More than less

“And once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure, whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about.”

[piningbyyler]

[thetwelvetears]

if she wants blogs that are ethical rpf’ers—as in they aren’t insane attention seekers who make up crap—she’s gotta know these. no master posts on them I believe, but their blogs are great. all of them have common sense, don’t claim to know things they don’t, preach leaving the boys alone and keeping shipping to fan spaces, and aren’t afraid to call out the bullsh*t that permeates fandom. they are also seem like nice normal human beings. and besides shipping they all also discuss noah and finn stuff too so just in general fans of the boys as well.

gossipthings—the og. the kween. been around the longest. kween of the gifs. the foah shippers bible honestly. she really is a trooper

f0ahszn— love them. level headed. sweet. always great when they post and I pretty much agree with them all of the time. one of my faves

feralopinionsfoah—love them. they remind me of myself. time for fun, not time for bs. the dedication to even posting old asks they haven’t got to yet is commendable. quickly became one of my fave blogs when they popped on the scene

castlebyersafterdark—more of a general blog with a spicy byler bent, but they are a foah dabbler and will entertain discussion and always be respectful. once again very level headed and intelligent. the rare(gay) man in this side of fandom as well. they always have great takes

kindafoah—love this blog but they seem to have disappeared after tudum I think?. Still it’s worth sitting down and reading back through their blog. Impeccable sass and snark. So many laughs I had reading this blog. I wish they would come back. They are missed dearly

darjeelingbyers—aren’t as active as they used to be I noticed, but a very solid shipping blog that touches on a lot of topics. like everyone else very level headed and stuff. hopefully they post more eventually

to the anon that asked about foah blogs: this other kind foah has several recommendations 🫶🏻 thanks anon, you're the best!

[evrikka]

i’m seeing more and more of Finn and Noah here. my poor boys, you didn't deserve what they did to your characters😭

[dukeofdelirium]

Leigh (Ross exwife) has the opportunity to do the funniest shit ever. (Put Noah and Finn in a movie together but actually let their characters get together.)

Manifesting it lmao it would be hilarious

[luckywandererhere]

Please let’s manifest this into existing!

[marigoldsinjune]

I need y'all to see this.

Mike walks into the room and stops short before he gets to Will, then stands there with hands twitching as he looks down at him.

Hands twitching is something that is most likely a specific acting or directing choice. It indicates anxious unsettled energy that you can't express, or the physical need to do something with your hands that you can't do but your body is signaling that it wants to.

It's like Mike's still signaling even when he's trying not to, lol.

Also, when Will was first blown back unconscious outside the tower Mike runs to him and starts to reach for him but again, stops himself from touching him at first. Only to give the most tentative touch to his arm later.

Mike stands at a distance from the couch when Joyce is sitting with Will, just looking.

They are making it stand out so we clock that this is not how Mike usually treats Will. When he is comfortable and feeling connected to Will he is overprotective and touchy-feely. I mean did that boy have any chill whatsoever in V1? No.

We have seen Mike hold himself back from his normal intimacy with Will before, which led to a confrontation and then resolution of their friendship. We all have our theories about why Mike pulled back the last time.

This time I'm still trying to figure out what exactly is going on in his head (just me, the Internet, and every other person Mike Wheeler knows).

Perhaps after he had some time to process the Sorcerer moment he got freaked out by his feelings and realized he needed to chill out and went back to his repressive nature. Perhaps Vecna has been in his head already. Perhaps after gloating about how amazing Will is to everyone he could find he got worried that he was being too obvious and is policing himself because he's scared of what it might look like. Perhaps he's just incredibly worried about this boy and he cannot cope and he doesn't know what to do with his hands and he cannot CANNOT be too close to him or he'll lose it, so he is focusing instead on the little things he can do to be useful so he doesn't go insane.

My prediction is that this "cardboard cutout" Mike that seemed like such an alien when we watched V2 will be explained when we finally get inside Mike's head in the finale (either through his own breakdown or being Vecna'd). It's not bad acting, it may not even be bad writing (remains to be seen), if Mike's lack of character during these episodes was a completely intentional way to show us that he is not being himself, so they can set up a big moment for his character arc later when it's revealed why he was acting this way.

I think he will realize that to become Mike the Brave he needs to be honest with himself, allow himself to be who he is and feel what he feels and do the things he wants to do, and then love will save the day in some miraculous empowering way - and Mike Wheeler will also be saved from his self-abandoning and repressive tendencies.

