——•••

I know you're busy reshaping the world for the Mind Flayer, or whatever...

...but you really need to come save your boyfriend.

"I haven't told any of you this because I don't want you to see me differently. But the truth is...I am. I am different."

The audience already knows Will is gay; they've already seen other characters suspect it in the show. We've had multiple scenes hinting at it: Jonathan's hug, the Van scene, all the longing stares in S4.

But the audience might see Mike in a different light after the truth is finally out. They might see his interactions with El differently now—his coming of age is hidden in plain sight now, there for everyone to analyze and speculate.

"I just pretended like I wasn't because I didn't want to be. I wanted to be like everyone else. I wanted to be like my friends, and I am like you."

Will doesn't like pretending; he's always honest with himself. He says it to Jonathan in S2—he knows he is a freak. He chooses Bowie over Kenny Rogers. Will never really pushes Mike away because of shame. He's just resigned himself to the "best friend" moniker.

Look, I've been a fan of this show and a Byler for years, and I've always felt that there was something being actively concealed from the audience—a dark secret we weren't privy to—that would eventually be revealed to us.

But I may have underestimated just how unsettling it's going to be.