“If you know him as Steve from stranger things get out!”
Fun fact I got into DJO from Steve Harrington. The only song I knew for a bit was ‘The End of Beginning’ and now I LOVE DJO and I’m more obsessed with their other songs! All this to say gatekeeping an artist because people aren’t getting into them the way you want is not on at all. At the start I also couldn’t exactly separate the role of Steve from DJO but then I learned how to and love Joe equally for both!! It just took some learning and some, oh I dunno, time! My gods people we do not need to gatekeep everything!! Give these new fans a chance!! Before just scaring them away and going “yippie more Joe for me!!” That’s unfortunately not how it works! I am starting to get real sick and tired of this parasocial behavior and I know he would be/probably is as well. At the end of the day just, I dunno just maybe think before you post is all.
Honestly, the gatekeeping in Joe's fandom is some of the worst I've ever seen and I've been in the LOTR fandom so it's saying something.
Many of these types of fans just see themselves as the "original" fans and superior to anyone who is new to him. Like, if you found Joe through Stranger Things, you're a lesser fan and just jumping on the bandwagon-despite it being a perfectly normal way to be introduced to new actors/musicians.
And despite the fact that the vast majority of them only found out about Joe through Stranger Things as well, but don't remind them of that. They'll blow a gasket.
It's so odd, too. The more fans Joe gets, the more work he gets. If you're a fan, you should want him to have a bigger audience. Especially with his music. The more fans=more albums=more tours. Better for everyone.
I remember when he announced his tour last year and so many fans were crying about potential new fans getting tickets over them or people only going because of Stranger Things. Like it makes a difference.
Just let people in and enjoy things. There's enough of Joe to go around. He's not in limited supply (well, the actual Joe is, but his music/TV shows/movies aren't). If you support someone, you should want them to be successful, not contained to just a small fanbase.
Also Duffer Brothers-I see what you did. I'm onto you.
Spoilers
Making our Steve fall off the tower like that.
Making us think he was a goner.
Only to have Jonathan swoop in and save the day.
You so very nearly had a riot on your hands, Duffers.
Messing with us Steve girlies like that. My heart can't take it. This man needs to be wrapped in twenty-million layers of cotton wool and protected at all costs.
Luckily, that's the last time you can play with us like that.
Byler wasn't real and was never going to be endgame. Byler shippers just don't watch the show at all.
Mike loves El. He always has-since the second he laid eyes on her. This has been made plain and clear throughout the show. It's the one constant of the show that never changes.
It is ok that Will developed feelings for Mike that were not returned. It is ok that Will didn't get what he wanted and as he even said, Mike was his "Tammy."
Tammy was Robin's sexual awakening-the vessel through which she was able to admit and explore her sexuality. Mike was that for Will and it is fine that it didn't lead anywhere as Mike can't return the feelings that Will had.
Will's struggle in Season 4 with his feelings for Mike wasn't just because Mike didn't return them/understand/know-it was an internal struggle with being different, with feeling "wrong" and perhaps feeling like he's never going to be able to achieve happiness because of this difference that he can't overcome.
I think a lot of Byler shippers only look at one side of the ship-Will and what he wants and ignore Mike and what he wants because, romantically, it doesn't include Will.
It is not homophobic to not think Byler were ever a thing-canonically, beyond a one-sided "crush."
In order for the Duffers to make Byler a thing, they would have to overturn everything about Mike's character arc that they'd already established to make it so and it wouldn't make any sense. It would have been fan service and nothing more.
And no, it's not queerbaiting-to have a gay character develop feelings for another character who does not return them. It is a normal thing that happens in real life. The Duffers never even hinted at Mike returning Will's feelings-in fact, they've been very clear about how devoted Mike is to El. It's not their fault you've wilfully ignored it to favour your own preferred ship.
Mike is shown to care deeply for Will as a friend-a best friend, and male friendships do exist and are just as valuable as romantic relationships. All those "signs" that Mike was returning Will's feelings were nothing more than Mike being a friend to Will and caring about him. Not every relationship or show of care has to be romantic and I think we've lost sight of that in fandoms, in general.
Can we please post any spoilers under the "read more/keep reading" tab?
I've seen the finale, but many others haven't and it's not fair to spoil it for them. Even just GIFs, pictures, anything-pop a little warning and pop it under the tab. Let's not ruin it for people who haven't seen the finale yet.
Spoilers ahead-don't click if you don't want to know what happens
I've been quite naughty with this finale.
In the UK, it aired at 1AM on New Year's Day, and I was meant to save it to watch with my boyfriend but I couldn't sleep with the anticipation and watched it without him. Now I'm going to have to put my acting skills to the test and pretend like I'm watching for the first time.