Of course I could be reading way too much into Mike's feelings and motivations, it just feels like a significant pattern and setup, and as an actor I would never do something so specific as hands shaking or withdrawing a touch without a clear character reason.

We shall see if/how it's addressed soon! Let's pray they have actually given Mike a real arc that explains his V2 behavior change.

[hawkinsschoolcounselor]

Ah, thank you for posting this. I knew I saw a gif like this somewhere, but I lost track of it and forgot what scene it was.

I didn't realize at the time that it was both of his hands twitching. That would definitely be indicative of someone being restless and anxious. He wants to do something, but either doesn't know what or feels like he can't or shouldn't. What I can tell you, though, is that he doesn't want to just be standing there helplessly. He wants to do something.

[0ceansoftime]

I’VE SEEN THIS FILM BEFORE

Will’s memories of his love for Mike have been erased! Mike will get them back!!

[0aurelion-sol0]

@strangertheory this is for you!

[strangertheory]

Yesssssssssssssss!

[new-ronantics]

god will’s words really stuck with him & gave him that leader mike confidence i’m gonna be sickkk

[flickergatedaughter]

as "messy" as that coming out scene was, i still stand by the fact that it was important for the other characters as well as will.

the choice on whom the camera zooms in on during each line reflects what that person is scared of facing themselves. but will was the first to admit his biggest, most personal secret to everyone, which was essential for the other characters' self reflection too. *especially* a certain repressed white boy with internalised homophobia and a fuckass beanie.

so, mike the so-called-brave, you better lock in like you have never locked in before

[schnappsource]

Noah Schnapp talking about his experience with Will's coming out scene on the set of Stranger Things 5 29/12/25

via Netflix

[astrangerthingsblog]

robin is indirectly helping mike figure his shit out

listen!!!! i think this is a big deal actually...

in episode 7, we see will separated from the gang at the beginning of the episode. and a surprising new duo keeps popping up together.

mike is "losing" dustin because the signal is bad. bad radio signal is usually caused by problems like distance, obstacles, interferences, perhaps even antenna issues... in this scene, robin is helping mike read the signal when he can't interpret what's coming through.

earlier, robin helped will figure out what kind of signals to look out for. and after this conversation, will and robin found a mutual understanding. and just to be particular about it; a mutual understanding is when two or more people share the same comprehension, feelings, or agreement about a situation.

in this scene at the squawk, we see robin and mike positioned closely next to each other and reacting similarly to the situation that's unfolding. mike and robin seem to also share a mutual understanding.

later on, robin asks mike about the bomb he's building. she calls it his "contraption". a contraption is a device that 'appears strange or unnecessarily complicated, and often badly made or unsafe'. but she inspects his bomb and calls it "genius". so it's not the bomb that appears strange or unnecessarily complicated.. could the contraption be symbolism for mike? is mike about to explode like a bomb? it's more likely than you think:

but, moving on from those implications, what robin does have a problem with, however....

is his chosen "save-the-world" soundtrack, because it's "lacking". mike insists that because he built the bomb, he should pick the record. and robin agrees that he can pick, but he needs to pick a good one.

mike argues that the record he picked is great. and the song is 'human cannonball' by the butthole surfers, of which the lyrics are... quite revealing.

my quick interpretation is that this song is about a relationship that has felt wrong from the start, though it was easy enough to go along with. but now they're only hurting each other, and the end of their relationship sets their partner free, "like a human cannonball". this song seems to quite obviously refer to mike and el's relationship: there's nothing there anymore, we've seen that all season.

robin is telling mike that his choice is lacking, i.e. his relationship with el is lacking.

but what does robin think constitutes as a good record, in this scenario? she suggests the replacements, but no spefcific record. however, the band's third album "let it be" from 1984 is fitting, known for it's coming-of-age theme. what's very interesting is the song "androgynous", which is considered to be revolutionary for its time with its message about suffocating gender roles. and the lyrics.. pls have a look:

dick and jane, you say? hm...

it could make the recurring dick jokes seem a rather targeted, dont you think? bc why is mike the one who's always at the crime scene?

but i dont think either of these songs will be what mike ends up choosing for his bomb. no, i think the song he finally chooses won't be about el/jane at all, it is going to be about will. (heroes, maybe? yeah i'm still there, waiting patiently..)

anyway, what's going on, robin? do you even know what you're doing here? does mike know? in any case, this is not coincidental. this is foreshadowing.

not listening to each other and needing to hear things...

whether indirectly or not, robin seems to be playing a part in helping her new bff's future man get it together.

