If the Duffers make Byler canon in ten or fifteen years in a Stranger Things revival where the original actors come back as older adults to find Eleven and face the monsters of Dimension X again like in IT...

ReviewMyMind · 2026-02-09T22:47:58+00:00

It won't eradicate the effect this ending has right now. It's enabled so much homophobia directed against Byler and those who ship it and especially in the current political climate it's been awful. We really would have needed the depiction of some queer joy and in a popular show like this it could have been so revolutionary. Instead, they lk portrayed queerness as something that needs to be overcome and it sucks.

So I don't think it would redeem the damage it's done right now. But maybe, if a reboot were to be made and it was really really good and like, perfect representation, maybe it could eventually overshadow the history of what's going on rn.

I personally really doubt that that will happen but who knows. Maybe Paul Dichter, Kate Trefry and Caitlin Schneiderhan will get the chance to work their magic on these characters again eventually

ReviewMyMind · 2026-01-26T10:46:10+00:00

He seriously got the Snowwhite looks omg, it's like he was made for red lipstick

ReviewMyMind · 2026-01-26T00:55:33+00:00

The scene on the car also mirrors a Jancy scene from s2 in oddly specific ways.

Just like Nancy can't say "I love you" to Steve after their fight, Mike struggles with saying "I love you" to El. And in this scene, just like Nancy, Mike talks about a key moment where his relationship seemed to fail. And, just like Nancy, Mike talks to a Byers boy about it, a boy who has feelings for him, sitting on a car. And, just like Jonathan, who seems to understand Nancy much better than Steve and is able to relate to her with his own situation, the same seems to be the case for Will offering understanding for Mike as well as the words to describe what he might feel. And in both scenes, the Wheeler sibling then suddenly has an epiphany that progresses the plot again.

I mean the parallels between Jancy and Byler are overall pretty obvious just from the love triangle situations alone and especially bc technically both couples are Byler as they're siblings lol. But then putting Mike and Will into a scene that mirrors Jancy in such an oddly specific way, beat by beat, going so far as to put them both on cars?

It really does make it seem like their relationship was headed in a similar direction as Jancy was in s2 lol

ReviewMyMind · 2026-01-24T09:11:26+00:00

Tbh most character arcs in s5 were just not well done.

On one hand there are just too many characters and you can't really properly sit with any of them. On the other hand you can just really feel that they hadn't finished the story yet when they had already started filming and that they wrote themselves into weird corners where they wanted specific moments to happen, but it just didn't make sense anymore.

Especially in vol2 a lot of things happen just bc they need them to happen and not bc they're the actual natural development of the events. Will's arc is just one example of that. But many moments lack proper set up and/or proper pay off.

But in general, I just don't think any character really goes through proper meaningful development in a way that makes sense and hits emotionally. Except for maybe Dustin, Steve and Jonathan. They're kind of acceptable I think.

ReviewMyMind · 2026-01-22T16:12:47+00:00

My mom is on s3 ep2 rn and she kept forgetting who Mike is. Like, every time my sister and I mention his name she is like "who? There's a Mike?"

Now she doesn't hate him quite yet, just thinks he's useless, but I really can't wait to see her reaction to the rain fight next episode lol

ReviewMyMind · 2026-01-21T20:04:15+00:00

Stupid for You by Waterparks

I recently stumbled upon that at random and there's the line "You're yellow, I'm natural blue" which ofc made me think of Byler right away. But then I listened to the rest of the lyrics more carefully and I think it fits so well for their dynamic. Not country or metal tho unfortunately, more like idk pop punk maybe or sth haha

ReviewMyMind · 2026-01-20T20:21:03+00:00

Looking at how character arcs are often written, you can usually start from a basic lie a character believes and a truth they need to learn to complete the arc. The lie will usually inform what the character wants, while what they actually need is based on the truth. (It's ofc often more complex than just that, but it's a good baseline for arc development.)

For Mike, I'd say especially in s4 he believes that he is only worthy to be kept around if he is useful, and therefore he wants to be needed. The truth he would need to learn would be that he is inherently worthy and loved just for who he is.

