#mike doesn't of course because he's a presumably very straight teenager and he's too busy thinking about his gf to notice

[fabulouslygaybean]

GOD. ALSO IM FRUSTRATED ABOUT THE WHOLE SUBTEXT-BUT-NOT-SUBTEXT THING THEY'VE GOT GOING ON WITH WILL AND MIKE.

#dont rb #no like. look. i don't rlly hardcore ship anything anymore. im super casual abt it and i just do whatever i think is fun at that moment. #but like... what they've got going on with the two of them is frustrating at best. #im definitely not against like.. the dynamic i guess? it makes enough sense. a boy is in love with his presumably Very Straight childhood - #- best friend who also has a girlfriend. he doesn't know what to do but in the end he just doesn't wanna lose his best friend. #ive been there. that's not the problem. #my main complaint is just that like. they can't seem to decide what they wanna do with that whole thing. #they act like its Super Secret Subtext and that its just up for interpretation when it's really truly not. #the scene where he's talking about all the things el must love about him? its SO damn clear that he's talking about his own feelings too #he made a whole damn painting with mike as a focus. he's spilling out his heart in a way that hopefully won't be noticed. #mike doesn't of course because he's a presumably very straight teenager and he's too busy thinking about his gf to notice #mike feels reassured and goes back to focusing on other things while will ends up hiding his face from him and crying #jonathan notices and has a very knowing expression before he goes back to focusing on the road #even if you ignore the super mega obvious scene it's prevalent throughout the whole season #will wants to support his now adopted sister el and her boyfriend mike and he tries to keep it friendly but its difficult #mike ignores him for most of the summer bc he's your standard straight boy teen and is uber obsessed with his gf #he never calls and he ignores will when he asks if he can show him a painting he did and he ignores his worries and advice #its so damn obvious. will is trying to keep up a friendship bc he knows he'll probably never get to be with him but he still cares about - #- him dearly bc they've always been friends and at the very least he doesn't wanna lose that #ive been there!! ive been in that scenario so many damn times!! that's a common queer experience!!! #but the showrunners are always like. Oh But It's All Up For Interpretation ;) Will Is Just A Good Buddy To His Friendly Friend ;))) #also to clarify: i know what the actor himself has said about all of it. im not gonna go after the insta post he made when he was like 12. #he himself has talked about it not mattering in more recent stuff too and that's fine. i rlly have no qualms with him over this. #im mostly just frustrated with like.. the duffer brothers and maybe some of the writers. y'know? #it's just poorly executed. ignoring the elephant in the room ain't a good look. it's not the end of the world but it ain't great either.