[bitchylasagna]

can they please just let her dump him

[iheartqueers]

Free Jane..... platonic janemike can happen whenever she's free from dating his gay ass😭😭😭😭

[crowley-anthony]

Mike Wheeler & Will Byers | Stranger Things Season 5 (Vol. 2)

[ode-to-berlermo]

tbh i don’t think campaigning to get ep7 to be the lowest rated of the entire series is a good course of action. it’s actually a terrible idea. i don’t like how the coming out scene was written, but it’s still a hugely important moment for will (also: he was totally downplaying his feelings and him saying that mike is straight is 100% a set up to be proven wrong in the finale). and intentionally downvoting the episode that includes will’s coming out just sends the wrong message. and we definitely don’t need that because there are people out there who are already saying that they hated the coming out scene and that it was totally unnecessary and whatever OUT OF HOMOPHOBIA

[bean-there-before]

Rewriting the coming out scene if it was just Joyce and Mike

“Earlier today when you asked me what happened in vecna’s mind I… I didn’t tell you everything” Joyce’s eyes flashed with worry as they sat down.

“what-what happened?” Her hand reached out to hold will’s.

He closed his eyes, flashes of the visions vecna had forced him to see engulfing his mind. “He showed me… things mom-the most awful things.”

“No listen, whatever he shows you. It’s not real, he plays tricks. He lies.” Joyce leaned forward as if closing the distance would make her words stronger.

“No he doesn’t” Tears pricked at the edges of Will’s eyes. “What he showed me… It didn’t come from him.” Will met his mom’s eyes. “It came from me.” His breathing quickened and his gaze landed on the floor. “He sees everything mom. He sees my thoughts-“

Will and Robin in the hospital, hiding behind a door smiling and talking.

“He sees my memories”

Rain pouring down “It’s not my fault you don’t like girls!”

“And he sees my secrets”

Mike bathed in yellow light, staring at a painting. Will blinking away tears “you’re the heart.”

“But max, she told me he’s scared which proves that I can beat him.” Will’s breath moved faster now, his eyes red and puffy as tears fought hard to get out. “But for me to do that, you need to know. I think you need to know the truth.”

Joyce’s eyes focused and gave him the smallest nod. A door slammed open and they both jumped, as Mike turned the corner towards them. His eyes connected with Will’s, as Will’s heart jumped into his throat.

“Oh uh… Sorry, we just heard from Hop, he’s fifteen minutes out so we should probably leave in five.” Mike paused, “is everything okay?” His eyes filled with a concern Will knew too well. Well enough that he had to turn away.

“Yeah, we’ll be out in a minute,” Joyce said, nodding at Mike to leave.

He nodded and turned, before Will knew what he was doing he was on his feet. “Wait,” Mike’s eyes met his again, “I think you need to hear this too.”

Mike’s eyebrows softened slightly as he moved closer, sitting in a chair across from Will. Will sat back down, tugging on the end of his sleeve as his voice shook. “I…”

Max’s face flashed through his mind, sharp and angry, shaking her head, “I can’t believe you!”

“I haven’t told… either of you this because-“ Will’s breath hitched.

Dustin and Lucas looking at each other, mouths curling in disgust as they turn to walk away. “Are you kidding me?” “We’re not kids anymore Will”

“Because…” His mother’s hand went to his knee, rubbing circles into it.

Joyce staring at Will, taking a step back. Her eyes full of fear and questions. Hopper taking her hand, glaring at him and leading her away.

“I don’t-I don’t want you to see me differently. I mean, I am… Different.” The word escaped his mouth like it was freeing a prison.

He glanced up, Mike’s eyes held the same concern for him they always did. The kind that made his stomach flip when he wondered if he’d ever seen it aimed at anyone else.

“I just pretended I wasn’t because it was easier, if I just pretended I was like you, it was-it was… easier.” He sniffled and a tear rolled down his cheek.

Mike flashed through his mind, face showing nothing but disgust, yelling words, taking El’s hand and running. Will stood, tearful alone in a field as Mike and El ran.

“Will…” Joyce’s voice cut in softly.

“And-and in most ways I’m not. I’m still-me just… I-I still like the same things as you, playing dnd until morning, arguing about what movie to watch and always watching Holy Grail anyway and-and…” Will met Mike’s eyes briefly then looked away as if he’d been burned by the sheer emotion in them.

