dumb

🎇Mike testing the Waters

Let's start off easy and identify the stark differences between how Mike interacts with El and Will.

Eleven's Test

We start off (Ch.6 Escape From Camazotz) with seeing Mike by himself, stirring the contents that are inside the bathtub, We already have a good visual to indicate that he's "testing the waters" and how he's about to stir up emotions. good start His efforts to make Eleven talk are pretty futile at first, trying to ease some tension.

[Mike] That looks nice. Murray find that for you? [Eleven] Yeah. [Mike] Santa Claus has good taste.

really weird Mike The only thing he gets out is just a single, disinterested "Yeah" from El. When she walks up next to him, he has to give himself a nod of encouragement before he initiates anything. After he'd done that double take, he's unable to read Eleven still. So he pushes himself a bit more forward.

He knows its gonna suck. He knows somehow it's going to end up in a silly fight, the way he puts it.

If they ever had attempted any serious talks beforehand it mostly ended up in one.

Mike tries to pry a little bit of information out of her after El doesn't seem like she has anything to talk about.

He's not necessarily letting her talk from her own volition but we can tell, by how tense it is, she has not been talkative at all. But he does know something is wrong.

Other: El recharging her battery by her own will vs. Mike telling her to go recharge it. Loss of Autonomy.

[Mike] Hey. Back at the Squawk, Kali, she said something weird about this not being over even if we kill Henry. Do you know what she’s talking about?

Regarding his first attempts, he confuses this method into providing comfort or just something to ease that tension between them, it doesn't work exactly because he doesn't understand what it takes, for Eleven that is.

He then points out that Kali said something weird back at the squawk so he lays it thick immediately.

Kali also did not have a so positive or less than neutral reaction towards Mike when she met him.

Mike and Eleven can never seem to find common ground or be at the same wavelength. And if they do, it's only for a brief moment.

We can infer, that the moment the Lenora gang returned Hawkins they have not been in proper communication at all, with Eleven's confidence be at a low point meaning it was time to focus on her training, and most likely having them through day/nights of crawls. If they hardly interact on-screen, the same goes for off-screen. They need to lay low, surveillance is high.

(The Henderson shelter) Weak in-universe way to disprove the idea that they haven't been in communication or seen each other, it's the closest underground path that would lead to the Wheeler's house. this is what the GA would latch on

Unlike the rooftop, this is a better snapshot of how their private conversations would have gone. And actually we do see it develop that way for the rooftop as well, as he turns a somewhat serious conversation into a fantasy.

So, Mike was not wrong into sensing something was about to go awry right before he started. But there's also a little extra detail though.

We were also shown more disturbances or conflict between relationships in Ch.1 The Crawl, like Jonathan-Nancy-Steve and Karen with Ted (mimics S4 Mike and Eleven). Again, same episode where they talk in the rooftop, the one of many (or all) that Mike fails to have a sole focus on Eleven. That serious to fantasy transition is a way for Mike to avoid just centering the moment to just him and El. So something is up. So no, his arc from season 4 was not resolved.

Mike's insecurities and impatience along with Eleven's shame and trauma will always catch up to them. We saw it at the start of Season 4, how absolutely bad it can get when pushed to their limits.

So the moment Eleven doesn't give him a an actual answer, his patience now definitely gets put to the test. Especially when he's suspicious about something or feels like he's being wronged.

[Eleven] I should warm this up.

Things are about to escalate somewhat.

From the little we have seen, he's found a way to better address any of Eleven's deflections unlike Season 4 (Ch.3 The Monster and the Superhero), where he's all passive-aggressive.

Pretty good start already. Probably.

His tone is also important, so it is an improvement from before for sure. He's addressing things directly now but most definitely interrogating at this point. He's had some time to learn at least. maybe. and he is asking from a genuine place.

He is worried, but only because information is being retained from him.

While it might not be fully ideal, it's to show how much change Mike's character has went through. No doubt though, there's still something off about Mike and Eleven.

It's either Mike being unable to face reality or Eleven unable to match his same wavelength. Or maybe they're just both straight up incompatible.

We can see how in the previous episode (Ch.5 Shock Jock), how exactly a real couple is actually dealing with a similar issue of avoidance and ultimately needing space to figure things out, not the best still again how they got there but its something. And while I could go on about Nancy and Jonathan, this is not the point of the post.

They were not currently on the same page, and that ultimately led to their breakup.

Though, as we see Mike pry further after the Hop line, still getting impatient, It makes El turn off her "faucet", closing herself off to him even more.

[Eleven] It’s nothing, Mike, really. [Mike] Friends don’t lie. [Eleven] I’m not lying. [Mike] You’re avoiding. That’s a cheat. I just want to help. [Eleven] You can’t help. Not with this. [Mike] Let me be the judge of that. El, come on.

Again, they're unable to find a common ground and be able to discuss things appropriately.

Mike presses. "Friends don't lie".

It's from a genuine place. He's trying to be communicative and navigate through Eleven's avoidance. Similar to Vickie, in the same episode (Ch.6). Jonathan also begging for honesty (Ch.5).

Unfortunately for Mike and Eleven, it's something definitely that's already broken to its very foundation. Their "love" and even "care" is very surface level. Some of it could be there, but out of necessity.

[Eleven] Mike. This isn’t like one of your campaigns. You don’t get to write the ending. Not this time. [Mike] Maybe I don’t. But we do. You, me, Lucas, Will, and Dustin. Because this is our story. And it starts with getting Will back.

And it seems almost impossible to ever reach a way they can appropriately communicate with each other.

We do see that Robin has told Vickie the truth now (not before though), Jonathan & Nancy do get to be honest to each other expressing their love in the end, but Eleven still gets away with half the truth revealed. Mike is now convinced nothing is wrong after all.

Will's Test

In the Upside Down (Ch. 8), Mike here waits for Will as they were climbing the tower. The episode after Will had come out. It was time to talk.

Mike offers him his water, and Will does take it + gives him a much more positive verbal affirmation (good sign for him already).

Very simple and straightforward exchange, unlike with Eleven. He's being more careful. Why would that be?

They catch their breaths. A literal breathing room. It is undeniably tense up in here.

Then we have Mike doing a double take.

We can definitely notice, that Mike has, at some point, started reading the room with these two. Eleven's was familiar, while Will's was uncharted.

We see he's trying to get a read on Will, exactly why would he do this?

We already know how Will shakes him up, possibly leading him to face things he would usually avoid.

You can clearly see the difference, like night and day, between how he interacts with Will-Eleven. They are able to understand each other.

Mike proceeds. Will did have a pretty heavy moment back at the Squawk. And we know there was some new information pouring into Mike.

We gradually see it. [🖼️🖼️]

And again, like with Eleven, he starts off both conversations the same way. Both events did take place back at the Squawk though.

We've been given a chance to see how both of these conversations develop. It's there to see the clear difference between them. We already know that has been the case.

And what they both have in common is that some sort of secret is being kept, from Mike, but it isn't about him [🖼️🖼️], again, he has nothing to do with it. Interesting huh?

