omartinyosef

[omartinyosef]

some ppl said will and mike were going yo stay in the lover's lake house, the same in which eddie stayed. Some people even theorized that some *stuff* was going to happen there since the bedsheets were blue and yellow. And maybe that's happens before the military base scenes in the trailer and that's why both will and mike are soaked, but idk

Ross Duffer's BTS photo of LOVER'S LAKE!? #loverslakegate

I know Bylers are going crazy over #loverslakegate

So when I stumbled on this behind-the-scenes photo from Ross Duffer's Instagram from Feb. 16 2024 I figured I should share:

(It's part of a set of photos titled "Weeks 5-6")

I don't know TV/film production, but wouldn't a writer use an index card with a letter to figure out the order of scenes? Or maybe this is in-universe, and the party is labeling gate locations?

Either way, doesn't this mean there might be a scene there?

-teambyler

[omartinyosef]

OH LORD

OK the comments have a point, this looks like conversation about their kiss in S5. Like Noah is shorter and he had to somehow reach Finn face HELPPP THIS MAKE SENSE

Video not mine. Used for contextual purposes only

[omartinyosef]

could NEVER

do yall remember the static kiss

[omartinyosef]

STOP NO TOO SAD MY BOIS 😭😭😭😭 this is fire but im crying ngl

The Show Itself is a Story within a Story

written by characters who exist beyond it

All roads lead to the library...

Why do I think this? What is the purpose of this twist? And most importantly… who is writing this story and why?

First off I’ll just say that I’m well aware this is an unpopular and highly controversial theory. That many say it invalids the story and would be an unsatisfying end. I understand perspectives like this. I won't be going into the arguments about whether or not this should be the ending, but rather I'm merely arguing that there is a high possibly of this actual being the ending. More specifically, the final 20 minutes of the show.

I’m well aware the writers have claimed that theories that “it was all a DnD game” are bogus. However, they have clearly lied to us many times to conceal spoilers. So, let’s try not pick and choose what they say is gospel, and what should be taken with a grain of salt.

Also, I will add that I have already made a theory post similar to this. Although I am likely wrong about many aspects of that theory, I do still agree with the general concept. This post is more of a basic summary of the framed narrative clues.

The Show Itself is Framed as a Novel

To put it very simply, the show is presented to us like a novel. Each episode is a chapter, each season a sequel, and when split they are in volumes.

Another Universe

Most of us have accepted the possibly of there being another universe beyond what we know. I agree with this. However, I believe that this universe we are seeing (the show) was created by characters within the other universe. Much like how Mike creates another universe whenever he DMs a campaign...

The world where none of this tragic stuff ever happened? Well, it definitely does exist... but... it's not "out there". Instead, that's the story we know within the show. The story that likely has a gay ending (both meanings of the word).

In other words, the story we are shown is the "watered down" story.

Finishing the Story and Changing the Ending

If you read the comics, you will find a blatant reoccurring theme of writing stories, and finishing said stories. While the comics are not necessarily canon, they remind us of the important themes of this show.

In The First Shadow play, we are reminded again of the concept of writing our own stories, and more specifically…. Changing the ending. Making the ending happy and gay.

We even had a leak reveal that El apparently says “they don’t get to write the ending, but we do.”

We also had an entire Stranger Things novel written in the format of a “Choose Your Own Adventure” book, where we, essentially, choose the ending for the characters.

This is a reoccurring concept within and beyond the show for a reason.

Frame Narratives

Within the show, we are frequently reminded of the concept of framed narratives. It is, essentially, a story within a story. Basically, there are at least two stories: the story that is the painting, and the story that exists within the frame of said painting.

The First Shadow play itself is a framed narrative, as it is a play within a play. They perform the play “Dark of the Moon” within the play itself.

We are also introduced to the concept of “memories within memories” which is a literal track on the ST4 soundtrack.

Why This Concept Fits the Themes

As most of us know, a major theme within the show is the concept of free will vs. determinism. Are we all prisoners of fate, or do we have any agency over our lives?

