So Mike Wheeler will have lost both of the people he loved in the end, because he wasn't able to be brave enough to accept himself, and forever feels he lost his chance. Which is why, even in his predictions of everyones future and what they'll look like, he imagines himself alone.
It's tragic, and sad, and nothing a queer person who wants hope wants to see. Is it realistic for the late 80's? Yes, but it's not what Queer people want in their fictional shows.
Please, yall, support queer writers and publishers, and projects because your queer characters will have far more satisfying outcomes there. A realistic end to something like that only kills hope in baby gays, because not every ending needs to be "realistic".
If I want realism in my show? I'm watching ones that don't have science fiction or fantasy elements, that's that.
Anyways, I never watched the show for a lot of reasons, and this was one of them... Besides the uhm. Other more controversial reasons.
But yeah, to all my queer Stranger Things fans- Write fanfic to your hearts content for a while-
And then write something original for yourself, and maybe even the world. Because you deserve real happy endings for queer stories.
(Also support current queer filmmakers, animators, studios, authors, etc.)
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