Mike didn't learn or discover about Eleven's plan fully but he might be aware of Will's "crush" on him. That was one thing that made sense to him. No need to press about it or do any interrogation. We will read further bellow what this is all about.

This conversation is supposed to be primarily about Will. Not what Mike actually knows.

He senses Will is actually open to talk or at least hear him out. And Mike seems more nervous to initiate this conversation, compared to as he did with Eleven. He brushed off all the cryptic Kali stuff and got over it in the end.

He is more shaken up with Will.

[Mike] Hey, um… What you said earlier at the Squawk… I’m sorry. I mean, not sorry about what you said. That came out wrong. Or not came out wrong. Jesus Christ.

Like I said before, with Eleven, he was already bracing himself for it to go downhill with because they almost always end up in an argument. While the above is still played off with some humor he is still trying to be careful with his words.

It's different for him.

It's different because he does understand Will. We saw how he approaches the subject carefully. Just as we saw with Eleven and how he had been interacting for the whole season with Will, Mike undeniably has had immense growth compared to the past couple of seasons.

He's learned to tread carefully and that his words ultimately come with consequences.

🎇Will's Self-Acceptance & Coming Out

As the coming out scene took place (Ch. 7 The Bridge) this was the (original) conclusion of Will's Self-Acceptance Arc.

Will's acceptance, and its something for us to understand, needs to take place outside of Byler. Even if it was the catalyst for it. The reel did initiate with Mike. Will is relying on that important memory.

After the reel, Will thanks Robin, he ultimately tapped into his hidden potential and ended up saving his friends from the Demogorgon attacks and fighting back what Vecna had shown him.

Will [...]But you make her feel like she's not a mistake at all. Like she's better for being different. And that gives her the courage to fight on.

-Season 4 Ch.8 Papa

So, after that's cleared up. Why exactly did he proceed to ask Robin about Vickie?

Suddenly, it's like were converging into the "Mike-Will stuff"

But don't get ahead of yourself yet Will. Your arc still isn't finished. Your writers will torture you.

[Will] So… after… after this Tammy and this whole tape epiphany, is that when you and Vickie started to… [Robin] No, no, no. Um… I mean, I never would have had the guts to talk to Vic back then. I was finally cool with myself, but sharing that part of myself with someone else, that was a whole other thing. But eventually, I… I did it. You know, I told someone.

Robin helps him get back on track, he's still missing some extra steps! So he keeps that in mind. And it will be used against him, that ultimately leads him to coming out, it's still something to be used against him. Something he fears.

He immediately thought, after he has had this "reel moment" he could finally have his "Vickie". He must be very confident.

But yeah, he's still pretty far from it. And seems sure of it now. There's no "I realized who my T-word was" right? Just asking what next steps are next for V.

And most importantly, no other love interest has been introduced. Yes, it's definitely Mike. Why else would he test out the signals in the first place with Mike after asking specifically about Vickie? Don't forget this

[Will] So, how did you know that, with Vickie, right? How did you know that Vickie wanted to… [Robin] Make out? [Will] …to date? [Robin] Oh. Well, we volunteered together. You know, there were, like, signals. [Will] Signals? [Robin] Yeah, you know, like a brush of the knee, a bump of the elbow, a shared look. It all just kind of accrued, like a snowball rolling down a hill, until it was obvious. [Will] How obvious? [Robin] Let’s say the, uh, snowball became an avalanche.

-Season 5 Ch. 3

He needs to take it easy. And he's good at being patient. Right? So coming out? That's his next step. And he took the biggest one-

Literally.

He jumped Many steps, and because of Vecna. And because they just fucking suck at writing.

[Will] [...]But the truth… The truth is I never stood a chance. And he knew it. He’s always known it. That’s why, out of everyone in Hawkins, he chose me. Because he knew I was weak, and he knew he could control me.

-Season 5 Ch.7

We have Will here at his lowest point possible. He now doubts everything that he was capable of. Completely back down to 0, feeling utterly useless.

[Max] I mean, it has to, right? I just wish I wasn’t stuck here. I feel useless. [Will] El and Kali are gonna need you in the mind. I’m the one who’s useless.

Until now, Max reassures Will that he was the one who saved him, that Henry also has his fears.

[Will] It’s too risky. I’d be at the heart of the hive mind, and I don’t know what would happen. Last time I got too close, he used me to spy, and it almost got you killed, Max. [Max] You also saved my life, remember? [...], so I’m kind of used to it at this point. [Will] How did you survive in there, this whole time in Henry’s mind? [Max] [...] It was this old memory of his, and he was terrified of it. He wouldn’t go in. Scared the living shit out of him. Underneath all those scars, he’s still human. A psychopath with a serious god complex, but… human. I guess we’re all scared of something, right?

Will wants to prove to Vecna, after he got him once again that he is no longer scared of him.

And now he no longer has that thing that's actively haunting him anymore. Which is telling that he is gay to everyone he could. Especially Mike.

It's unfortunate how it develops still and utterly careless as he gave into that fear. Will had to go several steps ahead of Vecna and made almost everyone know about it. He had to out-sorcerer the sorcerer.

[Robin] Believe me, I know. To be fair, we had just been injected with truth serum by evil Russians, which is kind of like liquid courage on steroids. Really, drugs or not, just saying it out loud to someone and hearing him be cool with it, you know? It’s like this weight lifted. [...] I’m hoping to double my audience by the end of this year, but that’s only if you out-sorcerer the sorcerer, and we don’t all die.

-Season 5 Ch.5

We're aware how Vecna targets people.

Will's actual truth is the fact that he's gay, above all else.

And you don't call Mike befriending Will, and introducing him to d&d a happy memory if he's just simply a crush. Right? Well you can but it definitely raises several questions.

Will's memory and feelings of Mike seemingly being "erased" when he talks to Joyce is a way to subvert the viewer. The ones actually invested in the storyline. Mike is still important to Will. Don't forget

[Will] Mom? Um… Earlier today when you asked me what happened in Vecna’s mind, I didn’t tell you everything. When Vecna attacks, he weakens you by turning your own mind against you, by bringing out everything inside you that hurts. So I fought back by focusing on happy memories, memories from when I was a kid, and when I wasn’t scared, and when I felt most happy. That’s how I took control in the MACZ and how I killed those Demos. And I thought the same would work on Vecna too. But he found a way past. And he showed me things, Mom. He showed me the most awful things.

-S5 Ch. 7

Remember, Will was targeted by Vecna again, Directly, an even worse version than what he experienced in Chapter 4.

The Mac-z was like a baby-tap. By already talking next with Robin, him having to come out is his first priority and worry, leaving him more than vulnerable.

His confidence has been completely stripped away and he doesn't use the Reel Speech again to build himself up.

And uses what we know to be the worst part of it instead, the one we hoped for him to not latch on, what lead him to push Mike away.

Will [...]And if she was going to lose you, I… I think she'd rather just get it over with quick. Like ripping off a Band-Aid.

