#playgate

Part One: The Missing Puzzle Piece

*#ConformityGate Compliant*

**Heads up that if you notice changes, it's because I'm polishing/updating things as they come to me!**

PART 2 HERE | PART 3 HERE | PART 4 HERE | PART 4.5 HERE | PART 5 HERE | PART 6 HERE | PART 7 HERE | PART 8 HERE | PART 9 HERE | PART 10 HERE | PART 11 HERE | PART 12 HERE | PART 13 HERE | PART 14 HERE | PART 15 HERE | PART 16 HERE | PART 17 HERE | PART 18 HERE | PART 19 HERE | PART 20 HERE PART 21 HERE | PART 22 HERE | PART 23 HERE | PART 24 HERE PART 25 HERE | PART 26 HERE | PART 27 HERE | PART 28 HERE PART 29 HERE | PART 30 HERE | PART 31 HERE | PART 32 HERE PART ♾️ HERE | PART 🤫 HERE | PART ❤️👬 HERE PART 🎶🏝️ HERE | PART 🏡 HERE

OTHER THEORIES

**PUZZLEGATE: NETFLIX PUZZLED THEORIES MASTERPOST** **ASTROLOGY OF FEB. 17th HERE** [lol you can appreciate the storytelling but obv that theory didn't pan out] Happily Ever After Theory HERE The Thing Theory | The Original vs the Remake: Pt 1 | Pt 2

This is a BIG "hear me out" theory (then again, so was #conformitygate, and here we all are), but this is something so crazy it woke me up at the crack ass of dawn back on December 3rd.

Except as time has gone on, the evidence has been piling up in subtle ways I just need to get off my chest because I don't think these are just coincidences anymore.

People have grown to know and love Patty Newby in The First Shadow*, just as Henry Creel did. We've also seen undeniable Creelby/Byler parallels (check @miwiheroes' awesome analysis here).

*The prequel play was written by ST writer and Co-EP Kate Tefry; story by the Duffer Brothers, Jack Thorne, and Tefry.

While I largely agree, what if like so many fakeouts/distorted details we've been noticing this season, "Patty" was created as one more *red* herring to protect an even bigger twist that's been foreshadowed since Season Two, and has slowly been creeping its way back into the story in S5?

What if the truth is that Henry's true love is someone who would not only genuinely surprise the audience, but whose reveal would completely change the way we view the show?

This season there's been a huge focus on puzzles, both within the show and in Netflix's promotion of ST5.

We've been asked by the story (and the show's creators) to look for the missing piece.

While I definitely believe Byler, Mike's unacknowledged queerness, and #birthdaygate are part of the puzzle (more on that later), there is a piece that's been there the whole time that we've been missing.

And that puzzle piece is the show's established master of puzzles...

...Bob "The Brain" Newby.

Before S5 dropped, the Duffer Brothers recommended we rewatch episodes from S2 and S4. Season 2 specifically because, per Matt Duffer:

Who was introduced in S2? Bob.

Now, I loved Bob as a character, but his introduction as Joyce's BF always seemed... kind of off to me? He was sweet, smart, but... normal. Unassuming. Not to mention Joyce never really seemed all that into their relationship.

Later, he'd try to help Will rid himself of his demons (to disastrous results), would crack the mystery of the tunnels, support Joyce through Will's possession by the MF, and finally, nobly sacrifice himself for Joyce and the others.

Immortalized as Bob Newby: Superhero.

And it seemed like that was that for Bob.

Except now, in S5, there've been details creeping into the season that have made me fondly think of him...

In Vol. 1/"Sorcerer", we see Mike trying to guide the kids to safety by getting to Radio Shack... which is where Bob used to work.

In Vol. 2, Dustin and Steve searched for "treasure" in the "dungeons" of Hawkins Lab....

Only to end up in the Rainbow Room, where Dustin and Steve find not treasure, but toys...

Including a Rubik's Cube that quickly gets dismissed as a --

But if it's such a piece of shit, why is there this lingering shot on the Rubik's Cube? Why did the Duffers post Dustin's Rubik’s Cube line on Day 1 of filming S5?

Well -- who do we recall being particularly skilled at brain teasers like Rubik's cubes?

Who else in the fandom is fondly remembered, but easily dismissed?

And then there was this last Easter egg, in what I'm calling the #fakeepilogue, that left me shook:

What's that, Lucas?

