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I think the thing that I'm the least excited for after season 5 is released, is seeing mainstream publications write about topics that fan theorists on Tumblr have been writing about with a million times greater analysis and detail and footnotes, the likes of which those news outlets will never be able to match, and for a number of years.

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Will’s electric powers are setting Mike’s heart on fire ❤️‍🔥

I do think there’s two major takeaways for the symbolism here:

1. Will is able to restart Mike’s heart with his electricity.

2. Mike’s heart is on fire/burning due to passionate intense love for Will.

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The Todfather

Tod is another name for Ted. Tod is a preppy dude who is kind of oblivious (like Ted). He doesn't realize Hopper (another father) is lying to him until it's too late. Alexei gets called a "child murderer" but he's innocent. Well, not totally innocent. The problems he caused with the gate were under his bosses command. He's childlike and does try to help Hopper and Joyce fix things. I think this is yet another story that is looping. Ted didn't realize Lonnie was a problem until it was too late. Whatever happened at Will's birthday could have been avoided and there are a lot of people who have guilt for not doing more - Joyce, Hopper, Jonathan. Will ends up being blamed for something awful (child murderer, massacre at the lab) but it's really Lonnie who is to blame. I think Ted feels guilty for his role in whatever happened with the boys (his emotional distance) and this is going to come up again next season. He just doesn't know how to address it yet. Fathers are important in this show. Ted's distance with Mike has a lot to do with them just being very different people. I think Ted will see Mike helping people around town and helping Holly and accept him. But I also think Ted is going to die in the end.

Also the Godfather reference with Todfather - a story about the patriarch of a crime family transferring his power over to his son. The fathers bad influence leads to the sons bad behavior. Violence corrupts. Toxic family dynamics. Problematic father-son relationship.

Lonnie and Will are the toxic duo. Will (and Jonathan) fear they will be like him. Will gets blamed for something that was really Lonnie's fault. I think Ted and Mike are the more hopeful pair. They started off not relating to each other but will in the end. Their relationship isn't toxic they just struggle to relate to each other. It's fixable unlike Lonnie, Will, and Jonathan.

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alright wheeler, i think we found your hub / you're the heart

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So Bylers, how do you feel about Manifestation Theory (as in Mike or Will or both or some character creating/manifesting the monsters, paranormal occurrences and some characters)

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Someone needs to wake up...

Just some of the many references to dreaming…

Is someone stuck in a dream perhaps?

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Grief

denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance

the intense and all consuming emotional pain from loss that haunts the story

This post may be confusing if you don't read this theory first.

After Will went missing, Joyce insisted that what she was experiencing was not grief but something "different"- as Will is actually alive.

However, the way Hopper describes grief is interesting. It contains metaphors used throughout the show...

He still saw and heard Sarah after her passing

He didn't know what was real and what was in his mind

He had to "pack it all away"

Otherwise, he was gonna "fall down a hole"

Keep all of this in mind...

We do explicitly see many characters grieve throughout the show, such as : El, Hopper, Joyce, Max... etc.

However, there is one character who is almost constantly grieving in some shape or form...

Mike.

He grieves Will after he goes missing. Then he grieves El after she goes missing. Then he grieves Will again after he becomes possessed. Then he grieves both Will and El after they move west.

He's either: in denial, in anger, in bargaining, or in depression. He's been stuck in a loop, in a cave, in a hole this entire time thus far.

This is why he is predominately featured during Hopper's letter. It was all about grief. Not just Mike's love for Will.

This is why we got this parallel. Mike is grieving.

But why, you may ask, is Mike grieving Will if Will is alive?

Well... remember what Hopper said.

"After Sarah, I saw her too, and I heard her. I didn't know what was real."

There is a part of Mike that knows the truth. That knows that Will may not actually be alive.

But he has "packed it all away" and has not yet unpacked it all.

Mike's greatest fear

In the VR game, we are given some clues of Mike's greatest fear.

When Vecna uses the loss of El to trigger Mike, it doesn't work- because he picked the wrong person.

Vecna asks Will what Mike is afraid of, but Will doesn't tell him. This is a hint that connects Will to Mike's fear... because...

Mike's greatest fear is losing Will.

No no, I'm not saying that Mike only cares about Will and nothing else. I'm not saying that Mike is simply Will's love interest.

The point here is that... Mike fears losing Will, and being unable to do anything. This is his greatest fear because, it actually happened in some reality. THIS is why Mike desperately wants to be needed, to be able to help and to be the hero. Because in some universe, he was not actually able to do so and it devastated him.

"The greatest person you've ever known is gone forever. Because you didn't try harder."