This theme would extend to the characters written within a novel. The author is their “God” or rather the “Puppet-master”. Perhaps the characters will take on a life of their own and persuade the author to change their ending to a happier one?

Who is Writing the Story?

This answer is simple. Which main character is a writer? Mike. He is “the heart” of the story. However, Will likely helped bring the story to life with his art.

Even way back when pitching the show as “Montauk” the writers slipped in clues within the character descriptions.

All these four boy dealt with bullying, however, only two of them utilized fantasy and imagination to “escape”/“retreat” from their lives and insecurities. Mike and Will.

Why Are They Writing the Story?

*Sign* Okay here is the difficult part to explain… the unpleasant stuff. Everyone hates this I know. Please put the pitchforks down.

Let’s go over some of the previous stuff I’ve mentioned.

A universe where none of this tragic stuff ever happened

A watered down story

Changing the ending to a happy/gay one

These all imply that the universe that exists beyond the show... is a tragic one.

To make this abundantly clear: the main story's conclusion is a happy one! However, the reason why it exists in the first place is because it was created in a universe/story with a tragic ending.

This story exists so the ending can be altered. This is the point.

So What is the Story Beyond this Story?

I... don't know exactly. But I have some ideas.

The main idea I have is that: Will passed away... for real. And he left behind his art which Mike cherishes.

Mike created this story for Will to change his ending and utilized his art as inspiration. He also utilized science as a way to explain the supernatural concepts we see.

Why do I think this? Many reasons. For one, Mike appears to constantly be battling grief throughout the show. Shifting from denial, bargaining, depression, anger but never quite reaching acceptance. He also frequently expresses his fear of losing people: mainly Will and El. PLUS, we have many references to stabbing hearts, broken hearts... and Mike himself is referred to as "The Heart". His heart is broken and ridden with grief because he actually did lose Will.

I have also previously analyzed the many letters shown within ST and how they are associated with... death, as well as a watered down story.

This all leads to...

(Yes I am plagiarizing myself here. lol.)

Now before I breakdown what I believe fits into these blanks, I want to clear up a couple of things that have been brought up before:

“This letter was just revealed to be a letter from the ST writers to us fans during ST day years ago.” Yes that is true. However, I doubt they would just post it like this if that’s all it meant. That’s pretty lame to be honest. We know they love to be vague and cryptic with their clues of what’s to come in the show, why wouldn’t they be doing that here as well? Plus this letter fits perfectly with the set up I just described. Perfectly. I’ll explain that soon.

“This is… not about a couple”. It isn't. Simply because only one of them is alive at this time...........

Now let’s properly break down the letter.

“anyway I think you’ll ____ sorry I couldn’t get it done ____”

These lines imply that the writer of the letter attached something to it. The writer likely thinks the recipient will like whatever they attached.

The writer then apologizes about something. The wording makes it seem like they’re apologizing about not completing whatever is attached on time. If time is what they’re apologizing for, this is likely Mike writing this. Mike has been associated with running late many times throughout the show.

This is my guess: “anyway I think you’ll like [the ending]. sorry I couldn’t get it done [on time]”

The next part is easy and was confirmed by the writers:

“but you mean so [much to me]”

Obviously whoever wrote this letter cares deeply about the recipient.

“and it’s been [so hard being without you]”

I guessed this part. The writer is making an excuse as to why they weren’t able to complete something on time. It makes sense that the writer was struggling from being away from the recipient and thus that was the excuse for the delay. This would make even more sense if the writer was struggling with grieving the recipient.

“hope this is [enough to] last until [we meet again]. Love, [Mike].”

The “enough to” was simple enough to complete, not much else can fit in that context.

I guessed the “we meet again” because it's fitting. It also implies Mike will reunite with Will in death. Blue meeting Yellow in "the west" (where the sun sets).

