.:::hello.

We’ll see Mike start to question his identity in Season 5, after learning about Will’s feelings. But I don’t think he’ll be ready to reciprocate — not yet. He’ll be freshly broken up with, the world falling apart around them, no time to process anything. We’ll get glimpses — subtle moments showing he could love Will, just… not like this. Not right now. There won’t be a kiss. But there will be mutual understanding (with a few longing glances, obviously)..

NOW. The final episode will be all about going back to the beginning. Full circle.

What if the Upside Down was never created? What if Will never disappeared? What if.. Eleven was never taken from her mom?

The Upside Down is frozen on the day Will vanished. What if it’s not just symbolic? What if they literally loop back to that first episode — to the moment it all began?

Will joins Vecna in S5 — but only to betray him. Not to rewrite reality into something twisted, but to restore what was lost. To turn back time. How far, I don’t know.. maybe back to the lab. Maybe to Henry’s childhood. I think the clock is symbolic in this way. Either way, they defeat Vecna — not just in battle, but by unraveling his entire existence.

Eleven never meets him.

She’s never dragged into the lab. She never gets taken from her mother (a nod to Season 2).

And Vecna? He never appears on that street. Will never crashes his bike. He never falls. Never runs. Never disappears.

He just keeps biking.

Cut to the present (/future) time. Same date. But Vecna never happened.

Will is smiling. He’s walking on campus — with Mike. In the big city.

Will’s studying art, of course. Mike writing.

They had time. They never grew apart. They confessed.

They're walking through campus — brushing hands, maybe holding pinkies. That’s the only confirmation we get. It’s enough.

They sit on the grass.

In the distance, Mike spots a girl. She looks happy, carefree, laughing with her friends. Then she looks at them.

She doesn’t know them, not really. But maybe, just maybe, the three of them will become close. (It's El).

And the ending is bittersweet. Because everything ended well. And for Will, finally something went right.

All will be the Right side up (title). Mike, El, and Will defeated the villain, saved Hawkins, spared countless lives taken by Vecna …

But they don’t know they did.

It's the final scene. Will's standing in front of Vecna, facing his friends, whom he has pinned up against a wall. This is why he let Vecna consume him - to hurt them as much as they hurt him. Everyone who ever betrayed him in some way - or so he thinks. They keep reminding him of how much they love him, but it's not enough.

It's never enough.

Except Mike.

He's the only one left. The only one still not pinned to the wall. Will's about to do it, but...

Then Mike has the most heartbreaking and emotional scene in the whole show.

Because Mike's had a talk with El when Will went missing in the Upside Down again. It wasn't her who commissioned the painting. Sobbing and absolutely besides himself, Mike gets to his knees, grabs Will's hand and puts it on his heart. "I'm the heart, remember? I'm YOUR heart. I know that now." And Will's face starts to crack. "I'm never, ever going to leave you, I'll always be here by your side Will, I promise. I promise." And Will.. Will starts crying. Two single tears first, then more and more keep coming. And Mike's not letting go. And neither is Will. They hug tight as his friends fall down, being freed of his anger.

But Will realises.

"I have to go, Mike", he says with a trembling voice. Because if he doesn’t, he will die. And Mike's voice cracks as he shouts "No!" and hugs him even tighter. And seeing Mike like this, and realizing his love for all his friends.. Will's love wins. Instead of joining Vecna for good, instead of creating a new reality with him, Will refuses. And then.. starts collapsing in Mike's arms.

And El.. sees it all. Sees Will loving his friend and Mike being absolutely devastated as he shouts for Will to wake up, and she knows. Knows what she has to do.

She runs to Will and touches his arm. She faces Vecna with all she has. The final shot is of her being her own superhero.

.

It's dark.

.

.

Will wakes up in a hospital. Joyce looks relived, she thought they lost him. She immediately goes to get a nurse.

And Mike's there besides him. And he puts his hand in Will's. Will smiles. But then he gets nervous when Mike starts pulling away- wait. No. Mike's not pulling away. He actually entangles their fingers. If they go crazy, they go crazy together.