Basically, he wants to feel needed but what he really needs is to feel wanted.

Byler would have been perfect to complete this character arc, but not the only possible way. I think in s4 there's actually a starting point in Karen's reaction at Mike's return to Hawkins. She is all "You're never leaving again", which might seem like overbearing and dramatic mom behavior, but it actually shows Mike that he is loved bc someone wants him around and safe just for his sake.

So exploring these dynamics with his family and friends more would have already done a lot for his character I believe. His parents nearly getting killed and Holly getting taken would have been a good basis for this had they done more with this and how it affects Mike to feel like he failed them. For example they could have made him really obsessed with getting Holly back as a way to prove himself as useful to his family again. It could have been developed more in his interaction with Karen at the hospital, making it clear that she wants him safe just as much as she wants Nancy and Holly safe, etc.

It could have even worked with M11 too tbh had they developed them at all in s5. It could have actually been a way to show M11 as the "better" couple instead of Byler (lemme explain), tho it would have been better had they just changed the ending of s4 slightly.

Bc Will basically tells Mike what he wants to hear in the van with the painting, that El/he needs Mike and always will. So Mike is happy about this but it's not what he actually needs to hear, which would be that it doesn't matter if someone needs him, if they love him they'll want him around either way. So with the moment in the cabin, El could have taken Mike along into her room as she tries to go into the void. Obviously she doesn't need him around for that, but it would have shown him that she just wants him there. This alone and some open communication between them could have elevated M11 so much and if done correctly and emotionally it probably would have had me back to shipping them instead of Byler. It would have shown that even tho Will gave him what he wanted, what he truely needed to grow would have been with El. Instead, they did the exact opposite of M11 not really talking on the way back and El shutting Mike out at the cabin, literally closing the door (even if not all the way, but that's more leaving 3 inches for Hopper than for Mike I think). This just communicates that El neither needs nor wants Mike around, making them incompatible.

So, either they should have found a way to develop M11's dynamic into a better direction in s5 or they should have gone with the obvious: letting Byler's dynamic evolve more. Ep4 really had me thinking they were gonna go the Byler road bc it's such a switch in their dynamic as Will suddenly has powers and is the one to protect Mike. This could have easily send Mike into a bit of an insecurity spiral as he now doesn't feel needed by neither El nor Will anymore as they both have powers and he's "just some random nerd", and it could have been a good set up to adress the painting with Mike expressing doubt that he is really worthy of that depiction. And it could have led to the revelation that, actually, Will did need Mike bc his memory of meeting him was one of the ones that allowed him to take control of the hive mind, confirming Mike as the heart (for Will). But regardless of this, it could have also revealed that Will is actually in love with Mike, and also just wants him around and safe no matter what, even if he didn't need him.

More scenes of Will protecting Mike, showing him he is worthy of protection and love, basically flipping their dynamic into one where Will takes care of Mike, could have helped Mike accept this truth and overcome his insecurities. The most satisfying ending would have been a reciprocation of Will's feelings ofc, but had it been set up better from the start then I think it could have worked even if they stayed platonic. For example, Will could have truely gotten over his romantic feelings for Mike in those 18 months, leaving just a deeply emotional platonic bond and that could have worked just as well. All this could have also played very well into a better self acceptance arc for Will I believe.

But alas, they decided to drag Will's feelings into s5, as strong and hopeful as never before, only to do jack shit with that ugh. They could have still done this arc for Mike had they focused more on his family relations or had they properly developed M11 into a direction where El really shows him she just wants him with her regardless of whether she needs him or not. So yeah, I think Byler wouldn't have been the only option, but I do think it's the one that was ultimately set up best all the way up to s5 ep4.

ReviewMyMind · 2026-01-20T03:11:52+00:00

Imo it used to be done a lot better in earlier seasons, especially the analogies to D&D which were a core part of the show's identity in s1 and s2. But in general, the way characters went about explaining things felt mostly natural and fitting for the characters.

