#onsibility gave an explanation AND validated him against what he had said)

[gayofthefae]

People judge actions based on reactions and Mike is a prime example. He is a very hated character right now but consider this

Season 1: Mike said to El (twice, I believe) "What is wrong with you!" She ran off hurt but returned within a couple episodes. (People often like to parallel him saying this in season 4 to the cliff scene when he didn't but forget the times he did. He didn't get worse or more hypocritical you just picked bad examples). I don't remember him directly apologizing for this, though he did validate that she was not a monster and he did not see her as such and that could be counted for one of these instances.

He is widely forgiven and even forgotten for this.

Season 4: Mike initiates an attempt to understand and console El. When confronted, he cannot say I love you but tries to say everything else he can to make her feel better. She is crying, speaking poorly of herself, and angrily throws letters while confronting him. After many episodes apart (which he spends brainstorming how to fix things and she spends not bringing it up once) he apologizes to her in full, hitting every point and taking full responsibility, at the soonest opportunity.

He is widely antagonized for this.

#mike wheeler defense squad #mike wheeler defender #mike wheeler #stranger things #he was not ill intended in not saying that to el and i feel that's the only logical reason one could hate him for how he handled it #his behavior with will seeming to becoming a pattern IS concerning #but it's arguably better to demonstrate that when you inevitably fuck up you will handle it quickly and well by taking full responsibility #regardless of forgiveness status rather than to pretend you are and always will be perfect #all he's done is show he can remain calm and understanding in conflict with el #and show that when he doesn't he can take responsibility for that and is a good apologizer (which not a lot of people are. he took full res #onsibility gave an explanation AND validated him against what he had said) #like literally wtf more do people want #i told my best friend people hated on him and she was so surprised when he apologized and texted me super confused bc the hate i told her #about made her think that he wouldn't be redeemed from that rather than literally fixing like a day later #and then spending the rest of the season trying to fix the other thing #like bro what #he made a mistake he made last year and a mistake he would have made all the way back in season 1 #and he dealt with them super well in contrast to previously not having consequences in one instance and not fully apologizing when he was #forgiven in the other #and he's bad NOW #but was perfect THEN #ok