He is struggling with both grief and survivor's guilt. He not only grieves his best friend/love of his life, but he blames himself for what happened to Will.

What could have been...

Mike is quick to shut down ideas of him and Will having a future together may not be just because of internalized homophobia. It's possible that he knows, deep down, that it is impossible. Will is gone.

Or is he? Will Mike change his ending? Or will he finally reach acceptance? Or... both?

For full context, this post is an extension of this theory.

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finally drew a cute hug 🥹 I really missed drawing omg why did I stop doing this

.....gotta remember how to finish drawings now lmaoooo but ykw this is fine until then

[greenfiend]

Someone is dreaming...

about reuniting with a lost love

Each one of these songs are about dreaming of a lost love. Dreaming and waking up are commonly alluded to throughout the show. Someone needs to wake up, and I think I know who it is (wait until the end of the post)...

"We found that music has a particularly calming effect on the broken mind. The right song, particularly one which holds some personal meaning, can prove a salient stimulus. But there are those who are... beyond a cure." - Anthony Hatch

Lets go over the songs, shall we?

Moonlight Serenade

I stand at your gate and the song that I sing is of moonlight I stand and I wait for the touch of your hand in the June night The roses are sighing a Moonlight Serenade The stars are aglow and tonight how their light sets me dreaming My love, do you know that your eyes are like stars brightly beaming? I bring you and sing you a Moonlight Serenade Let us stray till break of day In love's valley of dreams Just you and I, a summer sky A heavenly breeze kissing the trees So don't let me wait, come to me tenderly in the June night I stand at your gate and I sing you a song in the moonlight A love song, my darling, a Moonlight Serenade

A lover dreaming about reunited with their love. The "I stand at your gate" stands out to me especially because this occurred twice in ST4 season.

Reuniting at the airport gate and reuniting at the gate at the Russian camp.

Plus, the reference to the opera Nina. Who's lover was killed and she buried the memory and continued to wait every day at the train station (basically another gate) for her lover's return.

Red Sails In The Sunset

{Red sails in the sunset, way out on the sea} Oh, carry my loved one home safely to me {She sailed at the dawning, all day I've been blue} Red sails in the sunset, I'm trusting in you Swift wings you must borrow Make straight for the shore We marry tomorrow And she goes sailing no more {Red sails in the sunset, way out on the sea} Oh, carry my loved one home safely to me

Again, a lost love and a lover awaiting their return. Specifically, a lost love in the water...

I'll See You In My Dreams

Lonely days are long Twilight sings a song All the happiness that used to be Soon my eyes will close Soon I'll find repose And in dreams, you're always near to me I'll see you in my dreams Hold you in my dreams Someone took you out of my arms Still I feel the thrill of your charms Lips that once were mine Tender eyes that shine They will light my way tonight I'll see you in my dreams

A lover dreaming of their lost love who was taken from them.

Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams

When skies are cloudy and gray They're only gray for a day So wrap your troubles in dreams And dream your troubles away Until that sunshine peeps thru There's only one thing to do Just wrap your troubles in dreams And dream your troubles away Your castles may tumble That's Fate after all Life's really funny that way No use to grumble Just smile as they fall Weren't you King for a day? Say! Just remember that sunshine Always follows the rain So wrap your troubles in dreams And dream your troubles away

This song is about dreaming troubles away. Coping with reality by dreaming. Pretending.

So which character is dreaming?

Mike.

Is he "beyond a cure?"

Well... this "cure" didn't work but...

I think this one might.

[greenfiend]

There's something so beautiful about a boy feeling like he's a mistake, that he should forever hide away, and erase his birth(day) from existence... realizing that he is SO loved that reality itself was altered so he could survive.

[greenfiend]

YUP!

This connects with what was said at Pennhurst.

Hatch says there are those who are beyond a cure. The cure for insanity, as this is a mental institution...

While ST4 attempted to cure the problem with one character (El)-

We know this didn't work.

But, what if I said there was another cure for Mike's insanity?

Will.

Just like with the story of Nina, the lovers will reunite. And Mike, as well as Hawkins, will be cured of this insanity.

Do you thinks the whole 'opera about nina' thing leans into your 'story in a story' theory? Because it would kinda make sence- mike being nina and her dead lover being will, nina/mike repressing that memory and wating for him ti return/imagining

Re: The Story within a Story theory

YES - I definitely do.

I was going to make a whole post about that but I'll talk about it here.

At first I thought Nina was just about El and by extension Will, repressing his memories... but... this story is specifically about a lover who was killed and the memory of this was repressed by the protagonist. These specific lines are left in the script for a reason. Not to mention how the story of Nina is clearly extremely significant as the whole episode is called "Nina" and the whole story line revolves around the opera.

