#el hopper

[imfinereallyy]

El being wholesome with Steve. El being wholesome with Steve. The weird sibling duo we didn’t know we needed. I need more of it. I might do it….no I’ve done enough of them…

Okay, okay. But just picture this:

The kids trying to embarrass Steve all the time with photos and stories to Eddie, but El ruins it every.single.time. because she is so unbelievably wholesome when it comes to Steve.

Here is everyone pulling out scoops photos (which Eddie actually loves thank you very much) and sharing stories about his failed dates. Dustin tells Eddie specifically about the time he was teaching Lucas basketball and Lucas threw the ball too hard at the backboard and hit Steve in the face.

So they are all poking fun at Steve in his and Robin’s apartment (because in every universe these platonic soulmates live together) and there is just El who randomly chimes in:

“Steve took me to this thing called a ren faire once. It was very fun. We both looked really pretty.”

Eddie absolutely melts at the story and gushes over the photos she has.

And everyone gets quiet every time, because no one wants to criticize El, but one time Max gently goes, “You know that’s like….nice right? We’re making fun of him.”

Everyone one expects her to being embarrassed or confused but instead she simple says.

“I know. I don’t like it. Steve’s nice.”

And she embarrasses everyone, except Robin and Eddie who are the only ones Steve never gets upset with when they make fun of him. They all mumble out apologies, and Steve turns to Dustin and goes:

“This is why she gets a special section in the freezer. All different flavors of eggos.”

El’s eyes get wide. “Even the blueberry ones?”

Steve gives her hair a tousle, “Especially the blueberry ones.”

[strawberrybyers]

the airport scene really is a cinematic masterpiece

we have argyle and jonathan high as hell

willel excited to see their boo

then this doofus shows up only to have his girlfriend immediately be disappointed by “from: mike”, have a totally “heterosexual” interaction with his best friend, then gets clocked by a guy he doesn’t know for wearing a knock-off

i love every moment of it because in just these 2 minutes you find out everything you need to know about the dynamic between mike, el, and will. this is the first half of the catalyst that takes down mikeven, shows mike’s struggle with his sexuality, and the love will has for mike. it’s chef’s kiss fr i couldn’t have asked for a better scene 🤌

[artsyna]

Mileven breakup forshadowing since episode fucking one of season 4

Like the flowers that Mike got you??

Okay I'm bot crazy i swear, but listen.

Spring flowers = Mike

soo it would be...

"At first, I missed Mike." (SEASON 5 FORSHADOWINGG YES)

AND THIS IS HER INDEPENDENT ERA FORSHADOWING

[will80sbyers]

no way I could ever hate her.

[talesofliia]

Both El and Will have been through so much that, out of all the characters, they especially deserve to survive whatever S5 throws at them. Otherwise, I feel the show would disappoint its audience by snatching away hope for a fair and happy resolution.

The same goes for Mike – his death would be devastating, especially for Will and El. He needs to survive! I genuinely hope these three make it through and find their happy endings.

[bylersbear01]

THEY ARE IN HIGH SCHOOL😭

[ssaronance]

😁😁😁😁

[insomniacirl]

Okay yes- we talk about the s3 Byler fight scene all the time:

BUT CAN WE PLEASE TALK ABOUT THE SCENE PRIOR TO THIS???

Because yes, Mike and Lucas act like assholes towards Will because they're too concentrated on the girls- but as soon as Will finally breaks and gives them the,

"Okay, fine. You guys win. Congratulations."

Mike KNOWS he's fucked up and immediately tries to fix his mistake.

"Will I was just messing around- let's finish for real, how much longer is the campaign?"

"Just forget it Mike!"

"No- we want to keep playing- right?"

*Turns to Lucas and gives him a look*

"Yeah totally!"

"We'll just call the girls afterwards-"

CAN WE TALK ABOUT THAT VS THE ENTIRE REASON MIKE IS DISTRACTED TO BEGIN WITH???

That boy has no idea how to apologise to El, how to make it up to her- after being broken up with he fully pins the blame on El and argues to Lucas that it makes no sense- that he's the victim.

BUT AS SOON AS WILL'S UPSET WITH HIM? Now that's a whole other story.

And to really get that message across, also pay attention to the very blatant fact that Lucas has been trying to help him with the girls this entire time, telling him what to say and do- but it's Mike's turn to tell Lucas what to do when it comes to Will, that's where his expertise come in. It's second nature, with Will he knows what to do, he acts on instinct to reach out and soothe any injury he's left and he only ever blames himself.

Up until the fight that is.

Say what you Will about season 3 Mike Wheeler, but I will defend that boy with my life.

Yes, he acted like a douchebag- but he was also an extremely confused, extremely frustrated 14 year old boy, with no idea how to fix all the mistakes he seemed to be making just by trying to do what people were telling him was right.

[lemonycranberries]

honestly, if byler was a straight ship, people would've seen will x mike x el as a love triangle from s1. like, people would've seen mike and will as a possible ship from "it was a seven", and even moreso after mike spent the rest of the season like he did. if will was a girl, a single tender moment between them both alone would already be seen as an indication of a probable romance, and stuff like "i'm the only one who cares about will!" and the way he talks about will in general during the season, + the sheer desperation to find him and how he's singled out from the rest of his peers in that regard would most likely be seen as a confirmation of one. the story would 100% be seen as "this boy is obviously interested in his best friend, and suddenly a new girl appeared and he seems to maybe be interested in her as well. i wonder what will happen." (well, not exactly like that, because i genuinely believe mike was never really interested in el in a non-platonic way and that their entire relationship is built off others' expectations and mike's own internalized homophobia, which wouldn't exist in this case; but let's ignore that for now, since this is a hypothetical). s2 would make this even stronger, but would probably be seen as a case for people to root more for byler.

heteronormativity doesn't only make people expect straight romances where they aren't any, it blinds them to any romantic possibilities in pairings that aren't straight, when they would've seen them otherwise.

[spookystarfishzombie]

[kittykat940]

Why would you do this to me 😭 I need more sibling moments between them in s5 please duffer brothers 🙏

[imfinereallyy]

argument of the day:

Which of the kids would have the hardest time adjusting to Steve and Eddie being together? Who would have the easiest?

[thestobingirlie]

this poll is of the utmost importance.

[harringroveera]

Based on their expressions, it might just be a lil weird

Bonus:

[will80sbyers]

STRANGER THINGS Chapter three: Holly, Jolly

[bylerpolls]

will you be disappointed if el has more screen time than will in S5 once again and if everything gears up to yet another showdown between El and Vecna?

1) yes

2) no

3) nuance