onnewway

[onnewway]

duffers have the chance to do something awesome and have mike and will heavily parallel early jancy for the first volume of season five

if I don’t see them doing this in mikes room because Will woke up from a nightmare I’m suing

[onnewway]

‼️ warning: long post but I need to get this off my chest ‼️

I think it’s completely normal — and valid — for Byler fans to have doubts sometimes. If you look at things from the outside, from a very surface-level perspective, it might seem like we’re being delusional (like Joyce in season 1 seeing signs everywhere). But if you really take the time to look closely, you’ll see we’re not that far off from the truth.

To begin with, I genuinely believe that the most consistently developed relationship in the entire show — from season 1 until now — is the one between Mike and Will. It has its ups and downs, of course, but the show always makes it clear how important they are to each other.

So I have to ask: why go to such lengths to build their connection so carefully, to show that one of them is in love with the other in such an explicit way, if it’s all just going to end in rejection?

It honestly feels like they’ve been slowly guiding their bond toward something more intimate — something beyond friendship. And if season 5 does decide to take that step into the romantic, I truly don’t think it would feel forced. They’ve laid the groundwork. The story is already there. And if someone still can’t see it… well, it’s hard to explain things to people who don’t want to look.

On top of all that, if we’re talking purely in narrative terms, Mike and Will’s relationship carries way more weight than Mike and Eleven’s.

Byler could easily be a beautiful love story: two childhood best friends who grow up, go through hell together, and eventually realize they’ve always loved each other. It’s a classic trope — and it works. But when you add the fact that it’s a queer story, set in the social context of the 1980s. That changes everything. It adds emotional depth, historical weight, and so much potential for impact. Because it’s not just a love story — it could be something truly meaningful for younger queer audiences today, and for older generations who had to hide, who grew up feeling shame for who they were and who they loved.

I could honestly list more reasons why Byler makes more sense, but these feel like the most important ones to me.

So… what’s the point of all this?

It’s simple: if, as a creator, you have two possible narrative paths — one that’s fine (Mileven), and one that could be genuinely meaningful (Byler) — which one do you choose?

Let’s be real: most of us would go with the story that has more depth, more soul, more emotional truth.

If you have a “good” option and a great option, why settle for the weaker one?

If I were part of the Stranger Things writing team, I’d know for sure that letting a story like Mike and Will’s go to waste would be a real shame.

Because it doesn’t feel accidental. There’s intention. There’s emotional direction. And it’s getting clearer and clearer that this could happen.

Mike and Will are written with the potential to become something more.

And it would be beautiful to see them get there. In the end, what I’m trying to say is: Byler isn’t just a ship.

It’s a story with weight, with deep roots, with meaning.

And if they do decide to go there, it wouldn’t just make sense — it would be healing. It would matter.

But if they don’t… honestly, I’d find it such a shame. Because they had the chance to create something truly beautiful and meaningful — and choosing not to, maybe because it’s the harder path or the one that challenges more people, would feel like a missed opportunity.

A story like this doesn’t come around often. And it deserves to be told.

[onnewway]

wholeheartedly agree. what a wonderful post

i feel like everyone who ships mileven genuinely does not understand the personalities of mike and el in addition to their character arcs throughout the seasons.

like in my opinion it is so obvious that el‘s entire character arc since the beginning is about her becoming independent and learning to be her own person without other people influencing her. her storyline continues to move away from mike which is also so clearly shown in season 4 because they‘re mostly apart for the whole season.

and mike obviously cares about el a lot, but i feel like the most prominent thing about his character is the wish to be needed. mike and el‘s relationship is solely build on unhealthy emotional attachment because:

1. mike was the first person who showed el what it means to be cared for

2. el needed help and seemingly knew how to find will, mike‘s best friend

but the thing is, el becoming more independent from mike means that she obviously doesn‘t need him anymore in the way mike wished she would. el wants genuine love and support from mike for not only her powers but also for who she really is, but mike isn‘t really providing that (hence their big argument). the thing mike started liking her for in the first place was really only her powers and other people pressuring him (lucas, nancy accusing him of liking her). that means that mike can‘t love el the way she wants him to.

and el can‘t love mike in the way he needs her to as well. mike wants to be needed by someone and he wants to protect others. but el figuring out what it means to be her own person and find strength independently leads to her not being emotionally attached to mike anymore which on the other hand makes mike anxious.

their relationship is so clearly unhealthy and not good for both of them it hurts. el needs to finally be free from their relationship and find her own way seperated from him and mike needs that one person who will always need him no matter what. who feels better for being different when he‘s around mike and who gets the strength to fight on because of mike. (which is obv will)

i hope this made sense i was just rambling lol.

[onnewway]

i absolutely adore that even when mike stands his ground and even raises his voice at will, as soon as he sees will's sad little face go silent, there's a flicker of guilt showing on his face. this is so cute to me omg. he's so weak.

[onnewway]

oh finn wolfhard you are gonna act the SHIT out of mikes coming out arc yessss

[onnewway]

hear me out on a byler only episode

tldr at the end (leaks discussed)

I know everyone has seen this caption on one of the duffers post regarding the teaser

And I know that there's an ongoing theory that episode seven is going to be when byler happens, but what if ONLY byler happens?

What if we only follow will and mike the entire time (maybe they're seperated from the group)

Like okay I know its a long shot but it would be such an interesting narrative choice that they have made before with el's missing sister episode.

(I can not find the link for this anymore pls lmk if you can so I can add it--->) Especially since I know there was a leaker who gave us the titles of the episodes and got them ALL right except for episode seven. What did they say it would be named? The Cleric and The Paladin.

