Mike Wheeler: The Silent Narrator of Stranger Things
This theory is very long, so I will make an index and list the different titles for better organization and greater understanding.
Holly will create a dimensional door to escape from Camazotz
Max knows more than she lets on
Max and Holly will open a dimensional door to go to the Wheeler house
Mike Wheeler's Memories and how he controls the narrative
Max escaped from "Camazotz" but Holly didn't because of her conformity
Mike Wheeler and the end of his campaign
A Winkle in Time foreshadows the end of Stranger Things
Holly will create a dimensional door to escape from Camazotz
"She can cast spells of protection to ward against evil spirits, and ever cooler, she can cast a dimension door, which can teleport you to anywhere you visualize"
Mike creates a original character for Holly and describes its qualities to her. At first, it might sound trivial, but it foreshadows what will happen later.
As we see later when Holly is with Max, she tells him that she tried 3 options (but she doesn't say options, she uses the word door).
It's curious that he uses the word "door," it makes sense that she would say "options," but she doesn't, so this shows that it's intentional.
A few months ago, in one of the previews, this frame could be seen.
Many thought that Eleven was entering the mind of Mike or Will, but perhaps it's Holly and Max who are doing it. Holly is unaware of this, so she only follows Max's plan, which will be revealed in vol2.
In D&D, clerics (as Mike calls Holly) can cast dimensional gates.
2. Max knows more than she lets on
"Well, would a monster know that your brother tried to get a mohawk"
"What color was this mohawk"
"Hot orange"
In one of the songs that will be used for this season, titled "Here Come The Rain again" the album cover is a person with a mohawk… hot orange.
This is intentional again; it simply can't be a coincidence. The song itself isn't queer, but Annie Lennox was an LGBTQ+ activist with an androgynous style who also raised awareness about HIV/AIDS. Her image resonated strongly within the queer community in the 80s.
Furthermore, when could she have known this information? I believe she saw it in Vecna's memories.
"Only, something was different about this memory"
During his stay in "Camazotz," Max has traveled from memory to memory for months or even a whole year. We still don't know all the information he has obtained, but we can see a memory of Henry at his school and a young Joyce, which means that perhaps he has seen his past, but not everything.
As I mentioned before (in my theory about Mike Wheeler and A Wrickle in Time, which you can read here and which may give you more context and depth, because I think all of this is related), Mike reappears, and it's curious that he's next to Max when Vecna cursed her, especially since the baseball sign isn't present in season 4 but is in season 5. Was this a deliberate or intentional change? But she herself says there's something different about that memory, and she wants to tell us, the audience, that there's the baseball poster (which signifies conformity in the show).
They're rubbing it in our faces, they want us to realize it!
But why Mike out of all the characters? It would make sense for it to be Will or even Eleven, in a flashback where Max is with them, but no. They could have done a scene where Max is cursed alone, but they chose to include Mike.
Perhaps it's because Vecna has been watching Mike, and that's why Max knows about the orange mohawk or something else.
Will saw Vecna's memories to find out what happened to Holly and what she planned to do with the kids.
Max is trapped in Vecna's mind, a world built from Henry Creel's memories.
Memories are important, don't forget that.
Max knows more than her lets on. In his first encounter with Holly, she gives us information we didn't know about her and Mike, when could have given us information we already knew, but they chose not to.
3. Max and Holly will open a dimensional door to go to the Wheeler house
Without a doubt, I have discovered something very interesting and it is what motivated me to develop this theory.
So, let me explain. Max and Holly try to escape from "Camazotz" in ep6. Vecna notices and chases them, but Holly creates a dimensional door. She imagines a safe place in her mind, thinking of her home. The door appears, Max and Holly run through before they can be caught, and then the door closes. They are safe, momentarily. Afterward, they realize they are back in Hawkins. They think it's the real world, but it isn't; it's just a memory, the Wheeler house.
It sounds unbelievable, doesn't it? But I have proof of it.
The first test involves the qualities of Holly "The Heroic," which Mike assigns to her: she can open dimensional doors to any place she visualizes (mentally).
The second proof is this.
We haven't seen this scene of Holly yet and behind her is part of the entrance to the Wheeler house (It can also be seen that the objects are identical).
At first I thought it was the house where Holly lived in "Camazotz", however I did a brief investigation and realized that it was the Wheeler House, and in good condition apparently, because remember that the Wheeler House was attacked by the Demogorgon, so her house would not be in good condition, and it would explain that they are in a memory.
Which leads us to the next question: Did they enter Holly's memory or someone else's? Let's also remember that we don't know what happened in those 18 months after s4; perhaps when Max and Holly enter through the dimensional door we'll have the answer.
Also in D&D, when a dimensional door is created, it doesn't lead to a different plane, but to a different location within the same plane. This means they won't escape to the real world; they'll remain in Vecna's memory, just in a different location.
4. Mike Wheeler's Memories and how he controls the narrative
As we can see, one of the doors is blue, which is curious. Which character is associated with that color? Mike.
That picture is a BTS; we haven't seen that scene yet, and the Demogorgon destroyed Mike's room (remember that the Demogorgon threw Ted against his door/closet and he fell bleeding next to Mike's bed), so it doesn't make sense for Mike to go back home. This is probably from the past, a memory from before the events of s5.
A typewriter can also be seen (perhaps a reference to Lettergate), and the curtains are yellow (the color associated with Will).
If we're accessing his memories, then it could give us a new perspective on Mike. But why Mike?