-Season 4 Ch.8 Papa

[Will] But he found a way past. And he showed me things, Mom. He showed me the most awful things.

-Season 5 Ch.7 The Bridge

And for that to be true all we will need then is confirmation that Mike will leave and stop being friends with him. Or that after coming out Mike is completely unaware of it all and doesn't console his friend. Or most importantly, no or less than positive reaction at all that could come from Mike. Anything at all to indicate that Will was going to lose Mike.

And we already know now Mike will still not leave him later on.

"Sometimes I think it's just scary to open up like that. To say how you really feel. Especially to people you care about the most. what if they don't like the truth?" -Will, season 4 ch. 5

This is still something not touched upon, Will has not yet said to Mike what he feels about him. Will only has revealed to him that he is gay, not his feelings, all that's missing first, is that he wont leave him because of this part of him in the end after all.

Mike [...]But I am scared that one day you'll realize you don't need me anymore. And I thought if I said how I felt, it would somehow make that day hurt more. [cut to will]

-Season 4 Ch. 9

Will If she was mean to you, or she seemed like she was pushing you away, it's because she's scared of losing you, like you're scared of losing her.

-Season 4 Ch.8

Will is afraid of losing Mike.

Will's love of Mike is not something he would get over so quickly too.

What was the point of the speech again?

It's for Will to not rely his self-worth onto someone else. He was discouraged and brought down when Mike didn't reciprocate his touch.

That with T****, I would finally be able to be myself, you know, all of myself.Because there was always this part of me that kind of scared me, you know? But I thought that if T**** loved me, all of me, you know, I wouldn't be so scared anymore.

Again. Will's love of Mike is still not something he would get over so quickly. Remember the 18 months, and all he went through that road trip. Bro was still going strong. Will is still scared.

Love defeats fear.

Dropping this one again to keep you with me. Hang on.

Will [...]But you make her feel like she's not a mistake at all. Like she's better for being different. And that gives her the courage to fight on.

-Season 4 Ch.8 Papa

And the reel even has the miwi moment with Robin's V.O over it come on lol. The "i had all the answers" voice-over was over Will.

It's intentional, and its structured that way as early in script form. Here's a transcript from table read of that moment

As it approaches Mike we return to Demovision. Time slows down as Mike closes his eyes, bracing for death. We push in on Will as he remembers back to Robin's words. Robin (V.O)I was looking for answers in someone else, but I had all the answers already. Will closes his eyes. We flash back to his happy childhood, all handheld, shot like an 8 millimeter home video. We see young Will, age 8, meets young Mike on a swing set. Young Mike Do you wanna be friends? Young Will nods Robin (V.O)I just needed to stop being so damn scared. Young Mike and young Will open up the game of Dungeon. Robin (V.O)Scared of who I really was.

-Episode 4 Table Read

Will had the answers. Will started off with the correct interpretation of the speech up until he faced Vecna directly. Only Will knows what's going on between him and Mike, he was right on track at first. So I can't tell you what could have possibly have happened during his 16-18 month sleepover or even speculate because I don't want to stray off of what the show is trying to tell. (more in part two most likely)

Will needs to accept himself first.

Did baby Mike give him an answer? No. He asked a question. That was originally an unserious thought, but yeah. I had to put that here.

Will coming out is what helps pave the way to Will confessing to Mike. or at least if it were to happen normally.

Mike in The Bridge (Ch. 7)

Whatever Mike is going through during Will's coming out is something different entirely.

The primary focus on the coming out is Will, remind yourself of that, not Mike. This is not about Mike.

Prevent yourself from dooming.

As a viewer, you are supposed to catch this camera-focus onto Mike during Will's coming out. It's intentional. Is he realizing something?

Somewhat, probably. Maybe not fully. He's still missing something. Like actual confirmation.

If youre an attentive viewer, you already know the true answer, that it's indeed Mike Will is talking about, and that Mike likely has realized it from all the zoom ins. And it's there to make you doubt, lose or gain hope if you had or lacked any, especially how Will has the tendency to be an unreliable narrator.

It is fact, absolute fact, that Mike is not Will's T-word. The actual meaning of that speech was that Will shouldn't depend his whole self-worth through Mike.

And once I did that, I was so free. It's like I could fly.

And it's why he's given the speech in the first place.

A small moment like that is good enough to send Will off track. And that's not good.

If he does not have the Guts he wont be able to talk to "Vickie".

In Season 4 and 5, Will still depends on Mike's perception of him, and the way he reacts and whatnot. And he can't also prevent himself from comforting him, because he loves him.

Mike is not exactly emotionally stable or grounded himself so he needs to learn not to fully rely his sense of self or worth solely on Mike.

Lets pay attention to how Will recounts that sequence of Events. Un-bolded are what is being pushed aside.

Will asks for advice, gets the signals talk. "How obvious?"

He puts it to test in the field scene.

Mike did not reciprocate, he feels discouraged and let down, relying too much on Mike.

Robin notices he's down, gives him the speech.

I was looking for answers in someone else, but I had all the answers already. - what actually is the T-word part of it is about

Will unlocks the Reel of Happy memories - Mike is the first thing he thinks that brings him happiness and most likely the happiest (so why show him if he's T, right?)

Will has accepted himself and took control of the hivemind

He feels a surge of confidence after unlocking the powers, more sure of himself less fearful.

He notices more positive signs from Mike.

Asks Robin if he can take the next step to talk to "Vickie", meaning he's still lacking the confidence to do so.

Now Coming out is Top Priority, and the perfect thing for Vecna to use against Will. Especially when that's the last thing he talked about before going through with the plan.

Vecna shows him everything that isn't real, the most awful things, with the absolute worst outcomes and it ends up influencing his coming out.

Claims he realized his "crush" was just T-word (MW drifted apart in the vision) and that he was finally okay with himself.

The point of coming out now is about how Will's Fears of being abandoned was used against him, and tell everyone. Wanting to prove to Vecna he was better than him.

That conversation initiated by Mike in the tower, is more important than we think for Will.

Let's get back to Mike's reaction.

The Doofers comment in the People article is interesting.

They still redirect what could be going on Mike's mind back towards Will's arc. Like they don't want to touch it. Classic deflection. They do point out how he was ultimately oblivious to it all previously.

Why emphasize that he was oblivious to it, and to what extent exactly?

Why make sure to let it be known what was going inside Mike's mind during this?

If you think something is adding up thanks for sticking.

But what's on screen should be the primary focus. We didn't need that "confirmation" to know that was the intent. And they still did. Is he fully convinced that its him?

There's another interesting moment that happens in the same episode.

We find out that Holly crushes hard on Joshua. And while Joshua has a skeptical face and denies it, the other girls just know it.

He doesn't seem to be taking it that bad though.

While we know the kids are actively manipulated, he does sort of agree to use himself to bring Holly back to the "light", initiating the chant as the rest of the kids to follow suit.[🖼️🖼️].