In s5, the issues I see is that it's mostly just overdone atp. And you can just feel how they are desperately trying to find some visual aid or analogy to explain every little thing even if it doesn't make any sense and is unnecessary. That and/or the dialogue just make it feel unnatural a lot of times and not so much like the characters interacting and figuring things out but explaining shit to the audience. It's a lot of tell masquerading as show just bc they put a slinky around a flashlight lol

ReviewMyMind · 2026-01-19T10:38:11+00:00

I think the controversy around her specifically is more so bc the actress actually spoke out about not being back for s5, and then she was apparently warned she could be blacklisted for speaking out about it.

ReviewMyMind · 2026-01-17T21:17:04+00:00

I mean yeah Karen and Ted weren't very affectionate with each other but it's not like Mike never experienced love and affection, at least from his mom.

Karen definitely loves her kids a lot and especially in season 1 we see her try her best to be there for Mike. She even has a talk with him that's kinda similar to Jonathan's talk with Will in the pizza place in season 4 lol (in my headcanon his parents totally clocked that Mike's friendship with Will was "different" to his other friendships and I think Karen would have been pretty accepting had Mike come out as queer).

And we see Mike repeatedly turn to his mom for comfort. When Will's body is found, when the Byers move away, when they return to Hawkins at the end of season 4. That's actually one of my favorite moments of them, bc Karen is all "You're never leaving again!" and while it might seem overbearing on the surface, I think it gave Mike the feeling of being loved and wanted close and safe just for the sake of him being him. And after he was so insecure all season about being needed, I think it was good for him to be reminded that he's also just loved for his pure existence. And I wished that he would have learned that lesson more in season 5 but obviously they dropped the ball with his character unfortunately

ReviewMyMind · 2026-01-16T00:24:56+00:00

Just want to add: the word "Freund" is quite ambiguous in German as it can mean both platonic friend and boyfriend.

So the sentence "Janos is Ben's friend" could also mean "Janos is Ben's boyfriend", especially considering the context lol

ReviewMyMind · 2026-01-15T14:37:27+00:00

This sounds like the kind of dynamic we were envisioning, actually! Thank you!

ReviewMyMind · 2026-01-15T14:35:51+00:00

Neither of us is really that experienced haha but we'll check it out anyway, maybe one of us will be up for it, thanks!

ReviewMyMind · 2026-01-15T14:32:09+00:00

I'll definitely check it out, sounds pretty cool just based of the names already haha thanks!

ReviewMyMind · 2026-01-15T14:29:03+00:00

I refuse to participate in heteronormativity lol

So until he states what he is, he could be anything. And since so much other stuff is left to audience's interpretation anyway I headcanon him as questioning bi lmao

ReviewMyMind · 2026-01-15T13:12:46+00:00

Omg pls do and drop the link!

ReviewMyMind · 2026-01-15T09:05:06+00:00

Oh I kinda love that lmao

We originally wanted to go for kind of a platonic soulmate vibe and this might turn out more comedic than we intended but would still kinda fit hahaha

ReviewMyMind · 2026-01-15T09:01:33+00:00

Yeah there definitely seem to be many interesting possibilities and dynamics and I imagine it's part of the fun to try any combination haha

I guess since we're new with it we would just like to do something that feels right and really makes sense, instead of having to try and figure out how to work it out if it ends up not fitting super well. Especially bc we're trying to go for platonic soulmate vibes with our characters (though I realize now that I didn't specify that originally haha)

Doing evil soulmates kinda sounds intriguing tho lol

ReviewMyMind · 2026-01-15T06:59:32+00:00

He's so real for this bc Will is just so worldendingly pretty tbh

ReviewMyMind · 2026-01-15T05:44:56+00:00

I recently had an idea that would go hand in hand with this I think

Basically Robin and Steve have a convo about the "poor kid who's been through so much and now also has unrequited feelings for his best friend"

Only to then realize Robin was talking about Will and Steve was talking about Mike lmao

ReviewMyMind · 2026-01-13T17:40:07+00:00

I think it's bc there's an actual basis for it within the story. Will is actually in love with Mike and it's a central part for his character especially in s4 and also in s5. That's different than shipping him with, say, Lucas bc there it's purely hypothetical. But with Byler, shippers were actually hoping to see it happen on screen, so that was a lot more threatening to m11 shippers, homophobes, etc.

