#goblinballparallel

(WARNING: this might contain stranger things 5 spoilers?? That or just have conspiracy brainrot. This is going to be pretty long, so if start to lose interest, i recommend skipping to the part about the potential snowball parallel. It's the best part of the theory, and i low-key believe it)

I might have figured out why this poster was in Mike's room:

If you've been following the Stranger Things film club, you'll know that the writers take A LOT of inspiration from other movies. Sometimes they even straight up recreate entire scenes, especially if the offending movie is from the 80's (because then it's a reference).

I think that Mike's MC Escher poster foreshadows some HUGE Labyrinth parallels going down in s5

and not the good Labyrinth either, Pan's Labyrinth<3.

no no no, the one from 1986 with the creepy puppets 👍

Puppets and DAVID BOWIE.

Bowie's iconic Fushigi ba--I MEAN "Crystal" ball--is suspiciously reminiscent of that MC Escher poster hanging in Mike's room.

Not only that, but guess who ELSE has an MC Escher poster hanging in her room? None other than Labyrinth's protagonist, Sarah.

Either way though, David Bowie being in an 80's movie is what originally caught my eye. Just based off of that, I knew in my heart of hearts that this movie would be important going into season 5.

And oh how right i was (allegedly)

meme: @howtobecomeadragon

I believe that Labyrinth is to Mike, what the NeverEnding Story is to Will.

I'm going to start this off with the symbolic and narrative similarities between Mike and Sarah, the film's protagonist. I think there's a good chance that Mike's character arc intentionally parallels Sarah's from The Labyrinth.

However by the end, Mike's arc will be HER arc's antithesis.

INTRO

The film opens with Sarah theatrically reciting from a play called "The Labyrinth"

The line which Sarah forgets ("you have no power over me"), ultimately sets up what she has to remember during the film's climax. ("it was a 7?" haha idk)

Their character introductions are already similar, as Mike also presents a story (his D&D campaign) during the opening of Stranger Things.

Like the first D&D campaign, the play is also framed as a fictional story, and theatrically presented to the audience via a nerdy protagonist.

In both cases, these fantasy stories will actually become real.

Just like in The Labyrinth, I think Mike's opening campaign also foreshadows real events that will happen in the final season.

meaning The Labyrinth is potentially the third in a pattern:

in the beginning,

D&D is just game

The Labyrinth is just a play

The Never Ending Story is just a book.

Yet by the end, each of these "stories" will end up manifesting into reality.

but this could just be a coincidence, so next lets examine some shared themes.

The "Growing Up" Arc

When Sarah recites from the play, she dresses up in cosplay, similar to how Will did in s3:

Like Will, this action is supposed to communicate Sarah's internal conflict about growing up. It shows that she clings on to her childhood by immersing herself into the word of fantasy.

from the stranger things "bible"

Just like Will and Mike, Sarah's escape into fantasy is a key aspect of her character:

which leads me to my next point:

MIKE VS SARAH

Sarah is Mike's foil, and her fatal flaw is in direct opposition to his.

While Mike tries to "grow up" throughout s3, Sarah's flaw is that she she refuses to "grow up" by desperately clinging on to her childhood.

For both of them, this internal struggle is represented symbolically through the use of TOYS and a TEDDY BEAR.

TOY SYMBOLISM

(This went over 30 images, meaning i had to make this section a separate post)

read the Labyrinth/Stranger: Toy Symbolism Analysis HERE

Specific Season 5 Predictions:

El parallels Ludo.

Sarah (Mike) was the first person to be Ludo’s (El’s) "friend". Along with this, both Ludo and El can move stuff with their mind.

i don't have much to say about this, except that it would be funny. Both of them have limited vocabulary, and the overall vibes are there (complimentary). I don't know....I would laugh if El ends up referencing this giant puppet somehow in s5. Someone please make it happen.

El or Mike will ALSO parallel Hoggle??

(I doubt the entirety of season 5 is will be an elaborate reference to Labyrinth. I'm more so thinking about possible visual parallels/themes/iconic scenes which could be referenced/recreated. So the fact that Hoggle BETRAYS Sarah, may or may not end up being relevant in s5. who knows)

Mike: this scene?

El: Sarah(Mike) assures Hoggle(El?) that she needs him as a friend throughout Labyrinth. This is also something that Mike was worried about in season 4 of stranger things.

I don't think Mike's literally "needs" people to "need" him. I just think he's worried about El not "needing" him (as a friend) if he breaks up with her. Why? because MIKE needs EL!