Mary's first intention was that they were gonna talk Holly into coming with them, so Joshua likely was part of the plan to convince her. [🖼️🖼️]

And in the Epilogue we see them end up with the same color coding as Mike and Will. Joshua is in Blue and Holly in Yellow

If someone were to argue "actually it's Derek she likes now" then Derek is sitting where Will was and then, Holly is in Mike's seat, then y'know.

There's is better evidence that indicate Derek is gay and more likely than liking Holly.

Mike has known Will since they were young. And they're best friends in fact. It's been hammered down onto us too much.

And, Best Friends should know each other unlike anyone else, even know about crushes. Mhm.

But Mike's reaction wasn't only just about clocking what Will has felt during all this time, but also sensing that he was losing his Best Friend once again.

[Steve] [...] But instead of… just being there for you, I just… Well, I got angry about it. I guess… I got angry because things were different. Because… I really missed you. I missed my best friend. [Dustin] Yeah, I missed my best friend too.

-Season 5 Ch.7 The Bridge

🎇The Tower

This part is the mark of the end of Will's Self-Acceptance arc, pitched as so, to provide some sort of "closure".

Somehow it ended up being more so of an un-closure, making things even more confusing. Can just be copium, and I'm denying this is how Mike and Will go about to talking about it after all, but as the finale progresses something is definitely off.

We already know that Mike is prone to self-flagellation, nothing new, he doesn't fully understand how to appropriately take in accountability, its his insecurities in action. He does think its justified to call himself an Idiot though, like stating a fact.

Will does end up comforting him because of it, opposed to in season 4, Will thought he deserved it, at least a little bit.

Mike Thanks, by the way. Will For what? Mike For knocking some sense into me. I was being a total self-pitying idiot. Will Oh, I didn't say it. Mike You didn't have to.

-Season 4 Ch.4

After what had happened before, the awkward way Mike had acted as he landed, their argument at the Rink to wallowing in sadness over Eleven's last letter, but it was also brought up in a lighthearted way.

Now

[Mike] No, it’s… it’s not. I should have been there for you, and I wasn’t. And I guess I was just so self-absorbed that I couldn’t see it. I just… I feel like an idiot, and I… [sighs] I’m sorry. [Will] You don’t have to be sorry. And you are not an idiot. You’re not.

This time though? Mike seems to be going hard on himself and Will still hasn't gotten over his need to comfort Mike, because he didn't understand what it was for himself to get to this point at all too.

It's not like Mike has spent the entire season ignoring Will completely and getting into arguments right? Hell if he wasn't even around him, he almost did not fail to not talk or gloat about him. Here's Max learning he's a Sorcerer. offscreen

What is exactly is he sorry for?

[Will] You don’t have to be sorry. And you are not an idiot. You’re not. It’s just… I didn’t even understand it myself for the longest time. I just… I think it needed to happen the way it happened. I needed to find my own way.

The most direct reading of this scene, is that Mike is apologizing for not being there for Will (during his self-realization) and being able to support him during the time he was struggling most. Will states it's something he had to through by himself. Again, it was never about Mike.

Mike is still keeping the information of him being Will's "crush" to himself

This is what Will understands. Pay attention, because he means that he's glad Mike never left and is still able to conduct this conversation with him.

There was a similar short Heart-to-Heart between steve and dustin in the previous episode (ch.7).

[Steve] Hey, Dustin? [Dustin] Yeah? [Steve] Hey, about, uh, some of the stuff that I said earlier. I just… [Dustin] It’s fine. It’s okay. [Steve] No, just… It’s not okay. Eddie… He saved your life. [Steve] Our lives. And I know what he meant to you. I can’t even imagine how hard it’s been. But instead of… just being there for you, I just… Well, I got angry about it. I guess… I got angry because things were different. Because… I really missed you. I missed my best friend. [Dustin] Yeah, I missed my best friend too.

sweet. straight to the point. And theres still something off

Lets continue:

We know what Mike feels guilty of so lets make of it.

He did leave the Cabin after Will woke up. Mike was not there for him to console him. He went with Eleven to the hospital.

He did not know to what extent Will was struggling.

Similar to a moment with Lucas and Max in season 4.

Remember what I said about Max learning Will turned into a sorcerer? Yeah, they probably also discussed how exactly Max came back on the ride back. And it's in the same episode as Will's coming out.

Add the fact that he supposedly knows he's Will's crush AND he feels guilty he wasn't there for him? Yup.

And the visual storytelling is there, right after Will was knocked out, which was what we called his lobotomization. So it's time to recontextualize what exactly happened during Vol.2.

It's a bit sad when you consider these next lines, and you start thinking that maybe, Mike thought he was more than capable with dealing with Vecna. And not necessarily bad because remember, Will has been put down a lot in Vol 1. The point is, it gives the angle more credence and adds a bit more to why he could be suppressing his touch in Vol 2.

[Lucas] We got our second El. [Will] I'm not like a second El. I don't have powers.

-Ch. 5 Shock Jock

So, Mike not being what Will needed in the moment:

Suppressing himself to reach out for him immediately after he's knocked out, hand flailing, touching him after everyone else does, being last.

Joyce's presence Hindering his need to comfort Will at the squawk, he's just standing around and looking at him. Notice how the camera moves from her to Will.

His hand twitching When Eleven does Touch Him.

After Will does wake up he's the last to hug him from the core four in his coming out.

We might hate him for this but we have to remember that he was also taking it all in. Besides the fact They had to create more uncertainty for us. Mike still initiated the conversation in the tower.

Unfortunately, it does continue as they reach the abyss, remember he has an audience. He does eventually touch him but it's hardly on frame. Could be production choices in the end.

We see him kneel to the ground when Will falls. At the same time as Joyce and Jonathan.

And he also struggles to leave him when Will tells them to go.

Mike still has a special connection to will.

In the apology though somehow, by being overly cautious, he fails to mention exactly what that is. So a lot of the thinking is left to us. Deliberately.

It feels vague to us, because its intentional and make us be distracted by the wrong things. Remember in the interviews how they kept redirecting what Mike felt back towards Will's self-acceptance?

Mike is keeping that knowledge to himself. Also because they were lazy, and thought it was a good idea to still leave Mike and Will ambiguous, for no reason at all and provide no proper closure.

Now let's jump real back.

Mike was able in season 4 (Ch.4 Dear Billy), to finally express what he couldn't with Will, being able to open up, reveal his Big Fight he just had with Eleven, a fight you don't come back from.

Then later on he actually points and provides sort of an explanation as to why things felt weird between him and Will, taking accountability about how he acted before somewhat(calling himself a self-pitying idiot), the way he knows how to. Somehow, the way this conversation in the Tower unravels, Will has to be the one to be reassuring Mike still, while also asking if their friendship is at a good place? What?

And actually, Will is also reassuring himself, if that happy memory of Mike asking to be his friend was still true, after learning he was gay. And if in actuality, if Mike was or not was in fact, T-word as he somehow was convinced he was.