Oops.
I just couldn't wait to find out the fate of my favourite character-Steve "the hair" Harrington.
HE MAKES IT. I knew he would, but with all the fan theories floating around about how he was definitely going to croak it, one could never be too confident. What if my reading and predictions were wrong?
Overall, it was a solid ending to the series. It felt fitting within the whole scope of the show. I do have some nitpicky criticisms that I think could have been done better but as a finale to the whole show-I was satisfied.
I feel like I'm one of the few people who didn't want mass character deaths in the finale. I felt like it would have cheapened the show and been just for shock/emotional value as opposed to storytelling value.
Stranger Things has never been big on killing main characters-in fact, they've actively avoided it throughout the show. So, I don't know why everyone was expecting the Duffers to turn into these cuthroat, ruthless writers, slicing and dicing their main characters in the final episode. That doesn't make a lick of sense.
It also doesn't make a lick of sense in the context of what the show is meant to be and what it is meant to represent. It's a representation of '80s media. In much of these types of '80s shows/movies, the heroes unanimously triumph over evil and they do so together. They're so great because they embody that "feel good" aspect of good triumphing over evil.
If you're disappointed because you expected the Duffers to suddenly change up the entire pattern and dynamic of the show and start killing off loads of main characters in the final season/episode-I think the joke is a little on you. Previous seasons should have told you what to expect.
And that is ok. Not every show has to be a GOT. It can sometimes be nice to have a show where the main characters win and survive.
Maybe I was just happy my favourite characters survived-Steve and Dustin, but I do think some people set themselves up for disappointment by wanting the show to be something it isn't and has never been.
I was ok with El "dying." (If she did, indeed, die and Mike's theory is nothing more than cope). It did make some sense in the context of the show. It's a kind of "It started with her, it ends with her," kind of deal and I can understand El making such a choice. It fits with the scope of her character-even in season 1, as a young child, she was willing to sacrifice herself to save the others from the Demogorgon.
If she truly believed that the only way to stop the military coming after her and Kali to create more of them was to end their bloodline-then it makes sense, even if it made me sad. Mike's theory is interesting and plausible, too and I think it leaves a window open of possibility for El, but I'd be equally satisfied if her ending was that night.
Not because El didn't deserve a happy ending-she did, more than anyone, but because within the framework of the show-realistically, she couldn't have it. The military would always be hunting her down. The people she loved down so they could use her blood to create more.
So, she either died and ended it there or slipped away into the shadows, faking her death and went off alone to let her loved ones live in peace.
I surprised myself by being upset about Kali's death. I had thought she was double-crossing El and the others, but I don't think she was. Like El, she'd been raised in horrific circumstances that had ultimately left her alone and unlike El, she didn't find a Hopper to take her in and guide her. She didn't find a Mike and the Party.
Her view of the world was tainted by this. She was unable to envision a world, a life, where she could find happiness and peace, but she was willing to sacrifice herself to prevent more of her being made and more suffering.
As a finale of the show, I was happy with it. I liked everyone's endings. Steve's ending made sense to me-he does seem like being teacher and a coach would be the perfect fit for him and it was funny seeing him adopting another kid in Derek. Typical Steve.
There were things I may have changed/wished to have happened that didn't, but it felt like a good ending.
It was bittersweet watching Jonathan, Nancy, Robin and Steve on the roof, talking. It felt real-because most of us have been there to some degree in our lives-people we've grown up with and been through stuff with-move away, move on and it can be hard to keep touch and to say goodbye to that chapter of your life.
It can be hard to stay in touch-to find your place in the ever-shifting landscape of your life. I think this was shown quite well with Steve who is the only one of that group who still remains behind in Hawkins. In some ways, it feels like the others have left him behind but this isn't the case-this was always Steve's life and trajectory.
I think the one thing I would have liked an answer to is the Vickie question. Where did she go? Did Robin and Vickie split? Did she go to Smith with Robin? What happened?
As I've said, I think the show did a good job of wrapping things up in a way that felt fitting to the show and to the characters. It left a little ambiguity with El, which is good.
It feels like the writers are continuously starting plot points and then dropping them because they have no real idea what to do with them. It's like they put stuff into the show just for the sake of it but then refuse to follow it through.
Like, why rekindle anything in season 4 between Steve and Nancy? Why have Steve turn into a lovesick puppy all over again and have Nancy clearly showing signs of returning the affection if you're not going to address it ever again?
I don't mind if Stancy isn't endgame. I think Steve should be with someone who knows one hundred per cent that he's the one and Nancy, I don't think, is that person. Not yet, anyway.
