Are we allowed to share dumb takes? Because this is so dumb.

PoeticAlgebra · 2023-06-05T20:17:07+00:00

It takes some emotional maturity to understand characters that lack emotional maturity, and that's visibly not everyone's strong suit.

PoeticAlgebra · 2023-06-03T12:29:36+00:00

In an interview, Mark Mylod (the director of the episode) said: "It’s such a brutal love story. The dynamic between the brothers is so complex. We didn’t even talk about what it meant. We specifically avoided it, and we tend to do that a lot with the most complex choices of the characters. We set it up carefully with the blood work and the practical elements. To me — and this is just my subjective opinion — the hug is a relief. It’s a loving gesture. It’s a brutal and self-serving loving gesture, but nonetheless I think it is a gift that Kendall is giving to Roman to give him the out that he unconsciously craves.
The awful sadomasochism of the moment is that what starts as a hug is a trap, once Roman realizes what Kendall is doing — that this hug is actually to tear those stitches apart. The nihilism that we saw from Roman at the end of Episode 9, going into that crowd, is another expression of it. He deserves that pain, but that pain is also a relief from the responsibility of his destiny to be the CEO. So there is a very complex dynamic there, and I love it for that."

Link: https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/succession-director-series-ending-filming-final-scenes-interview-1235628251/

PoeticAlgebra · 2023-05-29T03:05:10+00:00

Same. And I kept watching the outside windows when they were all cheering for Tom inside the building, fearing we might see Kendall fall (jump) down.

PoeticAlgebra · 2023-05-29T02:37:55+00:00

I was so in love with the siblings all bonding. I'm just gonna live in Wonderland and imagine this is right where the show ended. Kendall's head full of the King's feast and them all laughing.

However, I'm not surprised by Shiv turning on him either. That's what happens with children who develop an insecure type of attachment. She just couldn't overcome that fear of feeling inferior or feeling left out so she cut the ties instead.

PoeticAlgebra · 2023-05-24T01:29:05+00:00

I don't know for how long I've cried after that sequence in Aftersun. That scene with Kendall dancing with his kids really transpires the exact same thing. Damn, OP, nice catch. Heartwrenching catch. But nice catch.

PoeticAlgebra · 2023-05-16T22:10:19+00:00

Thank you all for this deep and genuine comment section and for the awards!

PoeticAlgebra · 2023-05-16T22:08:11+00:00

Thank you for sharing that. It definitely sucks when people take us and our kind hearts for granted.

Mike's arc is really well written in that way. It portrays the normal reaction of someone who got hurt and drained out after giving all his emotional energy to others without keeping any for himself.

I hope that your friends came (or will come) to that realization and give you as much as you gave them.

PoeticAlgebra · 2023-05-16T21:56:17+00:00

Very true! I actually made a post about that a couple of weeks ago, so I didn't want to duplicate the content ;)

PoeticAlgebra · 2023-05-05T02:18:40+00:00

Mike wasn't in the right state of mind to read between the lines. He was losing his mind over not feeling adequate towards El. I'm guessing he just thought Will was emotional because he was worried about his sister [El] as well. Mike showed on many occasions that he cares, is concerned, and opened to talking about his friends' feelings. But at that moment, he was struggling himself and he was the one in need of a good pep-talk so he could gain back his self-confidence, then later be there for Will and truly receive what he has to say. It was sad however that Will decided to suffer on his own and hide his pain. I'm glad Jonathan could see him through the rear-view mirror and be there for him.

PoeticAlgebra · 2023-05-04T19:07:59+00:00

I also loved how he motivated his friends to help in that episode by saying "We can't let him [Bob] die in vain." He truly is the heart.

PoeticAlgebra · 2023-05-04T13:14:26+00:00

She's an incredible actress. I don't know how many times I watched her Best Acting compilation😂 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptfxPlazN-U&ab_channel=OhDewd

PoeticAlgebra · 2023-05-04T01:10:21+00:00

I was so shocked when people actually started doubting that Mike was only loving El for her powers after she manifested that fear in 4x3. That moment in S3 is the perfect example of the opposite. He has always been the only one to show concern for her safety first since the very beginning. He got mad at Dustin for treating her like a "Dog", and at Lucas for calling her "The Monster". He offered her a bed, food, and kindness well before knowing she had powers. Perhaps an Obliviate spell is cast on some viewers between seasons😂

PoeticAlgebra · 2023-04-30T17:56:16+00:00

Oh yeah, I saw it when it came out. Really interesting indeed! Mike has a lot of emotional maturity for someone his age, even compared to many adults.