[Will] [...] But what matters is that you’re still here, and you still think we can be friends?

And Mike was sensing Will was pushing him away, even after realizing himself he was his "crush" and was over him.

And we know, Mike eventually tried to make things right.

Now, Would he still be friends with him though? Will needs this answer. Or his fears will be true. All those awful things Vecna showed him.

[Will] No, he doesn’t. What he showed me… it didn’t come from him. It came from me. He sees everything, Mom. He sees my thoughts. He sees my memories. And he sees my secrets.

And in Mike fashion, he fucking jokes about it.

What the hell.

Well, If you think about it for a second It resembles the field scene in Chapter 4. Subverting Will's expectations a little, Will is totally like Vecna

Mike is trying to ease Will away from tension! Remember his cringe "Santa Claus has good taste" line to Eleven? fucking yup. And this time is at the end, not at the start of the conversation so he was focused on the seriousness of it.

Mike is described as a little naive and optimistic this season interviews. (cont in part two)

Still it's curious how he said no, to being merely 'friends' at first right? Why could he possibly be joking about that. In the sense that Will experienced the worst thing he possibly could like losing everyone he cares about, and this guy is somehow allowed to joke about it.

But Mike's joking possibly reeled him back in again.

What's important here though is that, Mike will still be there for Will.

Interesting. And don't worry, I will eventually be getting into it, after we study Mike a bit more and shit they like to do to mess around with us.

Back to the beginning of the conversation

We see Mike be super overly cautious with his words to the point where he's stumbling over his words at Will, he's trying his best and does not want to say the wrong thing, not again. He fumbles a couple of times and Will is still patient with him.

It doesn't mean he allows Will to let him slide though.

[Will] [chuckles] It’s okay. [Mike] No, it’s… it’s not. I should have been there for you, and I wasn’t. And I guess I was just so self-absorbed that I couldn’t see it. I just… I feel like an idiot, and I… [sighs] I’m sorry.

Will is very familiar to Mike's body language and just very attentive to him overall. Especially when he's extremely nervous and in distress.

[🖼️🖼️]

Keep in mind, The Tower is supposed to resemble Robin and Vickie's conversation in the Season 4 Finale. Very intentional.

Especially now knowing how weird they were in interviews when it came to Mike and they kept redirecting it back to Will's arc.

🎇Jonathan's Bedroom

This is where for the first time, Mike and Will have one of their private moments in season 4.

Mike got his last letter from Eleven, being their "breakup". And it was

Mike is bummed out, reading it over and over, Will notices Mike is in distress and wants to comfort him. Will of course thinks this is a normal letter and tells him nothing will change, she made her choice already (get over it).

Mike agrees and trashes it. Almost like if that's what he usually does when he finishes one. There's no attachment to it, even after that fight. They have been told it could be months before Eleven gets out. Mike gets to open up to Will for the first time, after Eleven gets taken and they're under house arrest, and after so long, especially after their own fight. For the rest of that time Mike got to sit down in Silence and explore his emotions, and what that meant. Will is patient, and waits for Mike to open up, he knows he will. So now, for the first time in a while we get to see what's going into Mikes head.

He takes a while to open up to Will, and to say what "it" is to El and also what that "it" is, to Will. He ultimately can't and couldn't, all on his own even. And when he did, it was still something to convince Eleven to stay with him and also lie about.

Mike [...]I love you. [thunder/lighting strike] Mike [...]I never felt that way. Never [thunder/lightning strike]

There's no exploration at all as to why he can't say it early on but we do see him have an easier time opening up to Will.

Mike focuses more on what he could have said not if he could say what he feels. Those are two completely different things.

Saying "I love you" as he did many times, does not properly convey what you exactly love about the person. Even if indirectly, Will shows how you can actually express to someone how they make you feel without saying "I love you" the appropriate way. If someone has to beg for it? youre done buddy

For Mike, if he said the right thing, in his mind, it would have convinced her to take him to where she went or would eventually go, he doesn't want to feel like he isn't needed.

Away from Lenora

He still later continues to hold Eleven on a pedestal

Mike is stunted in that front, but we do see other small steps of realizing his growth, He eventually stops downplaying Suzie's worth the moment he needs her help. While Dustin also holds his girlfriend on a pedestal still somewhat, the focus is on Mike, the way he's confident to completely dismiss Suzie's capabilities. But he later comes around.

His previous thinking, lead him to saying the exact the wrong thing to Eleven. He's had that tendency to dismiss other people, besides always calling bullies mouth breathers, he also ends up dehumanizing Eleven. He's almost offended she even has emotions, calling the way she's reacting as ridiculous. (in Season 5 we see this repeated with Ted and Nancy)

We eventually learn and further solidify part of why and how they eventually got together, it was primarily about need. Meeting Eleven, learning how she had powers, being special, and you can just tell it made Mike feel good about himself, or even better. It makes him not feel like not just a nerd. And Eleven knows Mike needs her, confusing it for love.

When they reach the Surfer Boys Pizza location in Nevada, It was about to be their Official Breakup. Or some truth was going to be revealed here as Eleven was bracing for it. If the conversation developed normally, Mike would still end up not saying what he truly feels as he just struggles to say what exactly that thing is time and time again when they're alone, or continue to say it at different times without the reciprocation at that moment where its needed most.

Something was going on, she knew something at least and was prepared for the truth.

And unfortunately, while the lie Will told to Mike, as he hid his own feelings, did not fix Mike and Eleven's issues at all later on going into Season 5. They're only "together" out of necessity. Mike did not say to Eleven he loved her in the Void. (We'll visit The Void in Part 2)

"We're friends. We're friends."

Why does Mike have to clarify, to Will, that they're friends?

Mike considers writing letters, or giving physical gifts as performative acts primarily and a show of appreciation and genuine care as second or lower. Eleven has a "trove of treasures" with stuff Mike has given her.

It's a way of enacting traditional gender roles. And he doesn't have the best understanding of it. He still has no idea what Eleven likes. As well as what she needs. We see in Season 2 Ch.5 Steve tries to bring flowers to Nancy and mend their relationship. He doesn't even know himself what he's doing.

Mike advises El to be careful about her gift, prioritizing the perfect condition of the flowers, in order to remain in good shape, for it to keep that perfect image. It leads you to believe he focuses on outward appearances and the way that everything is completely fine and normal, on the outside. The flower themselves don't have any meaning at all because it's to perform.

Just like he tells Eleven she can't let the bullies ruin them. And yelling at her after the attack conducted on Angela saying "what did you do" and that Angela did not look fine. Outward appearances.

He also emphasizes how he went and picked the flowers out for her. Eleven blocks out that rambling, again focusing what she needed.

How sweet performative of him.

One more other thing, how he declares that he "loves" Eleven in front of other people, but ultimately when alone, especially in the void, he fails to tell Eleven Directly he loves her.

The space(s) Eleven occupies most in her room have things that Mike has given her or has done herself. So wherever she looks, she sees him, like at her desk. She also wears a promise ring that was given to her as well.