My point is why spend all that time in season 4, building them back up again to never even address it in season 5? To have it be some "It was never like that with Steve..." BS line when she's breaking up with Jonathan?
It feels like there is attraction between Steve and Nancy, and it's not just one-sided. That doesn't automatically make them a good fit-they clearly want different things-but I think if they're going to spend so much time in season 4 rehashing the relationship, the writers should at least address it in season 5.
Otherwise, what is the point of any of it? Again, it feels like the writers just start stuff, think it seems cool with no real thought to where they want it to end up or the impact on the overall plot/characters.
Maybe it'll get addressed in the finale, but I doubt it. For a lot of people, the rehashing of Stancy in season 4 was one of the lowpoints, me included (I've come around a little towards them as a ship since, but honestly, I just want Nancy single and Steve happy with someone who truly loves him and wants what he does) so why bother?
It was unnecessary. They could have had a "closure" discussion that led to a deepening friendship. Instead, they created this situation where it was clear Steve was cast in the role of lovesick puppy again for no reason, and Nancy was clearly giving signs of interest, too. Only for it to never really go anywhere or get addressed later.
And now because they've done this-rather than having a platonic friendship in season 5, there's this implication in every interaction between them that Steve is somehow lobbying for her attention and it just feels so unnecessary. Especially if they're not going to truly address it.
Which in turn makes Steve look pathetic, when he's not, and like he's doing something to get in the way of Nancy and Jonathan's relationship-when he's not. All because the Duffers just had to rehash the Stancy ship in season 4 for absolutely no reason. It was dead in the water past season 2. Yes, it was clear Steve still had feelings for Nancy at the end of season 2, but it was also made clear in season 3 that he'd accepted the end of them-even if he still cared for her.
There was literally no need for any of this. Utterly pointless nonsense.
Just have them be friends and that's it. If you're not going to follow plot points through and address them-don't introduce them.
I love the show, but something about this season just feels off.
It feels like it was phoned in by the writers. I've heard rumours that Netflix cut a lot of the episodes down in Vol 2 and maybe that explains why it feels that things are missing but here's my thoughts:
Spoilers ahead so if you haven't watched Vol 2, and don't want to know-don't click.
Jonathan and Nancy break-up scene. I liked some of this and the handling of it, but I maintain that the Duffers can't write a breakup scene for shit. People were still asking the question about if they'd broke up or not and they had to clarify that they had. The same shit happened when Nancy and Steve broke up-they had to clarify that they had and that it wasn't just an argument.
Continuing on from point 1, what kind of plot armour is this shit? They're trapped in a melting room after Nancy has just shot out at the "wormhole" and it backfired. They can't get out the door, the floor is melting and they can barely walk on it and they have to resort to sitting on a floating table. Then, as soon as they break up, the room stops melting, the floor has hardened and everything is ok again. I don't mind them surviving-but damn it, writers, I wanted them to actually work for it and have to figure shit out. As it was, it was a clear plot device used to trap them into having a conversation that they needed to have and nothing more. Built up tension for absolutely no reason. Lame.
Plot holes. In season 1 and 2, no character could walk or interact with the Upside Down without having something covering their mouth and nose because they couldn't breathe in it. By season 4 and 5, they're off, walking around in it as freely as if they were walking on a beach. There's no explanation for this change-did the Upside Down become less toxic? There are other plot holes-like did the Demodogs just stop being able to hear between season 2 and season 5?
Holly, Holly, Holly Wheeler. I like Holly, and if this plotline was introduced in season 4, I'd like it a lot more. But as it is, it's the final season, why the fuck are we spending so much time with what has always been a background character when we should be spending time with our main characters?
Too much yakking. This was especially evident in the Escape from Camazotz (I can't spell, shoot me) between Max and Holly. This scene would have worked so much better if there was less yakking and more running.
The military storyline just seems bleurgh to me. Like, they're there but for what purpose? To create more El's? They seem kind of useless to me. Not remotely threatening. They've been in Hawkins for a year and still haven't managed to trap El? Really?
Bringing back Kali/8. Boring. We knew she was coming back, and honestly, she's boring. She's either going to double cross them all, or she'll be one of the ones who dies. Who cares about her and wanted this?
The dialogue. The way some of the dialogue is written is so odd. Like, Joyce doesn't talk like this! It just feels clunky and like people don't actually talk like this.
It feels like there's a lot that they're going to need to tie up in the final episode and I'm not sure they're going to be able to do it sufficiently. If rumours are to be believed, there's a 45 minute epilogue in what is rumoured to be a 2 hour long episode-and there's a lot of plot points they need to tie up.