Now, the date “November 6, 1983” is there because…

The attachment is the complete story of the entire show, beginning on that very specific date. The book attached to the letter, or the “book of letters” if you will. Mike wrote the story, or rather finished the story for Will. He couldn’t “get it done on time” because Will likely passed on prior to the completion of the story. He wrote the story, which is the “watered down” version of the true horrors he and Will experienced, and others too. The story was written so he and Will could survive everything in the end and become heroes forever and ever.

[omartinyosef]

[omartinyosef]

ok no fuck it that's definitely lucas and someone else or just lucas

idk why, okay? But the thing that's on that wall? kinda gives me the sensation that it's a body. I dont know why. Just:

[omartinyosef]

THIS. THANK YOU.

hi umh sorry for asking but im kinda ignorant about this, can you explain why you still support Noah? No hate im just curious cuz i only saw him with the stickers and I was confused...

I'll say it again, I'm not really a fan of anybody, I'm a fan of the characters more than anything else - but the situation and the stuff I've been reading about him is extremely vile, this level of harassment means actively trying to make him kill himself and I don't believe he deserves that because I don't believe he's "evil" as people online wants to depict him, you usually can see it when someone is a vile person that would deserve to be attacked and he is just not that

- While his statements did have problematic things in it in my opinion it was more because of ignorance than actual malice and he needed to be educated and not attacked like that

- He tried apologizing and clarifying what he meant with a video and I believe he's genuine in it

- I know for a fact he has friends who are pro Palestine and he has been learning from them and deconstructing

-The stickers were not made by him, he was used for clout by the people that you see in the video around him and in that period he was hanging out with a 30 year old man that was an actual Zionist from there and was influencing Noah + if you look up the Instagram page affiliated to the "Zionism is sexy" stickers, which I did when this happened and I have the screenshots saved in my pc, you'll find that in that page they were going on posting stuff saying that Zionism only meant that they wanted safety for Jewish people while also living in peace etc etc (which is propaganda!) so the whole problem is that there's a different perception of the MEANING of the word, they believed that meaning while not being aware of the real situation in the region and also believing all the lies that those people try to spread around. At that moment he was literally put in the middle and didn't react appropriately, but if you grow up surrounded by people trying to convince you of that you would probably be acting in the same way

- He stopped supporting Israel and is against what is happening in Gaza

- He donated money to Gazans multiple times in secret because he's not doing it only to be forgiven and didn't brag about it

- I know people who know him and have seen receipts of all of this btw

- I know things about his life that the public doesn't know and I will not share because it would be highly fucked up and evil to do that, but I do have compassion for him also because of this outside of the fact that he's just a kid to me and you should have compassion in general for people and not want them to kill themselves (especially when they are NOT actual trash humans. There are trash humans out there and I am not above wishing for their death, but Noah is not one of them)

- He had to start therapy to deal with all of this

- He was 19 years old and the world is not black and white, people that grow up with the influence of the propaganda are not guilty for believing it, especially when they're young because they're being preyed on by older people the majority of the time

- there's LOTS of people that don't give a fuck about it and are hating on him because they want easy likes not because they care about the genocide. People should start looking at themselves in the mirror and I can't stand the insane hypocrisy I've seen since this started.

Hating on him will not help anybody, and it's not "a call out" it's cruel harassment, suicide instigation, homophobic slurs, rape threats.

In general no one should support the amount of harassment and hate he has been getting because he did not do anything that makes him deserve that, being ignorant and staying neutral by wishing that both Palestinians and Israelis were safe in what you perceived as a conflict because you have a misunderstanding of what is going on because you grew up with people telling you that "it's complicated" and repeating the propaganda around you, doesn't make you a "genocidal maniac" it only makes you ignorant and people should want others to be educated if we want a better world... which he is doing in private for now

I've been on the other side of online harassment myself even if in a way smaller amount thankfully, but some people don't have my character and can't stand this type of pressure mentally, so he is choosing to stay private now with all of this, and honestly it was hard for me too some days it did make me upset that so many people misunderstood my character... so I can't even imagine what receiving the GIANT amount of hate and comments on his appearance and his character is doing to him mentally and I find this extremely fucked up so I don't want to just ignore it even if I could mind my business and be "more popular" like that, it's just morally wrong.