He closed his eyes tightly, fighting back the visions vecna had pulled out of his mind. “And… and I wanted to be like you-like most people… And I am but I’m… not and I-I thought that if I was, if-if I pretended I was then everything would be fine. And we’d all be normal together and-and I wouldn’t-“ Will’s voice cracked “Lose any of you”

“Hey,” his eyes flew open and met Joyce’s, “you’ll never lose me, you’ll never lose us,” she glanced at Mike who nodded automatically.

Will pulled away from his mother, suddenly wanting to shrink away so they couldn’t see him, so he couldn’t see their faces when they heard. “But-but you don’t know and-“

“Nothing you say could make us walk away,” Joyce assured him, interrupting.

“But I don’t… I don’t…” Will looked at Mike then back at the floor, “I don’t like girls.” His breath shuddered, the words flying out of him like a caged bird finally free in the air. Silence hung for a moment too long. “Not like… Not like you-like most-like… normal people do.”

Will’s gaze stuck to the floor, his lip quivering. If he never looked away from the concrete he could never see their faces, never see the disappointment and fear he expected.

“Oh Will, you could never lose me over that,” His eyes flicked up to his mother. Joyce’s smile was simple and comforting, a future he’d never envisioned. “Nothing could ever stop me from loving you, any of us from loving you, much less whether you… like girls.”

Joyce pulled him into a tight hug, Will’s weight collapsed against her, breathing rough as tears rolled down into her shoulder. He stayed there for a moment then his eyes opened and glanced past her at Mike.

His expression was unreadable, eyes trained past them as if he wasn’t there and couldn’t react. Cold dread rushed back to Will, memories of a million conversations flooded him. Did he care? Did he know? Did he hate him?

“Mike?” The word came out quiet, barely a whisper.

Joyce pulled away to look at Mike. His eyes blinked rapidly and he looked up at Will. “Oh-that’s-yeah, you’d never get rid of me because of that. It’s-I support you, I support you.” His words tripped out of his mouth but Will nearly collapsed from relief.

Tears ran down his cheeks and he wiped them away, sniffling. “What did you think, I was gonna find a new cleric just to make sure I had one that liked girls?” Mike’s joke landed half heartedly but Will laughed anyway. Mike stood up and pulled him into a hug. “You’re supposed to be the wise one.” Will sniffled into his shoulder, taking a deep breath.

“Hey! We’ve go to-oh” Mike and Will broke apart, turning to see Robin in the hallway. Will met her eyes that widened with clarity. “Did you-“

Will cut her off with a nod then ran and she scooped him up into a hug. “I told them,” he gasped, sniffling.

“I’m so proud of you.” Robin pulled back, hands on his shoulders. “Wow talk about one upping me, accepted yourself yesterday and you’ve already told as many people as I have?”

“It’s not exactly a race, Robin,” Will face split with a smile.

“Maybe not to you,” She joked, pulling him into one last hug then letting him go.

Joyce and Mike walked up, glimmers of confusion on their faces. “You already knew?” Joyce asked quietly.

Robin and Will made quick eye contact. “Uh-yeah-well I mean yes I did but it’s only cause-“

Will cut her off. “Yeah, she knew.”

Joyce nodded then gave Robin a “thank you” smile and started walking out with her.

Mike stepped close to Will. “How come she got to know first?”

“Mike,” Will laughed, sniffling and wiping tears off of his cheeks.

They paused for a moment, Will evening out his breathing and exhaling through his mouth. “Hey, you’re not gonna lose me,” He looked up and met Mike’s eyes. “Ever. We’re best friends remember?”

Will smiled and nodded. “Best friends.”

“Rather be crazy together than normal together right?” Mike joked as they walked out towards the truck. Will rolled his eyes through a smile.

[mikesbasementbeets]

Mike listening to Will's coming out

[hawkinsschoolcounselor]

Finn could do a masterclass on microexpressions.

Dude goes through so many emotions. I don't know exactly what Will is saying in these specific shots, but this is what his body language tells me.

First gif: Steady eye contact, small smile, slight nodding. Compassion. "I'm here for you, Will. Say what you're gonna say."

Second gif: Eyes go wide, rapid blinking, sitting up straight, breath catch. Shock. "Whoa, wait, what??"

Third gif: Eyebrows down. Unable to hold eye contact. Worrying of his lip, Total guilt. "I hate myself for what I said two years ago."

Fourth gif: Sad eyes. Frown. Swallowing. Regret. "Had a crush? Past tense?"

Was this the "emotional weight" Finn carried? If so, it's a bit too subtle for most people to catch on to. Hopefully, there is more to come.

[wiseatom]

i fear that half of the issues with stranger things can be boiled down to the fact that the duffers famously show when they should tell and tell when they should show