#compelling.

I think the name "Dad" belongs to Willis for Jason. It's ok to have that be something that already is "taken". And that's not a comment on good/bad/tries/b+ parent Willis; it's just undeniable that that is and was Jason's dad too. And I don't think either of them would try to deny that. I think about how in Dick's custody case, Bruce emphasizes being there for Dick and not trying to replace the parents he had.

Most important, I think it's really special that Jason calls Bruce "Bruce". Maybe I'm biased because my mom has called her father by first name her whole life. That's already a normal thing to do with a parent even if it's less common. And it can be a special thing, to share that first name.

Some of my favorite scenes in Jason's Robin run have him calling Bruce "Bruce"! TEC #574 and #569 (both by Mike W. Barr) have Jason call him "Bruce" in moments of great distress. Not Batman or even one of their nicknames (Jason calling him "champ" my beloved). Including when in uniform! And I know in Hush, Bruce's strong feeling is Jason would have been calling him "Bruce" because that is his name to him.

I don't like having traditional, conventional terms become a stepladder. Calling Bruce "Bruce" should not be step 1 and then when they're close enough, he'll switch to "Dad". It disregards the complexity of their relationship and the real closeness that exists.

Also, their relationship is allowed to be different than a "traditional" father-son relationship. That doesn't make Bruce not Jason's dad.

Oscar “no pda allowed” piastri striking again with the little step Back when Lando comes into his space

I still sometimes like to look at explorations of them not getting together or growing apart because I like angst and hurt/comfort but you’ve brought me back and it’s honestly way more fun :)

ahhhh, thank you! that makes me so happy tht i was able to bring you back hehe. :')

season three was whiplash for A LOT of people, myself included. i remember my outrage had always been rooted in a sense of confusion, because if you're just watching the show in a superficial manner like most casual viewers do, then it's so easy to just write it off as a really weird, jarring, and out of character narrative decision that came out of nowhere and way too late in the game. it doesn't help at all that they're all extremely tight-lipped about the plots in the show, including obvious ones like will's sexuality, and that season three was more show than tell unlike previous seasons.

it's only when you pause and start to actually consider and take in everything as a whole that you go "oh, okay. i get it now." and those interpretations are much more cohesive with the heart of stranger things and the journeys and beliefs of all of these characters involved than "oh they suddenly made mike a jackass and removed all depth and don't give a single shit about him or will and el anymore lol."

and that's not even going into how that lazy idea ignores things like basic storytelling, set design, costuming, cinematography, the soundtrack, editing, things that the duffers themselves have said, and more.