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coventhewise · 1 month ago

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Every Definitive Byler Proof Broken Down

starting with - season one

1) “Will’s homophobia”

it’s said a few times here and there throughout season one that Will is often treated as “the gay one” in the party. His own dad called him “queer” and a “f*g” and bullies at school call him “gay” and a “fairy”

2) “Mike treats Will going missing differently to everyone else” :

we see from the very start of the season that Mike treats Will differently to all his other friends. It’s established that their bond is different from the others. Will, unlike Dustin and Lucas, tells Mike immediately that the roll was a 7. it’s already set in stone that their bond is built on trust and that they’re closer. Mike also has every drawing Will’s ever made for him in a binder and on his wall.

even when Will was missing, it’s still brought up that Mike’s feelings towards Will are different than his feelings towards his other friends. He’s the only one in his friend group much more focused on finding Will, he even went as far as keeping a strange bald girl with powers just because she could help (aside from the fact he also kept el because she was on the run from bad men). His feelings towards Will aren’t hidden to everyone else, even his own mom sees it.

(also that cute scene from Mike seeing Will in hospital for the first time since he went missing and he rests his head on his heart)

season two

1) “Mike notices things about Will that others don’t”:

despite Mike being more sensitive and aware of Will since he went missing, we see Mike picking up on small things about Will.

2) “Mike is more affectionate and protective over Will than any of his other friends”:

whilst Will going missing has a role to play in this, it goes without saying that Mike is worlds more affectionate and protective of Will than any of his other friends. Such as holding his hand, wrapping his shoulder around him and making efforts to be closer to him in group scenarios.

3) “Crazy Together”:

after suffering another episode Mike take’s Will home (which actually ends up being Mike’s home). In a sweet little conversation where they both open up to each other (Will talks about his episodes and Mike talks about how he keeps seeing eleven) Mike turns to Will and says “I don’t know I feel like I’m going crazy” Will then responds “yeah, me too.” Mike smirks in a caring way and says “Well, if we’re both going crazy we’ll go crazy together, right?” Will turns his head, smiling “yeah. Crazy together.”

This is one of the most famous byler proofs to date.

4) “Will remembers who Mike is even when he is possessed”:

when Will is in hospital after suffering internal burning from being connected to the shadow monster, and the vines related to it being burned underground. He is asked by Owen’s if he remembers who Mike is as Will is suffering amnesia type symptoms. And he does! (Mike also gets really giddy after this lol)

5) “It was the best thing I’ve ever done”:

in an attempt to bring Will back to his normal state and keep him occupied whilst he taps away at morse code, Mike digs deep down and truly opens up about how he feels and his first memory of Will. He tells Will every intricate detailing of the first day that they met and tells him becoming his friend was the best thing he’d ever done.

6) “Mike is lonely without Will at the snowball”:

this is one of the smaller byler proofs but a proof nonetheless. In the last episode of season two, the whole party goes to the school winter dance called “the snowball”. In which a girl comes up to Will and asks him to dance, initially it seems Mike doesn’t care as he encourages Will to dance with the girl. But when Will is actually gone, Mike looks at him in parallel to Dustin looking at Max with Lucas. Part of him wishing he maybe didn’t encourage Will to go dance at all.

season three

1) “Mike is always with Will when he’s not with Eleven”:

in season three of stranger things, it kicks off (unfortunately) with Mike and El making out to some music. this seems to be one of the only things they ever do together. When they’re apart and when they break up due to Mike lying (because of hopper). Mike and Will are often the main pair, even when El and Mike were together, Will is usually standing next to them or next to Mike.

2 & 3) “Mike reacts differently to his break up with El and his fight with Will” & “It’s not my fault you don’t like girls”:

this is a two in one because they’re linked:

in season three after El had enough with Mike’s bullshit and lies, she “dumps his ass”. Mike responds to this with the goofiest look on his face and spends all his time moping around, eating chips and being sexist.

Meanwhile after Mike’s fight with Will, he looks at Will leaving with a really emotional look on his face and bike’s to his house in the rain to apologise and then to Castle Byers when he wasn’t at home.

It’s important to note that Max said “he’ll come crawling back to you in no time begging for forgiveness” which is exactly what Mike did with Will, not with El.

Also Mike and El’s breakup was completely unserious. It was sunny, ice cream, people around, friends witnessing and Max and El laughing afterwards.

Mike and Will’s fight was private, in the rain, blue colours all around, heated and sad.