Mike is repressing the memory of Will's death.

HOWEVER, some interesting things to note:

El says "This... This isn't real." and Papa responds "But it once was."

Also, Papa never reveals the true ending of the story of Nina; the second act.

And... this occurs within the same episode...

Will says it's scary to open up and tell the truth because "what if they don't like the truth?" Mike nods and they are interrupted by Arygle saying "Does anybody know the dead dude's name?" all while the song "Letter to Willy" plays.

Not to mention how all of this fits with the songs about dreaming of a lost love in the previous episode "Dear Billy". Post about that here.

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Exactly. The story keeps repeating.

We saw it with El and Mike, with Joyce and Hopper, and now with Lucas and Max.

This all arose from Mike and Will. This is their play, with other characters acting out their story.

Do you thinks the whole 'opera about nina' thing leans into your 'story in a story' theory? Because it would kinda make sence- mike being nina and her dead lover being will, nina/mike repressing that memory and wating for him ti return/imagining

Re: The Story within a Story theory

YES - I definitely do.

I was going to make a whole post about that but I'll talk about it here.

At first I thought Nina was just about El and by extension Will, repressing his memories... but... this story is specifically about a lover who was killed and the memory of this was repressed by the protagonist. These specific lines are left in the script for a reason. Not to mention how the story of Nina is clearly extremely significant as the whole episode is called "Nina" and the whole story line revolves around the opera.

Mike is repressing the memory of Will's death.

HOWEVER, some interesting things to note:

El says "This... This isn't real." and Papa responds "But it once was."

Also, Papa never reveals the true ending of the story of Nina; the second act.

And... this occurs within the same episode...

Will says it's scary to open up and tell the truth because "what if they don't like the truth?" Mike nods and they are interrupted by Arygle saying "Does anybody know the dead dude's name?" all while the song "Letter to Willy" plays.

Not to mention how all of this fits with the songs about dreaming of a lost love in the previous episode "Dear Billy". Post about that here.

[greenfiend]

Do you thinks the whole 'opera about nina' thing leans into your 'story in a story' theory? Because it would kinda make sence- mike being nina and her dead lover being will, nina/mike repressing that memory and wating for him ti return/imagining

Re: The Story within a Story theory

YES - I definitely do.

I was going to make a whole post about that but I'll talk about it here.

At first I thought Nina was just about El and by extension Will, repressing his memories... but... this story is specifically about a lover who was killed and the memory of this was repressed by the protagonist. These specific lines are left in the script for a reason. Not to mention how the story of Nina is clearly extremely significant as the whole episode is called "Nina" and the whole story line revolves around the opera.

Mike is repressing the memory of Will's death.

HOWEVER, some interesting things to note:

El says "This... This isn't real." and Papa responds "But it once was."

Also, Papa never reveals the true ending of the story of Nina; the second act.

And... this occurs within the same episode...

Will says it's scary to open up and tell the truth because "what if they don't like the truth?" Mike nods and they are interrupted by Arygle saying "Does anybody know the dead dude's name?" all while the song "Letter to Willy" plays.

Not to mention how all of this fits with the songs about dreaming of a lost love in the previous episode "Dear Billy". Post about that here.

[greenfiend]

Yes! Midnight, sunset, twilight… it all connects.

Sunshine following rain also often leads to rainbows 🌈.

Someone is dreaming...

about reuniting with a lost love

Each one of these songs are about dreaming of a lost love. Dreaming and waking up are commonly alluded to throughout the show. Someone needs to wake up, and I think I know who it is (wait until the end of the post)...

"We found that music has a particularly calming effect on the broken mind. The right song, particularly one which holds some personal meaning, can prove a salient stimulus. But there are those who are... beyond a cure." - Anthony Hatch

Lets go over the songs, shall we?

Moonlight Serenade

I stand at your gate and the song that I sing is of moonlight I stand and I wait for the touch of your hand in the June night The roses are sighing a Moonlight Serenade The stars are aglow and tonight how their light sets me dreaming My love, do you know that your eyes are like stars brightly beaming? I bring you and sing you a Moonlight Serenade Let us stray till break of day In love's valley of dreams Just you and I, a summer sky A heavenly breeze kissing the trees So don't let me wait, come to me tenderly in the June night I stand at your gate and I sing you a song in the moonlight A love song, my darling, a Moonlight Serenade

A lover dreaming about reunited with their love. The "I stand at your gate" stands out to me especially because this occurred twice in ST4 season.

Reuniting at the airport gate and reuniting at the gate at the Russian camp.

