Some Gilmore Girls // Byler - Mileven parallels which I thought were quite interesting to think about. Buckle up, I have a lot to say!
Rory couldn't say I love you to Dean just like Mike couldn't say I love you to El.
As Dean and El process their words, hurt dashes on their faces before anger takes hold of their emotions, admitting out loud similar thoughts: "You don't love me?" // "But you don't love me anymore?". The reactions from Rory and Mike are immediate: they don't agree with the statement, but don't say the expected words either. They delve into an explanation which does not satisfy the other party at all.
In both cases, it leads their relationship in some sort of limbo, a breaking point. In short, a state which leaves us and the characters thinking if they can come back from it.
Later on in the season, both Rory and Mike both say I love you to Dean and El and the scene appears as a big pivotal moment in the shows.
The only differences being the choice of music (more upbeat than emotional in Gilmore Girls) and the fact that Rory and Dean kiss meanwhile Mike and Eleven don't. It can be noted, however, that in both shows, someone who loves Rory / Mike is left standing by, watching the love confession, namely Tristan and Will.
Both love confessions are given with an explanation as to why the "I love you" hadn't been said before. What lies at the core of it is fear and commitment issues.
In Gilmore Girls, Rory explains to her mom that she was scared, that she didn't know what to do or what to say at that moment. She adds that she didn't want to hurt him. Her mom goes on to explain that she doesn't want Rory to be like her and have commitment issues when it comes to love, to the point that it would prevent her from saying it.
In Stranger Things, Mike admits multiple times that he is scared of losing Eleven (including to Will!) or that she would not need him anymore, meaning if he did commit and said I love you, she might go and leave him at some point.
NB: Though it is not said nor explored, this very well could be linked to Mike's parents unhappy marriage and their lack of love, but that's another matter...
Now, you may wonder, how if all of this is interesting in terms of Byler? Let me start by saying that I do believe that Mike does love El just like Rory does love Dean. But their love for them does not prevent them from loving someone else, i.e. Jess and Will, other love interests.
At some point in both shows, these relationship become long-distance. Rory spends the summer in Washington, leaving Dean behind in Stars Hallow. Mike stays in Hawkins whereas El lives in Lenora. In both cases, it is canon that they send letters to each other.
For those of you who haven't watched Gilmore Girls, it is fairly obvious from the moment that Jess arrives that Rory crushes on him and quickly develop feelings for him, despite the fact that she's with Dean and loves him. Which also means she's very conflicted and tries to ignore these feelings.
This inner conflict may be the same that Mike is having. How?
When the long-distance thing is going on, Rory finds herself utterly uncapable of sending one single letter to Jess but as it is showed, she has no problem sending many to Dean, who she's still with.
And according to Will's words, El has a "book of letters" from Mike meanwhile he didn't get any. Mike has no issues sending El letters because as he explains it, she's his girlfriend. But somehow he couldn't send any to Will, his best friend?
Are letters purely romantical? Would it have betrayed hidden feelings?
The lack of contact from Rory and Mike hurt Jess and Will, and they end up confronting each other about it. Both confrontation scenes really mirror each other: they're filled with tension, the characters get pretty defensive, other love interests are mentioned (El, Dean and the girl Jess is dating).
Jess accuses Rory of not reaching out. "Did you call me at all? Did you send me a letter? Postcard?". Meanwhile Will flat-out accuses Mike of having called only "maybe a couple times". Both Rory and Mike don't know how to excuse their behaviours.
Rory admits she hasn't called nor sent a letter, but jealousy is sipping through as she mentioned Jess's girlfriend and she's left angry. Mike seems angry too at Will's accusations and wonders out loud why it must be his fault and not Will's as well.
As the shows go on, Rory and Jess along with Mike and Will do make up. Things end between Rory and Dean because Dean caught on Rory's feelings for Jess and later on, Rory and Jess are together in a relationship. Mike and Will have plenty of heart-to-heart scenes in the rest of season 4 and that leaves us wondering if they will go down the same route as Rory and Jess.
Will El catch on Mike's feelings? Perhaps with the painting? Will that be the cause of the break-up?
Will El walk off on her own and leave Mike "behind" just as it is hinted at the end of Season 4? Just like Dean left Rory stranded saying Rory didn't want to be with him but with Jess?
I guess we'll have to wait to find out!
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