SunnyflowerArty

Byler is probably one of the saddest examples of a lost potential in writing a great love story with queer joy. Instead it feels like we got queerbaited for the million time.

This has made me wanna make a YouTube video going through all 5 seasons of Stranger things with a Byler perspective, analyzing what story is being presented no matter the intentions.

We will take a look at Mike's queerness and how the earlier seasons supports this whether they wanted to or not.

Will's crush on Mike and when it becomes visible. The tension we see in season 4 but also in season 3.

What exactly went wrong in season 5 and was it hopeless from the start.

Also I wanna focus on parallels between Byler and Canon couples and how Byler's friendship even differs from other friendships in the party.

But there is something special about Will being jealous of the way Mike is fawning over Eddie, the puppy crush is so strong and Will hates it.

Will's stare is burning holes in Eddie's head and he doesn't understand why mini Byers seems to hate him.

They would rather die to save everyone else.

Look at dead girl walking reprise "no else deserves to die, except for me and the monster I created" and little Mike Wheeler jumping off a cliff or trying to save people doing all 5 seasons.

I don't See Mike becoming part of the heathers just to be noticed by other people but I do see him sing "fight for me" when he saw Will get his powers

What if instead of kidnapping children and introducing so many new characters Mike was the Wheeler sibling that goes missing and the date is November 6 1987.

Will goes out of his own skin trying to be the leader, since Mike is gone but you can slowly see that he is losing himself the more time goes by and none of his plans are working.

The heart is missing and it's noticeable yet Mike himself thinks it's better it was him who got taken. The party ends up fighting and Will screams "I'm the only one acting normal! None of you care a lot about Mike!"

We don't talk enough about how little Mike Wheeler was ready to not only fight for his friends but also die to protect them.

It's such lost potential to not use this character trait more in season 5.

He would die for them and I wish the story had focused on Mike learning that he doesn't have to protect people by getting hurt because as Will says they need him, he is the heart.

I truly believe one of the reasons he is so ready to sacrifice himself is due to his love for his friends and also his self hatred. Mike thinks the world is a better place without him so if he can trade his life for others he would.

Meet Vincent who is in love with his straight best friend Louis whom he has just watched getting engaged.

This isn't a story about getting the guy you have pinned for your whole life, (spoiler he hasn't actually been in love with Louis) it's the slow realization, that love comes in many forms and sometimes we internalize the perfect fantasy of love and romance.

The comic is called Wishing I were Melody and is a romance between Vincent a tattoo artist Theodore he mets because of the wedding. (Melody is the bride and Theodore is her cousin)

This story came to me long before I watched stranger things yet I do think Vincent was rooting for Byler and asked his roommate if they could watch the show together.

Then slowly comes to the realization that he has been looking at boys and male actors the way he's 'supposed' to look at girls. So one day he just looks at himself in the bathroom mirror and realizes "I don't like girls"

Then comes the confusion about Will. He finds him pretty and comfortable and oh shit he's in love with his best friend.

All this happened and then one day Mike is with the party before they go fighting Vecna and the mind flayer. They all promises to come out of this alive, they hug and everything.

Mike then looks at everyone of his friends and says. "before we fight a terrifying monster I wanna honest and hope you don't see me any differently." he looks right at Will before he says the next words. "I'm gay."

Mike and Eddie are standing on the tower keeping an eye on things, a couple of days after Mike accidentally witnessed Eddie and Steve kiss.

"You think they would let me handle a crossbow?" Eddie jumps mimicking the way you would hold an old crossbow.

"Absolutely, right after they let my little sister drive a car"

"Flamethrower?"

"You're not Nancy"

"Machine gun? That outta kill thoes motherfuckers"

"In your dreams" Mike laughs and shakes his head. "Will had to save you from the demobats remember, you're not about to be given a deadly weapon"

Eddie throws an arm around Mike's shoulder "what about you smart guy?"

"what?"

"Tell me what weapon you would use to fight"

"A sword obviously"

"You're insane Wheeler"

"Says the guy who almost became a vampire"

"You gotta admit, I would rock the fangs and–"

"If you call yourself hot or appealing to the ladies I will throw you off this tower"

"Awww but the ladies dig scars"

"or Steve does"

Eddie pulled away from Mike and tried to read his expression "I should have known it was you nosy Wheeler."

"So... You're actually..."

"Fucking Steve the hair Harrington?" Eddie turned a little pink.

"Ew! No..." Mike looks away from Eddie "You're dating... Are you actually dating?"

"Oh.. Yeah he's my boyfriend, shocking I know, how did he charm me. Guess Harrington has high charisma"

That made Mike laugh "How did you know he wanted to" Mike said date at the same time Eddie says "make sweet love to me."

"Date you! Everything is not about sex appeal"

"There were moments, signals I suppose you can call it."

Is it gonna be dramatic and in a high stress situation or do I give them a sweet moment were they get to relax.

The high stress situation means it's Will who confessed because Mike is in danger.

In El's letter to Mike doing season 4 she writes

Will is painting a lot, but he won't show me what he's working on. Maybe it is for a girl. I think there is someone he likes, because he has been acting weird.

Why bring attention to Will's romantic feelings in a letter to Mike? It could have been a conversation between El and Jonathan or even Joyce if we the audience is being told Will seems to have feelings for someone.

There is so much attention on Will and Mike being awkward in the airport. I would argue that Mike is acting weird the whole time.

But why did Will bring the painting to the airport? And why does Mike have to ask about it? Unless he remembers the letter he read the day before mentioning Will painting because he has a crush on someone.

It's a strange set up for the van scene later and how they didn't adresse the painting after.

Mike's behavior should have been addressed, I know he says he feels like they lost each other and Hawkins isn't the same without Will. But then wouldn't you jump at the chance to hug your best friend?

"MIKE!"

I'm coming, wait for me

Mike opens his eyes and sees Will but not his Will... No this one is small and covered in rain water.

"it's not my fault you hate yourself!"

"MIKE!"

Then the tiny Will becomes older... It's his Will the water turns to blood and he looks sad.

"You think he'll ever love you? You're disgusting Michael"

"MIKE! Follow my voice!"

I hear the walls repeating

Mike turns away and runs from the fake Will he is running through high grass it's towering over him. He runs and he runs and he run with his heart bounding, he hears the dogs chasing him. They are getting closer and if he stops they will rip him apart if he stops running.

Then he suddenly finds himself in an open field, did he get away? He must have but then he feels a sharp pain in the back of his head. He's shot and now laying in a puddle of his own blood. The taste of iron overpoweres his mouth and everything goes black.

But Mike slowly starts to notice the way Eddie is flirting with Steve and how Steve reciprocates. Does he also see them kiss? Yes but it's not them making out. It's a short kiss as Steve is having a bad migraine.

Mike makes the loudest noise of surprise and quickly hides. He takes a little while to get to terms with the situation, but eventually he tease Eddie about it.

"why don't you just kiss him better?"

"Fuck Wheeler you're the reason he's all jumpy!?"

If only he could remember the name from his dream and not just the hazel eyes looking at him with so much love.