Speaking of their fight…

When Mike and Lucas make fun of Will’s campaign because they think turning 13 makes them too old for that stuff now. Will storms off (rightfully so) and starts to head home. Mike follows him, apologising and trying to reassure him that it’s a cool campaign but they’re just not in the mood right now. He then gets offended when Will says Mike is ruining their party, he says he’s destroying everything just so he can swap spit with some “stupid girl”. Mike then snaps in what people assume is internalised homophobia and projection and gives us the infamous line (this is also a hint into will being gay)

“El’s not stupid. It’s not my fault you don’t like girls”.

ouch.

4) “Mike and Will’s goodbye was much more intimate than Mike and El’s”:

at the end of season three, the Byers and El prepare to move to California after the “death” of El’s dad hopper.

When packing away a dnd set into the donation box, Mike stops Will and tells him as such. Will then tells him “I know, I’ll just use yours when I come back. I mean, if we still wanna play.” Mike then responds “yeah but, what if you wanna join another party” (oh poor Will has no idea how ironic this is) Will then responds with “not possible.” While smirking at Mike, Mike smiles back (of course) and then they have a very deep hug out front before Will leaves.

on the other hand…

Mike and El’s goodbye is very… awkward. It starts of sweet, Mike comes in and tells El that he’ll be calling her so much on Dustin’s cerebro and then they kinda talk about how much they both like gifts? ok. then El tells Mike she heard what he said about her and Mike pretends like he has no idea what she’s talking about. El then reminds Mike by telling him that she loves him too. Quick! Take a guess how Mike responds.

1) smiles

2) kisses her

3) “you do?” In a smiley way

4) stands awkwardly whilst she kisses him in front of an open closet (basic foreshadowing lmfao) and he doesn’t even kiss back. Then when she walks away, he stands there confused and staring at the ground.

…….

the answer is…. 4!! A totally normal way to respond to your feelings getting reciprocated. right?

Mike and El share a hug out front as well, and then Mike passionately looks at the Byers house whilst hoppers letter starts talking about not wanting things to change and that change is scary and then he rides his bike off into the distance. Well that totally wasn’t gay as fuck. Moving on.

season four (the gayest of them all)

1) “Will is painting a lot […] I’m sure there’s someone he likes”:

the season in present time, kicks off with El’s letter to Mike about life in California. It goes through things like Joyce having a new job, Jonathan smoking smelly plants 🍃 and… oh! what’s that? Will painting something for a girl, and he’s… been acting weird? there might be someone he likes? Oh this is terrifying news for Michael Queerler. anyways, the actual point of this letter is to give a hint to the audience that Will has a crush on someone, he’s making a painting for them and it’s supposed to be a girl but if you have basic media comprehension it’s for a boy. and that boy is Mike wheeler.

2) “Will gets his leg felt up by a girl’s foot and he gay panics”:

a very common and easy to spot hint of Will being gay is when Will is sitting in class and a girl pushes her foot over to Will’s leg and starts brushing it. She gives him a flirty look, but Will being gay, shuts her down and brings his leg further into himself and away from her.

3) “Mike’s airport “hug” with Will”:

I think this is one of the biggest proof for bylers. Mike’s awkward as fuck airport hug. When Mike arrives in California, dressed as a totally different version of himself. He kisses el, gives her some flowers and pretends to pay no attention to Will or that he even exists. Then when Will steps into the frame, Mike goes “oh. hey.” and….. shoulder taps him? your best friends of like 10 years and you shoulder tap him? okay Mike.

4) “Mike is jealous of Will and makes it a whole scene”:

following the awkward hug at the airport, Mike asks immediately after it what the rolled up painting in Will’s hand is. (As if he doesn’t know lmfao) Will tells him “nothing, it’s just this painting I’ve been working on” Mike then pretending to not give a single shit goes “cool.” And assumes Will has brung this painting for the girl he likes and that she might be meeting them here today. Mike then thinks his assumption becomes reality when El mentions the name Angela. Will then repeats “Angela?” Back to her and Mike gives Will a look. He thinks Angela is the girl Will must’ve made his painting for and he gets clingy with El after this, pretending to ignore Will.

speaking of…

5) “Mike pretends to ignore Will but actually proves he’s been paying attention the whole time”:

after the whole commotion of El getting bullied, Mike finding out the truth and trying to look for her. Mike doesn’t decide to get angry with El for lying.. no no he decided to turn his anger towards Will. He then accuses him of “sabotaging the whole day” as if his girlfriend didn’t just get bullied but ok. He then lists everything Will has been doing such as moping and barely talking.

6) “Mike’s gay ass taking everything Will says romantically in their rinkomania fight”:

After Mike gets angry with Will for being miserable and Will gets angry with Mike for being a third wheel, Mike then walks away and Will stops him in his tracks by asking about their friendship “well, what about us?”