This is how the labyrinth ends: The characters from Sarah's fantasy reappear, and Sarah(Mike) admits that she NEEDS Hoggle(El?). If this scene is paralleled in season 5, it would address Mike's fear about El not "needing" him anymore.

I swear to god if THIS was why Mike specifically used the word "need" throughout season 4, i'm gonna lose it.

Imagine the writers were just setting up a parallel to this for s5.

Goblin Ball and Snowball Parallel

i'm actually SO convinced about this one. WAAAY too much of what was introduced in season 4 creates the perfect opportunity for this iconic 80s movie reference/parallel to happen. I wouldn't be surprised if this scene is recreated in season 5.

in blue i'll list out the things that happened in s4 which could have been set up with this parallel in mind for season 5.

like an idiot, Sarah chomps down on some poisoned fruit which probably represents her succumbing to "sin" or some shit. Doing so causes her to forget everything, including her mission, and traps her in an oubliette (a pit where things are trapped and forgotten)

Season 4 set up memory shenanigans: As a firm believer in Birthdaygate, i know that altered memories/forgetting stuff will most likely be happening in season 5. If Sarah=Mike, than i guess this means he will fall victim to said shenanigans/wacky antics leading up to this parallel.

What follows is an acid-trip/odd seduction/memory loss sequence where she is mentally transported into her deepest fantasy, AKA an extravagant ball/dance:

season 4 introduced Vecna, who conveniently has the power to transport people into their memories. Not only that, but THE SNOWBALL is a setting he has already sent people into. This is probably going to manifest as prom in season 5.

At this ball, Sarah's hidden desire for Jareth is revealed.

Season 4 literally set up a villain who has the power to reveal hidden desires/truths. The writers NOT utilizing this on a character like Mike, a closeted dude from the 80s, is pretty much out of the question imo.

Sarah's sudden sexual awakening at the ball is conveyed via subtle innuendo's in the background.

the idea of subtle innuendos in the background vaguely hinting at Mike's sexuality?? VERY Stranger Things coded if you ask me. Remember that there will probably be a time jump so this type of thing will probably come up because the topic is SEXUALITY. It's NORMAL and not inherently taboo, pls don't be a christian puritan and try to come for me for pointing this out. Especially because i randomly noticed THIS while watching labyrinth:

(DON'T SHOOT THE MESSENGER, BLAME THE WRITERS. I could be wrong, but if not...what the actual hell? that's hilarious)

Sarah's sudden attraction to Jareth is communicated ENTIRELY through longing stares, as she searches for him through crowd.

Sarah finally catches up with Jareth, and they start dancing together. However, she notices that the people in the crowd keep looking at them. Sarah grows more and more uncomfortable by their judgmental stares, until eventually they all surround her and start laughing.

This pretty much speaks for itself. In the prom illusion, Mike is going to start dancing with Will, and homophobic 80's bullies will laugh at him.

Sarah is broken out the the spell WHEN SHE'S JUMP SCARED BY THE SUDDEN APPEARANCE OF A CLOCK

In season 4, the writers suddenly introduced this concept: visions of a grandfather clock. VERY SUSPICIOUS if you ask me. If Mike= Sarah, then that means Mike will realize that he's about to get Vecna'd while he's trapped in the fake snowball/prom illusion.

throughout all of this, the song "As The World Falls Down" by David Bowie is playing, which pairs PERFECTLY with the song "Heroes", narratively speaking.

("and we kiss as though nothing could fall"- Heroes).

MARK MY GODDAMN WORDS both of these songs are going to play! These bitches are SO gonna be trapped in the upside-down while its collapsing in on itself (falling down).

here's a video of this to help you visualize the idea ;)

Mike's Cliff Scene Could Parallel Labyrinth's Climax (MC Escher's Relativity)

(THIS IS THE IDEA I GOT THE MOST EXCITED ABOUT. If any of the writers are lurking, i give you FULL permission to steal this idea. idgaf. PLEASEEE DO IT, i wont be able to prove it. Flickergate too while your at it, just make it happen.)

Remember those MC Escher posters I mentioned in the beginning? The one that i just wrote this ridiculously long theory based off of? (this post is only part ONE of at least 3 or 4)

Well, the one hanging in Sarah's room is "Relativity"

and it foreshadows the setting of the story's climax.

(it's gonna be the biggest stretch in the universe, so don't get your hopes up)

Edit:

part two here!

part 3 (here)