I'm probably alone in my disappointment, and I'm not saying it's all bad-there's a lot of good-and maybe if I rewatch, I'll like it more or the parts I dislike won't be so bad-but I'm hoping they pull it back for the final episode.
My "rant" wasn't about whether he was/is or isn't dating X person.
IDGAF.
His business is his business. If they are dating, fine, I don't care. If they're not dating, fine, I don't care. Time will tell. Why would I care? He's not going to be dating me or anyone on here.
It's about fans not being fucking weirdos and spamming gossip blogs with nonsense. It's about fans not spamming people with anons filled with their nonsense.
This isn't rocket science. Reading comprehension may not be your strongsuit, evidently. I don't care what you do or don't believe about a man I'll never meets love life. It's just about not being a fucking weirdo about it.
Also, trawling through his IG follows, his friend's and families IG follows is weird AF. Who has this much time to be paying attention to who follows who and when? When you're at that stage, it's time to step back and take stock of your own life.
Gossip/speculation is one thing-spamming gossip blogs w nonsense, and other accounts who clearly don't appreciate it is another. Also-don't follow me, you little weirdo.
If you see him on Raya or any other dating app (goes for any celeb really) don't post/leak his profile.
I know Raya isn't as exclusive as it's made out to be-anyone can really get on there if you're patient and/or know someone who has an in, but be respectful if you come across his profile.
Don't whine if he doesn't match with you and don't leak his profile as some kind of bitter response to the rejection.
It's just not difficult to be respectful and allow the man some privacy.
I love a good gossip as much as the next person, but some fans on here take this to the next level.
Sending shit into Deuxmoi, CDAN or any other "mainstream gossip" blog is not on. It's blatant, too.
Spamming blogs with anons about how you just know that Joe is dating Samia and blah blah blah.
This isn't commentary on who Joe is or isn't dating. IDGAF. It's not our business. yes, a bit of speculation and gossip can be fun sometimes, but when you start sending shit in to DM or CDAN and shit you've tipped yourself over the edge.
Spamming people with anons, endlessly, about the same shit just makes you look bored and pathetic. Focus on your own life. Who he is or isn't dating makes no difference to your life.
Go outside, meet someone, do other things instead of obsess over this man's love life.
This isn't even just directed at one fan or one incident. I've noticed this shit happen numerous times. There was a "gossip page" on here a while back (and they seem to periodically spring back up under other names every now and then) who I was certain was sending shit into CDAN because blinds would magically appear on there that were suspiciously similar to what she was posting on here and she always knew exactly when those blinds would appear.
So a general rule of thumb-don't send in blinds/gossip to CDAN/DM and quit spamming blogs with anons about pointless gossip-especially when it's clear the person doesn't like or agree with it.
When he's dating someone, I'm sure we'll all found out through pap walks etc, but until then, as fun as speculation and gossip can be, that's all it is. No one will be apologising to you if it turns out he is dating X person.
Eddie died for nothing. He didn't save anyone. He didn't buy anyone extra time.
What happened still would have happened if he hadn't gone back in. He changed nothing, died for nothing.
He went back in because he didn't want to continue to be the "guy who ran away." I also think he ran back in, knowing he was going to die because he knew his life as he knew it outside of the upside down was over-there was no way to convince a town full of people and the police that he hadn't killed Chrissy or had a part to play in Patrick's death.
In running back in, he didn't save anyone. In fact, he put Dustin in direct danger because he should have known Dustin would follow him back in and I think that's why Steve was so angry. He charged Eddie with taking care of Dustin-and what does Eddie go and do? He decides to play hero instead and forces Dustin's hand in following him back, putting him in more danger when they both could have got out safe.
Steve would never have made that call-knowing he was endangering Dustin doing so. Steve wasn't angry that Eddie died-he was angry that Eddie placed Dustin in the field of danger so he could play a hero for no reason.
Dustin needed to hear it. He needed to get Eddie pulled down off the pedestal, to see the situation for what it was because Dustin knew it as well as Steve did. He just couldn't admit it. Steve was blunt in his delivery, but I suspect there'd been many attempts made in the past where he'd tried to talk to Dustin and not been able to get through to him.
As angry as it made Dustin, as hurt as he was, it enabled him to unleash the grief and the pent-up anger he felt and admit to Steve his biggest fear-losing Steve. Losing another big brother figure-arguably one more important to him than Eddie.
It’s realllllyy nice to see him enjoying himself on stage. I think he’s finally gotten over that stage of trying not to be cringe. Maybe the red pants helped though lol.
I love it! He's really letting it all hang out this time around.
Those red pants will forever be in the back of my mind now. I just... 🫠🫠🫠 I'll leave this parting gift.
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