Mike's basement is also covered by things that reminds him of someone that he cares about, and its Will's drawings, and treasures his drawings inside a binder, neatly stored, the same way Eleven stores her "Mike things". They both hold shrines to someone important to them.

As I looked for easier screencaps, I found a post done by kaypiece21 that focuses on them both hanging up drawings thankfully! Mike also has Will's painting framed and hanging on his schizoid dream vision delusion dorm. Knowing the truth or not, it came from Will and he takes good care of it.

Compared to Eleven, Mike doesn't really have anything to remind him of her, not even recent photos of her. Just that one photo frame of her near his bed and maaaaybe that dnd miniature he prepared could count. Still nothing that Eleven herself has crafted for him, personally made for him.

We know that Eleven still likes Arts & Crafts as well at the start of Season 4.

There's another major difference though, Mike doesn't particularly take care of items that come from Eleven. The way he throws the first letter he reads at the start of Season 4 and Eleven's last seen letter on screen, as he crumples and dumps it. Again, the way he sees ties it to as a performance and insignificant, just another for of communication for him.

That doesn't mean Mike doesn't appreciate gifts, like I said, his basement is covered with Will's drawings, and its not like Mike has them there just for safe keeping. He just doesn't see letters, or those letters have any personal value.

This is where the painting comes in. sort of

Subconsciously, Mike knows he likes to be in the receiving end of getting gifts. And I say subconsciously because he was raised to follow traditional gender roles being raised in a conservative household, so in his mind men are not supposed to be on the receiving end of gifts.

Eleven has hardly helped break that stereotype either, she also does not have the proper idea of what love is. Here's her watching and mimicking a Soap Opera in Season 2 (Ch. Trick or Treat, Freak).

And further convincing herself before that Mike needing her lead her to believe that he loved her. It has been something further enabled til the very end.

And now she has started, still slowly, to realize what exactly that kind of love she needs now in Season 4.

At the airport Mike notices Will has something on hand.

The moment Mike fucked it by being weird with the half-hug, Will took a blow from that. Remember again why Will got embarrassed at the field scene in season 5 because seemingly Mike didn't reciprocate (but also Mike didn't clock it was flirting) and received the speech. At this moment, Will was not courageous enough, by focusing on how Mike perceived him and not reciprocating his enthusiasm.

Our old friends share a quick, awkward half-hug. It’s not exactly the warm welcome that Will was hoping for. As Mike pulls away from Will, he clocks the painting -- MIKE What’s that? WILL Oh just -- some painting I’m working on. It’s -- nothing.

-Season 4 Ch.2 Vecna's Curse, script

He was now discouraged So Will brushed it off as some painting. See how it resembles how he felt down after the Field scene? After spotting the painting, This probably further confused Mike as to why he brought it in the first place. In the script, to help us decipher his state of mind, he was about to press further over the painting.

And he's too oblivious to even put it together later on. The same guy we see later figure out why Harmon has given him a pen that doesn't write?

Argyle begins to scrawl onto his “headstone,” but no ink is coming out -- [...] As Mike watches Argyle repeatedly try -- and fail-- to write on the sign, an epiphany forms -- MIKE (low) That’s his pen -- [...] MIKE The pen he gave me. Unknown Hero Agent Man. Before he died. Mike spins to Will. Mind racing. MIKE (CONT’D) Why’d he give me a pen that didn’t work -- ? [...] Mike ignores Argyle and unscrews the cap. It’s hollow inside. Mike flips it around, pops the bottom of it with the palm of his hand, and -- A SCRAP OF PAPER FALLS OUT!

So, what's with the "We're friends. we're friends"?

To him, writing letters for Will isn't something traditional, and reserved to 'girlfriends' . If he were to really think nothing of it, he would have sent him letters along with Eleven's wouldn't he?

The reality is, If he did, it definitely would have implied something for him, so he never sent one. An interesting thought for him to have.

Ultimately, Mike's preferred method of communication is through voice. We saw how he was bitching about how he couldn't get a hold of Will. Leading him to think he lost him to the point of completely bothering Mike and destabilizing him along with how this season was his rebellious phase. And Mike is confused as to what those emotions are.

Undoubtedly, it is an awkward moment, after Will states they were once best friends and the script flags it as such. Will got him.

Why was it so awkward for them?

They've been weird. Mike has been weird, without Will in Hawkins it wasn't the same.

Will has been weird because he likes someone.

While looking who to fault over at Rink-o-Mania, it falls into that same exact problem, Will asking himself internally why its on him he didn't communicate with Mike that Eleven was having problems and Mike telling Will he was the one that hardly called him.

Mike walks fast. He’s getting frustrated. Angry. MIKE (CONT’D) You should’ve told me she was having trouble. Will can’t believe this is coming back on him. Now he’s upset --

[...]

WILL We used to be best friends. An awkward beat here as this sinks in, Mike, unsure what to say, pivots -- MIKE Then -- you should have reached out to me. Why is it all on me? Stop making me the bad guy. Let’s just -- find her okay?

After we had deciphered what the Weird was, we can infer, along with the inability of Mike to state directly that the phone line was busy that they most definitely have been struggling with the same thing.

Mike didn't actually care much about Eleven having problems, it was just a way to indirectly point out the issue of their lack of communication which Will works up the Courage and steps up to Mike, finally addressing the issue.

Will has had a lot of growth as well, as he started to figure out who he is, so now Will is here to ground Mike and lead him towards the path of growth as well and away from avoiding the real issues.

And unfortunately we know, how ultimately both of them not saying the truth to each other would eventually set them back.

The C-Word

We already notice signs of emotional cheating conducted by Mike in Season 4 (Ch.4 Dear Billy), most obvious during inside Jonathan's room and then Will's bedroom.

Touching interesting subjects, especially after making it clear beforehand, you were friends after you made some defensive assumptions. Not noticing the implications of it. And remember, it's also before Mike apologized to Will and reignited their friendship.

If they were all just that why the need to keep reiterating it?

It's not far off to think that's what taking place at all. Especially when earlier in the episode, Erica while messing with Jason, insinuates that Lucas and Jason are now dating, and that Lucas is cheating on him with Dustin.

This was meant as a joke but definitely on the nose, and its meant to plant something on to the viewers to possibly notice what's going on between Mike and Will. They let you know that homosexual cheating was possible.

But they're friends, nothing suspicious is going on at all actually. Right? Mike said so. All to have plausible deniability.

And we know, after all, Mike can't say or write to Eleven he loves her.

In season 4 (Ch.3 The Monster and the Superhero) Dustin calls out Steve for throwing himself onto Nancy. Steve reiterates they're just friends. I wont draw on it much but the idea is that the theme is there, because it's forced.

Steve and Nancy were put in place to distract or more importantly just fanservice for the general audience. Since its more bordering on the realm of possible Physical Cheating, it's more obvious.

Before Jonathan stood in the doorframe of his room in Lenora, witnessing the last few words of Mike and Wills conversation, he was looking at an image with Nancy and himself.

