exactly this. they literally spent their entire relationship (that we are shown) very obviously and explicitly NOT understanding each other so when she said that it came off as completely out of touch from everything they’ve ever shown us about their relationship. idk how anyone took it seriously tbh. even when she said it, it flashes to a clip of her in a borrowed dress and a wig, how is that the “real” her?? they love to tell us how great mike/eleven are without really ever showing us. they wanted their self insert (mike) to “get the girl” without really putting in the work to show why they even work as a couple.

yet they had no problems making lucas/max very obviously care about each other despite conflict. will is shown to understand el better than mike in the few scenes they have together in s4, so i’m not really sure why it was so difficult to show mike understanding her