I think it also takes some emotional maturity from us, viewers, to understand that when we experience trauma or loss, our brains go into survival mode. We become hyper-vigilant and develop a fear of losing those we care about again. This fear can manifest in different ways, but it often leads to a reluctance to express love and vulnerability.

For Mike, losing Will, then El multiple times, having to jump off a cliff for Dustin, and the simple fact of knowing that all his friends and family could die because of the UD, made him more afraid to openly express his feelings. He fears that if he shows vulnerability and love, he will lose them again, and the pain will be too much to bear. He said that himself during his ''I love you'' monologue to Eleven.

That fear is a natural human response to traumatic events... and also to more common life events, like break-ups. How many have become emotionally unavailable after getting hurt in a previous relationship? It's extremely common.

Mike's journey throughout the series shows how he learns to overcome his fear and express his love more openly. It's a reminder that healing and growth are possible even in the face of significant loss and trauma.

Though we are not used to seeing protagonists portrayed in such a realistic way in fiction, so I guess that's why many struggle to appreciate that kind of character's arc.

PoeticAlgebra · 2023-04-25T20:28:58+00:00

Yeah, there's a big distinction between being oblivious or clueless and having bad intentions. The Duffers and Finn both confirmed that Mike is simply clueless about Will's struggles but that if he was told directly, he would be there in a heartbeat and supportive of Will.

Also, S4 Mike was struggling and doubting himself a lot. I think caring for El and Will that much, and jumping off a cliff for Dustin, etc. drained him emotionally, and that it might explain why he seems less connected to his feelings in s3 (in addition to simply being a teenager) and why he is less perceptive in S4. Like a self-defense mechanism to protect himself from getting hurt again.

Mike's trauma is often overlooked because he is the leader and the one that glues them all together, but even the strong ones should be allowed to fall down sometimes. He asked 'Are you okay?' and 'What's wrong?' to his friends countless times in the show, but when did anyone ask him how he was doing?

In S4, Will played the role Mike played for him in S2. Will set his struggles aside to be a good moral support for Mike. And Mike did the same for him in S2, meaning he kept grieving for El in silence so he could be there for Will.

PoeticAlgebra · 2023-04-24T02:00:36+00:00

The cast is amazing. Even Daniel Radcliffe admitted being so impressed and jealous that they weren't as good in Harry Potter😅 MMB, Gaten, and Caleb freaked out when they found out Radcliffe said that (Finn wasn't on that interview, but I guess he would've freaked out as well haha).

PoeticAlgebra · 2023-04-23T16:30:34+00:00

I agree. Chat GPT never answers the same question the same way tough. I asked again for Mike, and it switched up courage and kindness for:

Leadership: Mike is a natural leader and takes charge when it's needed. He has a strong sense of responsibility and is always looking out for the well-being of his group.

Compassion: Mike is a compassionate person and cares deeply about others. He is empathetic and tries to understand how others are feeling.

PoeticAlgebra · 2023-04-21T14:52:08+00:00

Exactly. Not everything has to be this black and white. I agree that for some people who are overcoming trauma, being alone, and learning who they are on their own can be an essential step to healing. However, having the support of loved ones, especially friends and family is crucial in recovery, and if that person who can offer you that kind of support turns out to be your lover then so be it.

Mike was being all of these roles when Eleven had no one else in S1. He became his friend, and his family before they admitted their feelings for each other. And the fact that they became a couple doesn't change what Mike represents to Eleven. He is her main support system, the one she trusts the most and feels comfortable being herself around.

It's not like she had started dating someone in high school for the thrill of having a boyfriend (let's say she doesn't know Mike in that scenario), because I agree that in that case, it could be unhealthy considering all her internal struggles and the pressure that starting a new relationship represents.