Mike then turns around with a look of despair and says “what?”

Will then gets angry at Mike and basically says it’s ridiculous that Mike is mad Will didn’t talk to him as Mike made it super clear he isn’t interested in anything he has to say. It’s been a year (it’s barely been six months lol) and Mike has only called him a couple times, meanwhile El has a book of letters from him. Mike then snaps with “that’s because she’s my girlfriend Will” and Will responds, once again only talking about their friendship “and us?” Then Mike taking things romantically again says “we’re friends. WE’RE FRIENDS.” ….. who said you weren’t Micheal?

7) “Mike stuck by Will’s side as opposed to El’s even though they were in a fight and him and El weren’t (yet)”:

after their intensely gay fight where “in the closet” an original made song for the sound track starts playing. Mike and Will hear a scream, they turn around and see El standing over her bully now covered in blood. They run over to see more of what’s happened, and they are shocked to say the least. El stands there stunned at what she’s done, and Mike starts exclaiming “what did you do? What did you do?” Which triggers a lab flashback for El (what a healthy relationship). Mike is mad with El for some reason even though he’s literally seen her snap his bullies arm and snap people’s necks. And throughout this, he sticks with Will at Rinkomania while joining the turning heads that stare at El in fear and disgust as he stands next to Will, he leans next to and looks at Will in the van on the way home and he even suffers in silence during breakfast with Will. Even though… they’re in a fight? Ok.

8) “From, Mike”:

a day has passed since the incident at rinkomania and Mike has entered El’s room to clear things up. He tells El that she didn’t have to lie to him as he understands what it’s like to be bullied. El tells him he doesn’t understand that, she doesn’t belong and that he thinks she’s a monster. Mike argues he doesn’t and that he cares for her so much. El then argues that that’s all he does. “Care” for her, but he doesn’t love her anymore. Mike argues against this and says “who said that I didn’t” El says “you never say it” Mike argues “I say it.” And then El pulls up the receipts. She starts throwing each letter Mike has written whilst crying “From Mike, From Mike, From Mike” … and so on. Instead of Mike reassuring El that he does love her, he instead GASLIGHTS her and says that she’s being ��ridiculous” and that she knows how he feels about her and that she shouldn’t allow these “mouth breathers” (El’s bullies which have nothing to do with this) to ruin their relationship. He then goes onto tell her everything he likes about her… which is…. Well, her powers. which she doesn’t even have anymore. He calls her a superhero and she says “not anymore.” Mike doesn’t even come up with a response for this.

9) “Looks like it’s gonna be up to us again.”:

a day later since Mike and El’s big fight and El is now off to quote “become a superhero again”. She writes this in a letter to Mike that says “From, El” (oh I love her so much, get his ass). Mike sits there staring at it before Will buts in telling him that staring at it won’t make it change. Mike then crumples up what could be El’s last letter to him and throws it in the trash… alright.

Mike then opens up to Will about their fight, how it felt like one of those fights you can’t come back from. He says that there’s something he should’ve said and if he said it maybe El would want him there with her but he… *sigh* “didn’t know what to say” 🧍🏼‍♀️okay. Will then reassures him that he’s going to see her again and whatever he didn’t say, he can say to her then. Mike doesn’t seem too pleased about this, but the conversation then moves forward. Will then goes onto talk about how it was “you guys” (Mike, Dustin, Lucas, Max & El… more so Mike lol) who saved him. Mike then says really flirty “looks like it’s gonna be up to us again” and Will responds also really flirty “it always is, isn’t it?” Then they share a super flirty laugh where they both can’t even contain their gayness.

10) “it’s Hawkins, it’s not the same without you.”:

after developing a plan to go find El. Mike, Jonathan and Will start packing for a road trip. In the middle of packing, Mike comes into Will’s bedroom and starts to apologise to him. He starts off with saying “thanks by the way..” to which Will says “for what?” Then Mike says “for knocking some sense into me, I was being a total self pitying idiot” and then Will says “I didn’t say it” very flirty to which Mike says “you didn’t have to” also very flirty (this is also a very important parallel to Mike and El’s fight where she says “you never say it” and Mike goes “I say it.”) He then starts bringing up the past couple of days, to which Will responds with “you don’t have to say anything.. I was being a total jerk to El, I deserve it”. (My selfless shayla I love you Will) Mike cuts him off “no.. no you didn’t deserve anything.” Will turns around, looking at Mike now listening and paying attention to what he has to say, and what he has to say is very important.