How about one more?

Sleeping with BOB???

And another one --

When did we hear something similar???

Bob Newby, once again at the scene of the crime...

And I think it's safe to say that not only have we found the X, but Bob is the X. The key to unlocking this whole thing.

Given Patty's name is on the poster for Joyce’s play in "Sorcerer", she's definitely part of the show's canon.

But is Patty actually who we think she is? Or is she, in the way Vecna's changed details in Holly's (and likely Mike's) memories, just another distortion within Vecna's own memories?

What if the person Henry fell for (and lost) in The First Shadow wasn't actually Patty at all?

What if Henry's great love was... Bob Newby?

And if so, what does their possibly failed love say about the outcome for Mike and Will?

yet this one was a collective, mass realization that something was WRONG.

it's taken me years to pick up on all the easter eggs and details throughout the show. for example, i was watching s2 ep3 last week and noticed that, when will finds dart in the bathroom stall, there's a scratching on the stall next to will that says "EVIL", directly foreshadowing his possession. never noticed that until now! it was so cool!

yet IMMEDIATELY we notice all of these very obvious errors, changes, plot holes, dialogue choices, etc. when it comes to the finale.

we're not reading too much into it-- we're just reading it as it was presented to us. that's why i really do find some merit behind the theory, regardless of what the duffers or netflix or joe keery have to say about it.

I’ve got the feeling they’re gonna release The First Shadow before Vol. 4.

It was posted and pinned today.

“Go back to where it all began.”

He tried to run to him here. He was the first to get to him but he still was the furthest away when he sat next to him. You can see his hand going towards Will's arm, but he immediately brings it away. It's as if he wanted to put his hand there but something stopped him.

He was so worried for Will. He even chose to stay with him while the other characters were doing other things related to the plan. He seemed like he was about to go over to him, or to say something. He couldn't though, for some reason. All he could do was stare as Will was laying there on the couch.

He saw Will left behind. He was being attentive to him like always. He was caring about him and once again worried for him. He turned around as if he would stay with him, but didn't. He reached his hand out to touch his arm, but it didn't actually reach him.

He never even touched him at all in volume 2, which is strange, especially for Mike who'd always show some sort of affection towards Will in that way, especially when worried. He kept trying to, but never actually did.

Like in season 2, Will is literally in a Vecna trance and somehow Mike's hand on his shoulder alone can break him out of it.

Even Mike's words can get him out of the mindflayer's possession. All he has to do is say something heartfelt to Will and the mindflayer no longer has the control.

The second Mike leaves Will's side and stops caring about him is when the mindflayer gets to him. If Mike talked to Will or came close enough to him or even showed any signs of having love for him, the mindflayer would have no power over Will.

Mike had attempted multiple times to be close to Will and take care of him after volume 1, but each time, he failed. The mindflayer wouldn't let him get that close, because it would ruin Vecna's plan. (This also makes sense with what happens in The First Shadow, where Henry couldn't touch Patty at all because it would take away the control from the mindflayer).

Potentially though, Mike actually did have moments with Will, but they were erased from his mind immediately after so that the mindflayer can stay in control (if you want to know more about my theory on that). If Will figures this out, he could break the possession.

Another thing to add is that it was mainly after November 6th that Mike couldn't touch him anymore. On November 5th, he tried a little harder, with "come back to us Will" which I always found weird how that line was delivered, as if he was being stopped from doing more. It felt almost like it was his inner monologue talking.

After November 6th, it seemed like he kind of stopped trying. He had no power to be able to go near Will anymore. This goes along with playgate where Vecna is controlling everyone like puppets.

It looked so artificial, right like a theatre, yes?

a theatre.

A FUCKING THEATRE!!!!!!!!!!

Quoting Dustin: MOTHER OF GOD!!!!!!

It was on my damn nose!!! I thought that it looked like a theatre multiple times, but only now wording it in my comments I GOT IT 😭😭😭😭😭😭

When Jonathan and Argyle are high and making jokes about blips, doing it along to the stoner music

They end up making a stereotypical clown/circus type melody.

Which of course contrasts with the seriousness of the events and with the tone of the sober ones in the car, so it’s a funny moment.

But also.

That’s still March 22.

Will’s Birthday (?)

And clowns ?

And ALSO when they get home, Murray is playing opera music.

Something something this is all a performance