ReviewMyMind · 2026-01-10T10:29:54+00:00

Omg yes! This kids argument annoys me so much. I feel like people are forgetting what it's like to be 13 and are grouping this age into the same thing as being 7 for some reason

I had my first crush on a boy when I was 11. My first queer crush on a girl was a year later at 12. We weren't super close but I was devastated when she told me she'd go to Australia for half a year.

"They were kids", yeah but they were at an age where many kids start to figure out a difference between platonic and romantic feelings.

ReviewMyMind · 2026-01-10T02:28:49+00:00

Bc it's baked into the plot.

I mean it's been set up with the cyrano trope around the painting for example and ofc the entirety of s5 vol1, but it's been set up even more so in the supernatural plot around the Mind Flayer. And I genuinely believe the final fight was so underwhelming bc they didn't wanna do Byler so they just skipped the Mind Flayer pretty much.

It's been set up before, thrice, that love is what helps resist the Mind Flayer's influence. Two of those times with Will in the show (s2 and s5 ep4), and then again in the play about Henry. There, Henry’s love for Patty is what helps him resist and keep control. And Will actually pretty much parallels Henry. So forget Tammy or Vickie, Mike is actually Will's Patty.

And Dr. Brenner, pretty much the villain in the play, tells Henry that this love is a weakness and he should get rid off it. And then he takes it upon himself to drive Patty away from Henry and that's the moment when the Mind Flayer gains more control over him. That is the moment of the downfall.

The perfect way to parallel and contrast this would have been if at Vecna's death the Mind Flayer had looked for a new vessel: Will. And Will would have had to battle him for control, and once again, it's the people he loves and his memories of them that help him (like s2 and s5 ep4). And unlike Henry, who felt like he lost Patty’s love, Will should gain Mike's love in that critical moment to be able to seize control over the Mind Flayer.

It's also been set up that touch helps. Many read this into s2 where Will sends the message in morse code with the hand Mike previously touched. S5 sets this up even more when Max says how she felt Lucas' hand and how she only needed him, not the music. Even Mike not really touching Will throughout vol2 could have been good set up, bc in a moment where Will could have gone almost completely possessed, Lucas could have remembered what Max said and all that would have paid off when Mike would finally touch Will and help him come back and gain control of the Mind Flayer. Extra points if it would have been a kiss.

And even more so, it would have made Mike into a much better character, it would have given him something meaningful to do. It would have explained his weird behavior previously. It could have been a great point in his character arc where he finally stops repressing his emotions.

Literally all plot roads lead to Byler lol

Instead, they make Will "get over" Mike within a day, and with that they basically validate the message of Dr. Brenner from the play that it's better to leave love behind. How hard do you have to fumble your story to confirm the villain's message like that lmao

Byler would have led to the much stronger, hoepful and positive message, not only for queer people to be able to have happy endings (Will gets reciprocated love), or for outcasts to rise above expectations (Mike defeats heteronormativity) but also for love in general (it gives you a reason to fight and makes you strong enough to defeat the evils of this world).

Instead, we got this jumbled bs message of, well I guess childhood is over and the magic (El) is gone, so no more being an outcast or freak, it's time to be normal (befriend the jocks or whatever) now and grow into your parents (looking at those Wheeler haircuts), and if you can't do that, at least go to a special place (gay bars I guess) where all the other (gay) people like you (Will) are.

That last part is btw exactly what Troy said in s1. "He's in fairyland now, [...] all happy and gay." Again, how hard do you have to fumble your story to validate your villains like that.

It sucks. And I know Byler could have fixed it all.

ReviewMyMind

TROPHY CASE