Again, we've been seeing how this was developing with Steve and Nancy + Jons problems. We now have the second connection to it in Dear Billy.

Meanwhile, later on, we see Nancy be insecure about what might be going on with Jonathan

NANCY(fast) It’s just -- he was supposed to be here for break and then-- he pulled out at the lastminute for some vague, mumbly Jonathan reason -- and to be honest I wasn’t that surprised because I’ve felt him pulling away lately and I don’t know if it’s because we’re two thousand miles away or if he’s met someone else or what -- but I can’t find out as now he’s apparently blown up his family’s phone or something --so if the mention of his name caused some muscle spasm in my face -- that’s probably why. Okay?

-S4 Ch.6 The Dive script

If you notice, practically 1:1 to Mike's issues regarding Will.

The fact is, they're showing you that cheating is possible and are not afraid to touch it. So pay attention.

In Season 5 (Ch.5 Shock Jock) its brought up again by Dustin. Steve keeps saying they're just friends (and later how he knew they werent in the cards) In Ch. 6 Escape From Camazotz, Jonathan expresses if Nancy would rather and wanted to be with someone else.

Jonathan and Nancy's honesty time take place same chapter/episode the conversation that Eleven and Mike are having. Mike still fails to make it Solely about Eleven.

[Eleven] Mike. This isn’t like one of your campaigns. You don’t get to write the ending. Not this time. [Mike] Maybe I don’t. But we do. You, me, Lucas, Will, and Dustin. Because this is our story. And it starts with getting Will back.

-Season 5 Ch. 6 Escape from Camazotz

Mike also saying the word Cheat in Ch. 6 Escape from Camazotz

[Mike] You’re avoiding. That’s a cheat. I just want to help.

Sorry I wanted to include that for fun but I also think he's the only one that said it the whole season.

Undoubtedly, Mike engages into emotional cheating as Will is his best confidant. He's the only one he's able to truly have private and intimate moments with to this level. For Mike, Will occupies a different headspace for him. It explains a bit the deflection to why he wasn't writing letters to Will.

He might also consider it a lower form of communication, a lesser intimate one. Detached. Just like how Eleven does when she says "You can't even write it Mike".

Let's go over the Awkward Beats quickly.

MIKE That’s different. She’s my girlfriend, Will. WILL And us --? MIKE We’re friends, Will. Friends -- WILL We used to be best friends. An awkward beat here as this sinks in, Mike, unsure what to say, pivots --

-Ch.2 Vecna's Curse, Script

MIKE Hey, that’s cool…Hop’s cabin, right? A small nod from El. Mike places the Eggos down next to her, sits down on the bed. An awkward beat, and then -- MIKE (CONT’D) So…are we just gonna just…not talk about it? [...] ELEVEN “Care.” But you do not -- love me anymore --? Mike grows flustered -- MIKE What -- of course -- who said that -- I didn’t?

-Ch.3 The Monster and the Superhero , Script

Steve and Dustin are watching from across the street -- DUSTIN I’m missing collarbones not eyes. Steve taps the wheel. Awkward silence. Finally Dustin breaks it: DUSTIN (CONT’D) So…are we gonna talk about it or what? STEVE I’m sorry? Talk about --? DUSTIN Your temporary insanity earlier today when you practically threw yourself at “Nance” -- [...] STEVE Not the only one. And as for Nancy, I was trying to protect a friend -- a FRIEND -- ’cause I didn’t want to find her in the morning with her eyes ripped out of her skull by this Vecna creep --

-Ch.3 The Monster and the Superhero

These are all the awkward, back to back pauses, and the only ones flagged as such. Still touching upon that same theme I've been talking about. No coincidences. There are also Awkward moments, but it's not as obvious as what i have just shown.

So keep in mind, Season 4 is full of it. Reminder, Steve still has feelings for Nancy.

🎇Milevenbaiting/Erasure

In Season 4, key Mike and Eleven moments along with visual storytelling of heartbreak are completely cut or be repurposed to Will instead. and this is important because we are going to explore the same patterns in season 5 in [part two] of this post

Whenever Eleven was feeling shame, adding the trauma of her past as well (Brenner and Mike), she would fail to meet Mike's gaze or avert her eyes. And they chose to erase it every. single. time.

Why they chose to erase this? I have no idea that isn't to provide more fodder into the "Mike-Will stuff"

This visual storytelling has been relayed to Mike and Will, ever since the airport scene.

You can also notice how whenever Mike looks over at Eleven when they're all walking together, you can notice slightly Mike's facial expressions change, indicating that he's paying close attention to Will's current mood and it influences him.

And he definitely noticed like we already know.

Other: Eleven wearing borrowed clothing from Will with the intention she looks like him while on frame.

And how I've already explained to you, Mike is focused on the outward image. Doesn't bother much with what's going on inward. So he points out to Will all the ways he has been acting when it all goes completely wrong, Mike can't see deeper than what's on the surface level. Saying to Will he was being a douche all day:

Will So, sorry if I wasn't… wasn't smiling. Mike Yeah, whatever, man.

Eleven kept up the facade, Will didn't.

That payoff, even they were very small details to include and a Big change, relegating Mike and Eleven's relationship, was just to have Mike notice Will was being off and focus on their friendship? Nah.

These are seeds planted very early on for the Big Thing that never got to bloom in the end or have deserved the proper payoff.

They fucked it up, badly.

And to somehow get rid of this storytelling for Mike and Eleven, it gives even more suspicion to how the Mike-Will stuff has been conceived in the first place.

They created this, not us. we didn't write Will having feelings for Mike, nor Mike having implied feelings for Will, they did.

This doesn't mean it was a domino effect and it influenced the rest of Mike and Will's scenes for the rest of the season. The most popular and major moments in Season 4, their Heart-to-Hearts that we still talk about are about as intact in the script. All those long conversations they had, it's all there. the small things.

There was undeniable tension between them.

They wrote themselves into it and landed on the most logical choice at the time of filming. Almost as if the characters were truly autonomous. It just Worked. It's the little things in the end, those same little things that have helped solidify any hope and carried onto Season 5.

We've correctly read the signals don't ever forget this, we always saw what was being done with or without the script on screen, it's ultimately the truth.

Just like Mike-Will, Mike and Eleven are put in the same(similar) place.

The Sweetie-Pie in the room

Definitely has to be Eleven, right? we did see him supposedly "Beaming Dreamily" while reading her letter. Like of course, duh how else would it be, he receive her letters, right? Up until we see his reaction of disgust over Ted's comment. And Mike's reaction is intended to be confusion. Who the fuck is sweetie-pie.

KAREN No buts. Nine or no California-- TED And no sweetie pie. Mike stares. Sweetie pie? Nancy screams from the door --

Yes, this one is definitely part of it and deliberate. The only information that their parents would know 100% is that he is flying over to California to visit and stay with the Byerses during the allotted time of spring break. End

We know that Mike has been whining later on too about how they hardly pick the phone up as well. With Mikes reaction, we can conclude that this most certainly was in reference to Will. We already inspected their patterns enough in this season to confidently come here. So the letter Mike reads from Eleven and their status doesn't contradict anything at all.

