#tbf i don't like it when people say mike wants to be needed and will needs mike either

[maddy-ferguson]

i feel like being a bit of a hypocrite is inherent to choosing a side in a love triangle and i don't mind idc i will always be a hypocrite

[will80sbyers]

Sorry if you have already answered this kind of question before but I am new here and I wanted to know why you think Mike couldn't tell El that he loves her if you believe that he is bi? I ask the question because I thought the reason Mike couldn't tell El what she wanted to hear is because he hates lying to people and doesn't feel romantic feelings for her. Thanks in advance!

I think he's not really in love with her even if he's bi, he believes he is, he didn't even lie in the monologue - he thought he was saying the truth even if it's not the whole truth imo

he was attracted to her and that's why he's confused about his feelings, he confused young infatuation with true love, he liked her but only loves her platonically not romantically

but tbf he has many reasons to close up with her emotionally, I wrote a power point about it if you're interested... it should explain more in detail! Although for some stuff I might have changed my mind but in general it should be more or less what I think 🤔

he's also been unsure because he himself didn't know exactly why he "didn't know what to say" and in s4 and 5 I think his journey is and will be about self discovery and growing up but in season 4 he believed Will's words came from El and that's why he opened up to her, Mike wants to be loved by someone like Will loves him and that made him sure he could open up to El because he thought El was the one thinking all of that about him even when it's a lie and El doesn't really need Mike in the way he wants to be needed & loved (I don't think she's in love with him at all lol)

if you have watched Little Women the situation is the same as Laurie & Jo basically

Even in the old movie that the writers took as inspiration for season 4 Laurie makes this big love speech about Jo but he doesn't understand what true love is and that's why he's blabbing... Also Jo (El) wanted to be loved but didn't really love him for who he is

Laurie was convinced he was in love with Jo but in the end the truth was he was idealizing her in his mind and when he finds out he's in love with Amy instead he tells Jo that the love he feels for Amy is different

At around 2 minutes

The love Mike has for Will is more mature while the love he has for El is more puppy love transforming into a strictly platonic love now, it's based on the idealistic naiveté of young people that don't actually have discovered yet what "mature" love is 🌈