#if it weren't for all the bylers using replacement words for m!leven...

[void-of-chill]

Hi! Can u share your thoughts on the miltank monologue? Its ok if u don’t wanna

The infamous monologue itself, the last personal and emotional moment between Mike and El, was very one-sided to me. Mike declared his apparent feelings yet there's no payoff scene that followed where these two may freely discuss the "romantic love confession". (Not diminishing El's trauma here, as all that physical and mental torture can submit someone into silence and numbness)

However, Mike mentions that they did in fact talk briefly (off-screen!) Now, I would think a moment between the "endgame couple", no matter how brief, would be important enough to film and show in a scene. Especially, since there's this whole arc established since the beginning of the season where Mike can't communicate openly with El and tell her he loves her. We only have implications that Mike and El talked off-screen, but why couldn't the writers include a whole scene revolving around that? It would show the audience that there was some development between these two. Why wasn't it important enough for the viewers to at least see Mike comfort and talk to El, as she's grieving and confiding in him. A final heart-to-heart scene between Mike and El would further affirm their love, provide evidence of their ability to talk things out, work things out, be vulnerable with each other.

And just maybe, it'd show the audience that Mike and El are able to navigate through their romantic relationship, that they can be open and honest with each other. But no, Season 4's final heart-to-heart scene was given to William Byers. There were beams of light shining over Will like the ethereal being he is, as Mike sat in the shadows looking at his best friend, bathed in sunlight, radiant and glowing.

If the intention was to resolve Mike’s and El’s relationship problems introduced this season, why are we not treated to a post-monologue heart-to-heart, where we see El’s answer to Mike’s confession about why he couldn’t say I love you. Where’s the private meaningful conversation, implicating advancement and mutual understanding in the relationship. After all, the writers could've wrapped that conflict up in Season 4, so that they can focus more on the plot in Season 5.

Instead, you know which relationship improved and received some resolution? Mike and Will's. And it was all very natural. No one was pushed to anything. And that’s been their dynamic since the very first season.