#he's so pretty...

Piety

the way will is being shot this season makes me feel so strongly that he will have a kiss scene. an intense one. cinematography is always something that gives me clues long before narrative analysis. everything about this shot is sensual, from the goosebumps on his neck to the texture of his skin, the strong line of his jaw silhouetted against the backdrop, the line of his nose. it screams LOOK AT HIS FACE! but its a side shot, so it's not just about seeing emotion in his eyes, because only one is visible, and hes not looking anywhere near the camera. they're asking you to observe will here. to look at him, as an object as well as a subject of the camera. theyre drawing attention to his growth and maturity physically, which theyre also doing with his hair design and styling. i will not at all be surprised if we get a sensual sexual scene with will, either solo or with mike, where the duffers ask the audience to finally, finally stop seeing will as a child - and ask will, too, to finally see himself as young man who is allowed to grow up.

This is what I mean when I say love interest, protagonist glow-up!! Noah has been given it!! Willlllllll is being framed very differently. I would say, he's been framed differently ever since the shift as seen in the van scene. It's like. That was the spark.

The conversation and veiled confession in the van being Will's emotional purging, almost him giving up his feelings, though still carrying them for Mike, but ripping off that bandaid he in that moment in time believes is the big purge, he can give his love confession and hide deeper behind someone else, but he still gave it. And that - that is the catalyst for Mike's own awakening - to see Will in the light of love. Might not be happening in that exact moment, but "it will pay off in the end," as it has been said.

Bathe Will in golden light. And do the same in the ending shots in the cabin nearest the end of season 4. Will being framed in light - foreshadowing. Highlighting what's to happen. We see him differently in both of these scenes. A boy bathed in light. The potential object of love. It's very romantic, to be lit these ways...

The focus. The close ups. Desirable. Attractive. Drawn to look at him and contemplate him and consider him. We know he is a boy in love so we are to think of him being in love and being loved back - a love interest. Grown. Absolutely agree with everything you are saying...