The only purpose of the letter Mike reads is to be used as a plot device for what later develops, not as proof or evidence to justify this single line, and to have Ted say it, explains a ton. This is Melvinbait

Here are some other moments in Season 4 that continues this strategy:

[Outside] Improvised "You're my superhero" line. Leading to Mike not learning and completely realizing his growth.

(Mike Monologue) The Vines tightening and choking Eleven (bad memories) as Mike recounts the day they met, and continues to lie about loving her. Ultimately, Eleven looking at Max was what broke her free. Script describes how Mike is pulling her back toward the surface like if she were drowning and his words help her. (False on screen)

[Outside] Unaddressed Promise Ring. [Melvinbait]

Other futile attempts in Season 5 to give them validity

Lucas calling them "lovebirds". [Melvinbait]

The Henderson Underground Route. [Melvinbait]

[Outside] Mike's hand on her thigh in the Official season 5 teaser (did not make the final cut) [Melvinbait]

[Outside] Stranger Things: One Way or Another (Caitlin Schneiderhan- Season 4 Ch.3 & Season 5 Ch.3) novel, calling Eleven Mike's girlfriend, and implying he eventually goes out to see her. Connected to the Henderson Route. [2x Melvinbait]

The Void scene. [Melvinbait]

Mike's Theory - [Outside] "I believe" and "Storyteller & Mage" + rooftop social media campaign. [4x Melvinbait]

possibly many more i cant even name right now

🎇Will's Bedroom

Crazy Stupid Weird Idiot

If youre already familiar, its a recurring theme of it meaning love.

There are plenty of posts of it throughout the years. So I won't be making an introduction to it lol. We're applying this to season 5 and more specifically The Tower.

As part of Mike's self-flagellation he has a tendency to call himself an Idiot. and he is

Will tries pushing mike away. Again, if you remember which was the first time in season 5.

[Mike] No, it’s… it’s not. I should have been there for you, and I wasn’t. And I guess I was just so self-absorbed that I couldn’t see it. I just… I feel like an idiot, and I… [sighs] I’m sorry. [Will] You don’t have to be sorry. And you are not an idiot. You’re not. It’s just… I didn’t even understand it myself for the longest time. I just… I think it needed to happen the way it happened. I needed to find my own way.

So yes, this most definitely continues here and remember, Will is probably still at his lowest point, having freshly come out as gay at that.

Mike having this conversation is already a lot, but his stumbling helped him ease the tension quite a bit with Will.

But Will doesn't let him talk more. Again, it's a quick get done type of conversation. And they still included it. There's not much to get out of it (the point of this whole post in the first place)

This is still, part of Will's arc, he's overtaking the conversation now and immediately getting to the point. It's unsatisfactory I get it (i've been through many highs and lows when making this whole post and i still have part two), but we can work around it.

This is part of Will pushing people away. He pushed Mike away, telling him he didn't need to be there for him and he needed to figure himself out.

"You are not an idiot. You're not"

Will has to face what he doubts more. And that's Mike's love. So he tells him that he isn't an idiot. So he asks him to be friends.

And Mike rejects the idea of being friends.

WILL [...]and you still think we can be friends? MIKE Friends? No, thanks. (beat) Best friends.

That pause after he says "no thanks" is a beat. And remember what I talked about them just recently. For convenience I added that it was one here

This pause for Will was almost confirmation to him that Mike will leave him after learning the truth. The worst outcome, a no to being friends.

And to the audience, whatever nightmare you were going through.

And how I said, in Mike fashion, he was joking about it. Being supposedly aware of being Will's "crush". So now when we consider the before:

MIKE That’s different. She’s my girlfriend, Will. WILL And us --? MIKE We’re friends, Will. Friends -- WILL We used to be best friends. An awkward beat here as this sinks in, Mike, unsure what to say, pivots --

-Season 4, Ch.2 Vecna's Curse

Will has now become top priority for Mike. Or at least what he's allowed to be for the rest of the finale.

For Mike, he considers Will something more than a friend.

And then remember with the Steve parallels, he had given up by this season and refers to Nancy as a friend.

[Dustin] You wanna talk about dumb shit? How about chasing somebody else’s girlfriend while the world is ending? [Steve] Nancy is a friend. She’s a friend, okay? You remember what that’s like? Having friends?

-Season 5, Ch.5 Shock Jock

[Steve] Right. Listen, bottom line, end of the day, I… I’d rather have her as a friend than nothing at all. You know, she’s… she’s just really… [Jonathan] Special. [Steve] Yeah. I guess we can agree on one thing.

-Season 5, Ch. 8 The Rightside up

(the abyss will be visited in part 2)

We have finally reached the whole point of this post. This is where it ties together and where I started from originally.

VANILLA

Since it's best to give a run down first because we will be putting pieces of a puzzle. and its weirdly not that much of an effort.

For the first time, after almost a year, Mike and Will have their first intimate moment. Yes, there's a difference between private and intimate.

Totally different from the rink, Totally different from Jonathan's room as they were conversations mostly about El.

This here, is two or actually three storylines at once. we have the Truth, Mike-Will and Will's sexuality (later self-acceptance)

This was now time to pay attention and have a conversation about Will.

Mike hasn't really had time to unpack his emotions, why things were so weird exactly. Mike felt like he had lost Will, and now they should be operating as a team, friends, Best Friends.

After losing Eleven, he now has to reconsider everything that has happened. And now he had to make sure he hasn't completely lost Will. Kind of like how we figured for the tower.

And the exact same thing happened again. And it led him to the trajectory of the painting, that ultimately led him to a lie.

THE MONSTER

Keep in mind, there will be Some repeated lines, to keep the same flow.

*The same way how Crazy = Love , same goes for "it"

If you at some point while watching, noticed something strange between these two conversations and that there had to be something going on, you were most certainly right.

Because the tower convo was incomplete, everyone has had their moments and were much more coherent and straight to the point, While these two are almost left in the air when there's clearly something going on.

It came to the disservice of Will-Mike-Eleven in the end. The same way they always planned for Eleven to die but leave it ambiguous, goes the same way for how Will and Mike would have developed.

So from the start, they weren't going to be on the forefront and their storyline was relegated to the Background. And in part two we will be going further into this aspect as much as I can.

The above image you see, is what i started off with, and I decided to start playing with it and everything started falling into place.

So if anything, I wanted to keep this journey documented.

Where can this lead us next?

"Friends? No thanks. Best Friends"

Robin (V.O)I was looking for answers in someone else, but I had all the answers already. Robin (V.O)I just needed to stop being so damn scared.

But to will

He clocked it And it was time to not be scared anymore.

Will [...]But you make her feel like she's not a mistake at all. Like she's better for being different. And that gives her the courage to fight on.

-Season 4, Ch. 8 Papa