[omartinyosef]

Please don't let this flop like my other memes🫩🫩‼️

[omartinyosef]

HOLY SHIT PLEASE I NEED IT NOW

GUYS WAIT I JUST HAD THE BIGGEST BYLER BRAIN MOMENT. BEAR WITH ME.

So the scene where Eddie says Nancy jumping into Lovers Lake after Steve is an unambiguous sign of true love. LOVERS LAKE GATE???? MIKE JUMPING IN TO SAVE WILL WOULD BE AN UNAMBIGUOUS SIGN OF TRUE LOVE???????

[omartinyosef]

THIS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NOAH MY BABY

With the Byler fandom rejuvenating -- along with hatred for Noah rearing up once again-- I wanted to put some thoughts out there about THIS fandom and my own personal feelings of disappointment.

It's quite weird to me that so many Bylers continue to publically crap on/use abusive language toward Noah while stanning Will Byers, their precious baby boy. I just came across a post earlier today that had someone expressing their sadness that Will Byers was getting hate post-teaser because of his actor, and while it was ok that Noah Schnapp, the real human being, was receiving this harassment, hating Will (a fictional character) was simply unfair. I want to shake these people and remind them-- if Byler receives negative backlash, Noah, the REAL gay young person, will be receiving the brunt of that hatred and you know that.

I have no feelings toward those who don't care to support any particular actor for political reasons, but I find it very offputting when people try and dismiss Noah's contribution to Will Byers, which was informed by his very real experiences coming of age and to terms with his identity. Those who try and remove Noah from Will Byers, or fancast some other (usually non-Jewish lol) actor as Will-- it feels extremely gross to me. Noah's formative years from 10-18 were on this show, and he IS Will Byers, whether you like it or not. No one else could do it like he does.

Don't even get me started on those of you who censor him out of photos posted by people who clearly care for him and want him around despite your coping and seething! And then will turn around and use toddler/young child (pre-Stranger Things) photos of him for Will Byers fan posts--pictures which were probably taken by his family! Do they not see how weird and violating that is? Some people's cognitive dissonance even goes so far that they fantasize about or sexualize the character Noah plays while speaking unkindly or abusively about him online. It's not just unkind, it's dehumanizing.

All this to say, I feel so much pity for child actors/entertainers growing up under this intense social media scrutiny. Turns out few are interested in a young person's right to privately deconstruct a belief system they grew up with and wish to instead cast stones and act morally superior. Use the pretense of social justice to be hateful and hypocritical. Noah seems, while I don't actually know him, to be a kind, thoughtful and grateful young man, and I hope to see him rise above the campaign of abusive harassment he's been on the receiving end of for the last two years.

[omartinyosef]

the lighting: yellow, will's color, on mike's head, and blue, mike's color, on will's

[omartinyosef]

idk man his account is verified it kinda gives me it's not him 😭😭😭

NOAH LIKED A BYLER VIDEO ABOUT LOVERSLAKEGATE, here , (Mike saving Will/ Byler kiss at Lover's Lake)

[omartinyosef]

BRUH HELP SHE'S SO PRETTY

WHERE DID THIS COME FROM HELLOW

[omartinyosef]

will byers about to give us the most outstanding and spine-tingling act for the finale season THAT'S OUR MAIN CHARACTER Y'ALL

[omartinyosef]

idk why, okay? But the thing that's on that wall? kinda gives me the sensation that it's a body. I dont know why. Just:

[omartinyosef]

my dudes that's will and joyce is attending to him

[omartinyosef]

YO PLEASE KEEP THIS AU GOING OH MY GOD IT NOW KEEPS ME ALIVE

byler!mlb au