“listen, the truth is the last year.. has been weird. you know? and I mean, you know, Max and Lucas and Dustin they’re - they’re great… they’re great it’s just - - it’s Hawkins. It’s not the same without you.”

so Mike thinks home isn’t the same without Will and once again proving he feels differently towards Will than his other friends.

“And I feel like maybe I was worrying too much about El and… I don’t know maybe I feel like I lost you or something. Does that make sense?”

okay, wrap it up. I’m gonna cry.

“I have no idea what’s gonna happen next. But… whatever it is, I think we should work together. I think it’ll be easier if we’re a team. Friends. Best friends.”

we all know what he really wanted to say… lol.

all this followed by a painfully flirty

“Cool.” By Will and another “Cool.” By Mike with a smiley up and down look. and…. *INTERRUPTION TROPE*

11) “The interruption trope”:

going back a couple proofs and forward some too, byler is constantly suffering from the interruption trope this season.

It happens during “looks like it’s gonna be up to us again” scene, the “it’s Hawkins it’s not the same without you” scene, the “what if they don’t like the truth” scene on the car and lastly at the end of the series during the “We will. We will.” Scene. WOW. that’s pretty gay. Why are you interrupting them duffers? What would they do if uninterrupted? Hm? Moving on…

12) “Mike protecting Will”:

this is a very quick byler proof, but during the shooting scene Mike immediately protects Will and puts his arm over him and makes sure to remain in front of him. cuties.

13) “The triple take”:

we all know the triple take, we all love the triple take. all you need is to see it and soak it all in.

well that wasn’t the least bit suspicious. lol.

14) “What if they don’t like the truth”:

after burying a dead man’s body together #couplegoals

Mike and Will take a second to rest on one of the cars with a couple of soda cans (this is a craaaazyyy parallel to jancy in season two by the way).

Mike starts yapping AGAIN about if he said something that he for some reason doesn’t know what it is that he should’ve said then he’d know where El is and he’d be there right now. Idk I’m bored of this too. Will (god bless his patient soul) starts comforting Mike AGAIN and starts opening up from his own emotions. He says “sometimes.. I think it’s just scary to open up like that. to say how you truly feel. Especially to people you care about the most. because what if- what if they don’t like the truth”. Mike nods (for some reason *wink*) even though he knows him saying “I love you” is the truth El wants to hear. but ok. Anyway, if you couldn’t tell this is one of many hints to Will being gay also.

15) “Mike holding the phone for Will”:

this isn’t necessarily a proof, but it’s cute that Mike was holding the phone for Will and allowed Will’s hand to hold his on top. I love them.

16) “The Van Scene”:

oh boy oh boy where to begin…

Not only does Mike use the good old Will voice (I was gonna put this in here as an official byler proof, but it’s more of just a fun detail) he is constantly staring at Will in ways you can’t get straight explanations for.

Obviously, in this scene Will gives his painting to Mike as a way to cheer him up after (yet again) talking about how shit his relationship with El is. yeah I bet even milevens were sick of it at this point.

Mike unravels the painting and Will stares, anxiously waiting for a positive response. Mike smiles widely and Will reciprocates proudly with a smile of his own. Mike looks up at him and asks “did you paint this” after exclaiming how amazing it is. Will responds “yeah- I mean.. El asked me to, she commissioned it basically she told me what to draw”. NO. NOOOOOO. this is where every byler in the world face palmed and cried for 10 days.

he then goes on to tell Mike about the painting and all his feelings for him while disguising them as El’s.

“anyway, my point is. See how you’re leading us here? You’re guiding the whole party. Inspiring us. That- that’s what you do. And see your coat of arms here? It’s a heart. And I know it’s sort of on the nose, but, that’s what holds this whole party together. Heart.” Will was so brave for this actually, what straight homie makes a painting for his friend and puts a whole heart on his person alone. okay.

he then goes on to describing his feelings, I changed them to what it would be like if he didn’t use El’s name.

“I mean, without heart we’d all fall apart. Even me, especially me. These past few months I’ve been so lost without you. It’s just I’m so different from other people and… when you’re - when you’re different. Sometimes… you feel like a mistake. but you make me feel like I’m not a mistake at all, like I’m better for being different and that gives me the courage to fight on. If I was mean to you or if I seemed like I was pushing you away it’s probably just because I’m scared of losing you just like you’re scared of losing her.” (I know that one hurt, but from Will’s pov he believes Mike feels nothing towards him.) “and - and if I was going to lose you I- I think I’d just rather get it over with quick, like ripping off a bandaid. So yeah, I need you Mike. And I always will.”

