I predict a foreshadowing to Mike being a target of Vecna (the first or second one) to introduce: the Villain (Vecna), El and his internalized homophobia along with his feelings for Will...
there’s something about this little moment here that tells you everything you need to know about the love triangle between mike, el and will.
i remember that video of eduardo talking about how the directors would pause to make finn and noah have a “shared look” and this is so clearly one of those moments. this is so prevalent to bylers’ relationship. they are the first person they look to in a room. they want to share their reactions with each other. they look to each other for reassurance in their own reactions. they know what the other is thinking at just a glance (“i didnt say it” “you didnt have to”). but what is so important about This “shared look” is that mike turns away from will to look at el, almost like he wants to share this moment with her as well. all three of them know what really went down, how its not “a miracle” as lucas says, and they are the Only three that know, it would make sense for them to all share a moment of understanding between the three of them. instead, what happens? mike and will share a look, share understanding, mike then looks to el to share understanding with her, and she is looking away. mike and will both prioritize communicating this revelation with each other while el is only focused on max, she doesn’t need, want, or prioritize that connection at this time. its not that mike and will dont care about max, they simply want to share that care and worry and reaction with each other. i think mike in general wants someone who he can share that type of communication with, so he looks to who’s supposed to be his partner at this moment, el (post love confession they should be closer right?), and simply does not receive it. i think you can even see the little look of disappointment when he turns to her and find she’s not looking back at him. he is looking for the connection he so naturally has with will in who he’s in an Actual Relationship with and cannot find it. he will only ever find that within his relationship with will, there is no replicating it with a girl he is simply not in love with.
I don't want Mike and Will to get Murrayed.. I *need* them to get Clarked.
Like Mr Clarke has known them since they were 12 and obviously knows them very well. He's literally the sweetest and I feel like the boys trust him and his opinion a lot (even years later) so him talking to them and telling them it's ok would be so cute 😭
So was nobody going to tell me that there is a Freddy Krueger movie filled with gay subtext that the Duffers very clearly and obviously referenced to queercode both Mike and Will since S1?
The main character is Jessie, a suburban teenager that finds himself haunted by Freddy Krueger, who wishes to possess him and go on a killing spree. Now this reminds me of Will initially, but Jessie has way more similarities with Mike than Will.
For example, Jessie's father 100% inspired Ted Wheeler, in fact he's a straight up rip off.
And this is Holly.
Look at how the screenwriters discuss this, including Robert freaking Englund himself (who plays Freddy Krueger and Victor Creel)
The screenwriters specifically talk about how one of the things the production designer (who was gay) did to add gay subtext was a sign on Jessie's bedroom door that said 'NO out of town CHICKS ALLOWED'
The Duffers know this, I'm sure.
So this ....
This freaking ONE WAY sign pointing into Mike's closet? Deliberate, legitimate gay subtext.
They are subtly hinting at this idea that Will doesn‘t have to say things outright and spell it out in order for Mike to understand because Mike&Will can understand each other without words:
It's 2029, Season 12 of 911 just came out, Buck and Tommy have been happily married for a couple of years, Eddie was the Best Man at their wedding and couldn't be happier for them, but one group of stubborn shippers has a thing to say:
Mike not having a birthmark might be because of byler.
For people who don't know, originally the Duffer's wanted Mike to have a large birthmark on his face but they ended up scrapping that idea for an unknown reason, but I think I might know the reason.
All the kids from the main party in season one are all ridiculed, hurt or made fun of for something about themselves, something out of their control
Lucas is bullied for being black, Dustin is bullied for having a disability, El is treated like a lab rat because she has powers, Will is bullied for being gay and Mike.. Not really anything, he's bullied but there's not an obvious reason for it like with the others.
I'm going to use Will as an example for what I'm about to say, I think Mike is also bullied for being queer even if he doesn't know it. Will is absolutely not open about his sexuality, he keeps that hidden as much as he can and yet people bully him for it anyway because they can tell there's something different about him. The same could easily be true for Mike as well, he's bullied because they can tell something is different about him. If they had given Mike a birthmark however, everyone would assume he's being bullied for the birthmark, not for being queer, and that's not the story they're trying to tell with Mike here.