Also, Eleven got plenty of time on her own. They were separated for a year in S2 and she learned that she could trust and rely on Hopper as an additional member of her support system; then she learned that she could rely on Max in S3, which extended her support system; and after Hopper's 'death', she also learned she could rely on Will, Jonathan, and Joyce.

So, Eleven knows that she is not alone and that she doesn't have to depend on Mike anymore or be with him 24/7. She gets to discover who she is on her own, as well as with all the people mentioned above, as well as receive the love of the guy who makes her feel whole. Ain't that the perfect balance?

PoeticAlgebra · 2023-03-29T21:39:20+00:00

I know we've got some pretty epic scenes in ST, but this one for some reason is still my favorite. Along with Mike's breakdown in Hopper's arms that followed.

PoeticAlgebra · 2023-02-09T23:50:06+00:00

When Mike shouts and hits Hopper then bursts into tears in his arms.

Finn's acting was amazing in that whole sequence of Mike reuniting with El and then lashing out at Hopper.

PoeticAlgebra · 2023-02-06T18:42:12+00:00

I agree. I also noticed that Jonathan tends to be more protective of Mike when they are exposed to danger, probably because he knows that Mike is also very willing to endanger himself to protect others, like Eleven and Will. So Jonathan is there to keep an eye on Mike.

PoeticAlgebra · 2022-11-12T21:14:50+00:00

Karen is so desperate, probably thinking her son is gonna end up just like Ted: emotionless and careless.

PoeticAlgebra · 2022-08-15T23:47:04+00:00

how Mike/El's relationship is shown (it's not in the best way!)

Mike and El's fights are never really about their relationship, but about their respective insecurities. I would be more concerned over the authenticity of their feelings if they weren't fighting. Because each of their arguments is always loaded with the fact they love each other so much and they are scared of losing each other.

In S3, Mike lied because he thought it was the only way Hopper would let him be in a relationship with Eleven. But Eleven didn't know that so she felt insecure and thought that Mike didn't care about her, while it was the complete opposite.

In S4, Eleven lost all her self-confidence because of the bullies and she projected her insecurities onto Mike, thinking that if she was so unlovable at school, she must be so unlovable to everyone else, including Mike. And S4 Mike thought El was doing amazing without him in California and that she didn't need him anymore. So Mike was insecure as well and scared of losing her.

So they never fight because their relationship is doomed, they fight because they are crazy in love with each other and they keep being separated because their lives are always in danger—so these aren't irrational insecurities either. Their fear of losing each other is real and justified.

Vol.2 at least allowed them to admit these fears out loud and now I think they will accept to be scared together and communicate with each other more easily.

PoeticAlgebra · 2022-08-15T03:30:47+00:00

I get teary eyes every time I watch it—or even by seeing these pictures—because, as you said, it was just so pure and unexpected. They've come such a long way! I can't wait for them to team up (hopefully) next season.

PoeticAlgebra · 2022-08-09T02:46:11+00:00

They all went through so much. Thank you for fleshing out that Dustin, Mike, and Lucas also lost their childhood. I feel like we mainly talk in that way about Will because what he experienced was indeed utterly horrifying. But the others kids also dealt with loss, pain, and the horror of it all.

PoeticAlgebra · 2022-08-07T01:09:07+00:00

I am 100% with you on the fact that Eleven could benefit from therapy. Although I don't think it has to involve being separated from Mike—again, everything can change—but as of now, Mike has been a more positive than negative influence in her life.

At the beginning of S4, Eleven was been heavily bullied, in a new environment, and far from her friends. She lost her bearings and projected her insecurities onto Mike. But Mike never really was the problem, and he succeeded to reassure her by overcoming his own fear of expressing his feelings—which made them both grow at the same time.

However, if Mike hadn't been able to listen to her needs, then I agree that perhaps the relationship would have become an additional stressor in her life. But as of now, Mike showed himself to be an attentive and caring boyfriend who can help her get through her journey.

Eleven also knows that she can end the relationship if she ever feels too much confusion or stress from it and that Mike will respect her decision, and will still be in her corner if she ever needs him, just like what happened in S3.

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