“yeah?” Mike responds.

“Yeah.” Will answers, and cries out the window. Holy fucking shit. The duffers need to be hunted with pitchforks for that one.

17) “Mike and El’s reunion”:

after finally finding El, Mike hops out the van and they share a (honestly I can’t even lie about this) very sweet reunion. Except…

Will is in the background, because apparently he just loves to linger in the background of every heartfelt mileven scene lmfao. Mike then looks at Will, looks at El, looks at Will and then looks at El again. It’s a very interesting scene to say the least and then El and Will have this adorable reunion #brothersistergoals

18) “El’s drawing”:

I have nothing to say other than how painfully set up this is lmfao.

19) “Will’s heart to heart with Jonathan”:

this is a nice little bonus of just proving to the painfully stupid general audience that Will is gay and that Jonathan will always be there to support him. Jonathan basically reassures him of that, and Will tells him he’ll always be there for him too.

it’s a really beautiful scene and it ends with a tearful hug from both ends. I’m gonna cry if Will comes out to him next season for real.

20) “Mike’s love confession to El”:

not only was Mike telling the biggest amount of horseshit in this “love confession” but it’s also one of the biggest byler proofs there is.

For some odd reason, Mike sat there telling El the exact opposite of what she wanted to hear by listing everything he loves about her… again… which is.. again.. her powers? Even though he loves her without her powers? He also proceeds to call her a superhero again but this time “my superhero”. Okay.

He also says his life started the day he found her in the woods (“that’s not will?” Lmfao) and he’s loved her ever since that day… even though he wanted to get rid of her that same night to focus on finding Will, only kept her because she was on the run from bad men and could help find Will, got mad and snapped when she couldn’t help find Will, forgave her again when she found him in the walkie talkie, stopped them from finding Will so their whole friend group fell out, Called her a weapon and then used her for finding Will again. But sure, yeah, you’ve loved her this whole time michael.

He also couldn’t spit out the words “I love you” until Will got his attention and told him “you’re the heart. You’re the heart!” (I also find it hilarious how neither Will or Jonathan knew that Mike couldn’t say “I love you” and they’re just sitting there watching Mike say all this shit as if it means something).

Will is also constantly in the background of this love confession, more specifically when Mike says “I love you”. Imagine if in every love confession the “third wheel” or the “other woman/man” in the love triangle was just casually in the background with another season to go and their feelings haven’t properly been brought to the table yet. that’s pretty suspicious if you ask me.

there’s also the fact it’s never brought up again, Mike and El don’t discuss it and they don’t have a heart to heart but you know who does….?

21) “We will. We will.”:

two days have passed since Mike’s ass love confession and the gang have arrived back in Hawkins. After visiting max in hospital (and Mike and Will sharing a hug through Lucas) they’re now helping El clean up hoppers cabin.

El walks past Will and Mike sassy-ly and slams the door behind her (well sort of, this cutie still leaves it open 3 inches I love her). Will asks if she’s spoken to Mike at all, but he says she hasn’t much. He did say that she was worried she wasn’t ready and that Dr. Brenner might have been right when he said that. He also proceeds to say he hopes 001 (vecna) is dead.

Will, being dramatic as always and forever the bearer of bad news says he’s not dead. He tells Mike that now that he’s here in Hawkins, he can feel him, that he’s still alive but he’s hurting. and that it’s strange knowing now who it was this whole time, and he still remembers what he thinks and how he thinks. and that he’s not going to stop. Ever. Not until he’s taken everything and everyone. He then tells Mike “we have to kill him.”

Mike then grabs his shoulder, gripping tightly

“And we will. We will.”

*skrrrttt* you guessed it. ANOTHER interruption trope.

22) “Mike and Will standing next to the canon couples of the show”:

we’ve reached the very last scene of stranger things season 4 and also the very last byler proof of this post. Mike, Will, Nancy, Jonathan, Hopper and Joyce are all standing on the hill while El stands in-front of them holding the flowers she loves decaying in her hands.

there’s A LOT of symbolism here. The fact the flowers El is holding are the ones Mike gave to her at the start of season 4 and now they’re crumbling away in her hands possibly symbolising her and Mike’s relationship.

And of course, the most obvious one, Jancy and Jopper standing next to Byler. You seriously cannot make this up, if this isn’t the most blatantly obvious and in your face foreshadowing I don’t know what is.

To not make byler canon after all THIS is insane.

Anyway, thank you for reading this whole yap session. I care for you… so much. lol but yeah please give this a like it took me FOREVER. and remember, byler is endgame.

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