I have reason to believe that, it is STILL named that, but was changed only so it would not be obvious in the title teaser to 'The Bridge'

The following is a list of all the episodes that were named differently to that of the official title tease in stranger things history

SEASON TWO:

SEASON THREE:

I put the link for both of the youtube videos if anyone wants to double check buttt

As you can see they tend to lie or change (however you want to see it, basically they're sneaky) the titles based off of if it gives too much away.

I think the best example is telling the public S3E5 was going to be named 'The Source' because if it was 'The Flayed' it would be obvious that people were getting taken by the mind flayer as that was the big bad at the time of only season 1 and 2 being released.

If we can trust the leaker (and like I said they got every title right EXCEPT for seven) then honestly I think that the episode is still titled 'the cleric and the paladin' but only changed for the title tease, because like I said, that is WAYYY too on the nose for the GA.

Now my theory,

We know that the duffers have gone on record saying that will's "emotional arc for him is what we feel is going to hopefully tie the whole series together." So it's safe to say that Will is extremely important thematically and plot wise to season 5. (This also proves my point that the duffers care about the cohesion between character arc pacing and the plot progression of the show, this is a link to that too btw)

Obviously a big part of will's 'emotional arc' is his sexuality, and a big part of that arc is his feelings for mike. This shows to me that it is NOT outside of the picture to include an episode that is centric to him, and by extension, centric to byler.

Them including clips from the literal FINALE but not episode seven seems to be a very deliberate choice. What if it's because the only content you can pull from it is will and mike, ANOTHER thing they have deliberately excluded from the teaser.

An episode that is solely to develop this relationship into its climax (a confession, kiss etc.) can show how serious the duffers are to focusing on a character they deem vital to the end.

Lets take the infamous 'The Lost Sister' episode for example. We know everyone hated it and its annoying they tried to make a backdoor pilot out of nowhere BUT it exists for a reason. In season two they could NOT have defeated the mind flayer without eleven, right? Makes sense.

But eleven could not have defeated the mind flayer without learning that her powers are stronger when she thinks of an emotion. This was taught to her in that standalone episode by her sister.

So WE KNOW that the duffers are willing to set aside an arc if it is vital to the ending, in season two eleven was, and now they are saying in season five, will is.

TLDR: Okay what does this all mean? We know:

Episode 7 is already being speculated for when byler happens

The duffers purposely change the real names of episodes for marketing

They are willing to have standalone episodes

Will and mike, and episode 7 are both absent from the teaser

Will is central to tying the show together

I think that this shows possibility for a byler ONLY episode, in order to set the scene for the climax that will is undoubtedly a driving force in. What exactly will happen is up to interpretation, maybe its churchgate, flickergate, loverslakegate, anything in this post, or something completely different. Who knows?

I would LOVE to hear what you guys think or if any of this made sense but I know I would be so geeked at an entire episode of just byler content I mean the tension would be GODLY. I know that it’s a long shot but it’s all in good fun anyways:) If anything it could just be further proof that episode 7 will have a byler resolution and that’s cool too:3 Sorry for any grammar mistakes this was kind of a ramble lol and thanks for reading if you made it this far<3!

EDIT: check thamepo’s comment on this point they bring up a great point!!

[onnewway]

if mileven was endgame then they would show us that el loves mike just as much as will does but i fear they’ve done the opposite. intentionally too

[onnewway]

he’s so whipped someone save him

[onnewway]

byler kiss where the kiss is so quick, it's got someone's eyes widening and their breath hitching and the other pulls away muttering a string of apologies because shit, they read it all wrong— until the first drags them down for the most passionate and hungry and yearning kiss in the universe because they've both been pining for so long. and now?

now, they're both getting something they thought they could never have.

[onnewway]

We did not watch Mike Wheeler have his gay awakening live onscreen in the s3 finale for yall to still be doubting 🤦

[onnewway]

the “i’m not gonna fall in love”. line literally only exists to foreshadow byler endgame. why would they put that line in if it foreshadows a rejection. it sets up a happy ending with mike specifically because at that point will already loved mike. so the happy ending has to be with him. the point is that will is going to be proved wrong. will is basically saying i won’t get to have what i want i and the show is saying yes you will. it’s an example of dramatic irony that will be evident once you rewatch s3 after s5

[onnewway]

You kept them all?

I hope Will gets to be happy at least a little bit this season 🥲

There's plenty of opportunity to repair a small amount of his childhood before you ABSOLUTELY DESTORY HIM, Duffers....geez

[onnewway]

okay this post has single-handedly cleared any byler doubt i had left in me

Not my comment but they are lowkey highkey onto something

[onnewway]

2022: omg Mike just confessed his undying love for El we just got queerbaited as fuckk

2025: omg there was a mileven scene in the trailer but no byler we’re getting straight-baited as fuckk

byler nation back in the business 👩‍💼

[onnewway]

in case you forgot this exists:

[onnewway]

there's something very very special about mike being an ass to basically everyone, having some attitude with everyone but reserving his sweet, apologetic, sensitive side for will. and there's something special about will being selfless, sweet and quiet around almost everybody but reserving some attitude and sarcasm for mike. something something they complete each other and feel safe to be the parts of themselves that show their vulnerability around each other - very cheesy but hell

its true

[onnewway]

and not only needs he do it for this comfort and assurance from mike — he needs to do it for himself too, as a big part in his character development — our sweet, shy will that has been through so much shit, being able to not only confess to his best friend, but to confess to his male best friend, a friend that has been dating a girl for years — do you realise how insanely brave that is?

thinking about how desperately i need will to come out to mike in s5. byler aside, and whether they become endgame or not, i need will to confront mike about his feelings. mike loves this boy so fucking much — it's undeniable, and will needs to know that him being gay won't change it. it's still the same will and mike has to be the one to tell him. tell him that he's loved unconditionally and that he, or any of his friends, could never hate him for that. you don't understand how important it is to me