Plus, the reference to the opera Nina. Who's lover was killed and she buried the memory and continued to wait every day at the train station (basically another gate) for her lover's return.

Red Sails In The Sunset

{Red sails in the sunset, way out on the sea} Oh, carry my loved one home safely to me {She sailed at the dawning, all day I've been blue} Red sails in the sunset, I'm trusting in you Swift wings you must borrow Make straight for the shore We marry tomorrow And she goes sailing no more {Red sails in the sunset, way out on the sea} Oh, carry my loved one home safely to me

Again, a lost love and a lover awaiting their return. Specifically, a lost love in the water...

I'll See You In My Dreams

Lonely days are long Twilight sings a song All the happiness that used to be Soon my eyes will close Soon I'll find repose And in dreams, you're always near to me I'll see you in my dreams Hold you in my dreams Someone took you out of my arms Still I feel the thrill of your charms Lips that once were mine Tender eyes that shine They will light my way tonight I'll see you in my dreams

A lover dreaming of their lost love who was taken from them.

Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams

When skies are cloudy and gray They're only gray for a day So wrap your troubles in dreams And dream your troubles away Until that sunshine peeps thru There's only one thing to do Just wrap your troubles in dreams And dream your troubles away Your castles may tumble That's Fate after all Life's really funny that way No use to grumble Just smile as they fall Weren't you King for a day? Say! Just remember that sunshine Always follows the rain So wrap your troubles in dreams And dream your troubles away

This song is about dreaming troubles away. Coping with reality by dreaming. Pretending.

So which character is dreaming?

Mike.

Is he "beyond a cure?"

Well... this "cure" didn't work but...

I think this one might.

[greenfiend]

Someone is dreaming...

about reuniting with a lost love

Each one of these songs are about dreaming of a lost love. Dreaming and waking up are commonly alluded to throughout the show. Someone needs to wake up, and I think I know who it is (wait until the end of the post)...

"We found that music has a particularly calming effect on the broken mind. The right song, particularly one which holds some personal meaning, can prove a salient stimulus. But there are those who are... beyond a cure." - Anthony Hatch

Lets go over the songs, shall we?

Moonlight Serenade

I stand at your gate and the song that I sing is of moonlight I stand and I wait for the touch of your hand in the June night The roses are sighing a Moonlight Serenade The stars are aglow and tonight how their light sets me dreaming My love, do you know that your eyes are like stars brightly beaming? I bring you and sing you a Moonlight Serenade Let us stray till break of day In love's valley of dreams Just you and I, a summer sky A heavenly breeze kissing the trees So don't let me wait, come to me tenderly in the June night I stand at your gate and I sing you a song in the moonlight A love song, my darling, a Moonlight Serenade

A lover dreaming about reunited with their love. The "I stand at your gate" stands out to me especially because this occurred twice in ST4 season.

Reuniting at the airport gate and reuniting at the gate at the Russian camp.

Plus, the reference to the opera Nina. Who's lover was killed and she buried the memory and continued to wait every day at the train station (basically another gate) for her lover's return.

Red Sails In The Sunset

{Red sails in the sunset, way out on the sea} Oh, carry my loved one home safely to me {She sailed at the dawning, all day I've been blue} Red sails in the sunset, I'm trusting in you Swift wings you must borrow Make straight for the shore We marry tomorrow And she goes sailing no more {Red sails in the sunset, way out on the sea} Oh, carry my loved one home safely to me

Again, a lost love and a lover awaiting their return. Specifically, a lost love in the water...

I'll See You In My Dreams

Lonely days are long Twilight sings a song All the happiness that used to be Soon my eyes will close Soon I'll find repose And in dreams, you're always near to me I'll see you in my dreams Hold you in my dreams Someone took you out of my arms Still I feel the thrill of your charms Lips that once were mine Tender eyes that shine They will light my way tonight I'll see you in my dreams

A lover dreaming of their lost love who was taken from them.

Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams

When skies are cloudy and gray They're only gray for a day So wrap your troubles in dreams And dream your troubles away Until that sunshine peeps thru There's only one thing to do Just wrap your troubles in dreams And dream your troubles away Your castles may tumble That's Fate after all Life's really funny that way No use to grumble Just smile as they fall Weren't you King for a day? Say! Just remember that sunshine Always follows the rain So wrap your troubles in dreams And dream your troubles away

This song is about dreaming troubles away. Coping with reality by dreaming. Pretending.

So which character is dreaming?

Mike.

Is he "beyond a cure?"

Well... this "cure" didn't work but...

I think this one might.

[greenfiend]

So, Lovers lake right?