"In real life you're more like sorcerer"
"And ever cooler, she can cast a dimension door"
Mike told Will he was a sorcerer, Will became a "sorcerer", Mike tells Holly that his character can open dimensional doors and according to my theory she will do it.
There's a pattern here: Mike says something and it comes true. Some might think it's a coincidence, but I don't.
I think it's clear proof that Mike controls the narrative; he's somehow controlling the future of the story. And you might ask why? Because he's a Dungeon Master.
Dungeon Masters are the storytellers; they can create characters and build a world; they are the final authority at the game table.
It is made clear to us that Mike is a Dungeon Master from s1 ep1.
It should be noted that I don't think this is all a D&D campaign and that they're still 12 years old, no, rather, this is Mike's campaign but it materialized into real life, came to life and is now tormenting him.
Since s1, the party has leveled up through the seasons until being able to face Vecna. In D&D, you have to earn experience points and overcome challenges to be able to defeat him.
First of all, why is this Mike's campaign? Why did D&D spill over into real life? Because it's Mike's story, he's the protagonist. And The Duffer Brothers have made us believe he isn't.
We know the series is about outcasts. The core 4 are a group of outcasts: Will is gay, Lucas is black, Dustin is disabled, and Mike is.... upper-middle class and white?. The Wheelers are the prototype of the "perfect" 80s family. There's nothing for them to be discriminated against (he is a nerd and also because of their appearance, as highlighted in the s1, but even so, it could not be considered discrimination).
Which brings us to the fact that Mike is struggling with himself, with conformity; that will be the big plot twist of vol2. Finally, we'll know the truth.
Mike is queer, he always has been, but he's been struggling with himself, trying to follow what society has dictated, heteronormativity, but he's not happy, he's not himself.
This is the first description of the character Mike, from the pilot episode, and ST was originally going to be called "Montauk".
Unlike the description in The Core 4, it's clear that Mike is somewhat obsessed with the idea of having a girlfriend and experiencing his first kiss. Furthermore, he was going to have a birthmark and felt very insecure due to the bullying he suffered because of it.
Following the shows' canon, could his sexuality be what causes him insecurity? That would explain his obsession with having a girlfriend.
Another thing they have in common with Will is that D&D is an escape from their reality (I'll also leave you with the first synopsis of Will as a character)
So, Mike escapes his reality by playing D&D, avoiding thinking about his insecurities and fears. He prefers to go to the fantasy world he created as Dungeon Master, but what if his own creation turns against him? What if what he created comes to life? All of this seems to indicate that it will, and it's probably the biggest plot twist of the entire show.
And the cause of it all is their conformity, because conformity is the real monster. Eddie said it in s4, ep1.
And Vecna may be the personification of conformity, which is why she's the "final villain," but she isn't; is the conformity.
Mike will fight against his own conformity to achieve his happy ending and thus bring his campaign to a definitive close. But before that, he first has to accept himself and save Holly, who will be a key figure in the ending of Stranger Things.
5. Max escaped from "Camazotz" but Holly didn't because of her conformity
We know that the entire Wheeler family has been attacked and that they are apparently important in s5. But why? Because they are the embodiment of conformity; they are not happy and live under forced conformity.
Before Holly was kidnapped, Karen and Ted were fighting. Holly sees it, goes to her room, and cries silently. Just another example of how conformity can destroy lives.
Let's not forget that in s4, Vecna showed Nancy a vision in which her entire family would not survive (and would even die) except for her, and it's coming true.
Vecna attacked Ted, the typical 80s white man, and then Karen, who, despite not adhering to the typical housewife role, was and is comformity with her life. That's why, despite fighting the Demogorgon, it defeated her because she can't and won't escape her conformity. Finally, Vecna attacks Holly, the youngest in the family, who is beginning to follow the path of conformity.
Nancy isn't attacked because she's no longer a conformist; she escaped that. Now she's an independent woman with dreams, and she's evolved as a person. She's a better person and knows what she wants. She's broken free from the norms and the roles assigned to women. She fights against sexism, and misogyny. She doesn't conform. That's why Vecna doesn't show her in the visions she gave her.
Finally, there's Mike, who still doesn't know which path to take, whether to remain a conformist or not, that's why Vecna will go after him.
This is somehow connected with the escape from "Camazotz", Max will escape because she is not a conformist, but Holly will remain trapped because she is following the path of conformity.
Which explains why the Demogorgons attack the hospital, to kill Max, because Vecna doesn't want him to escape and also because she knows valuable information that we don't know yet and will be used to destroy him.
Lucas's love for Max will also save her, and Kate Bush, music, and love will save Max, but who will save Holly?
Holly doesn't feel loved, she feels misunderstood, she feels different, maybe because she is.
Holly is a white, blonde girl from an upper-middle-class family; she has "everything." Why does she feel this way? Maybe because Holly queer.
I have a theory about this here.
To sum up, Holly is a clear parallel to Will Byers, and the fact that she is almost surrounded by rainbows is proof of that.
That is why she cannot escape "Camazotz", because she conforms and does not accept herself.
There's also the Vecna plan, which will take in 12 different and marginalized children. Holly will be one of those kids.
And Mike will have to save her from her conformity.
6. Mike Wheeler and the end of his campaign
Mike in vol2 is wearing the same outfit he wore in the first episode of the show, the one D&D was playing with. Further proof that everything that's happening is because of his campaign.
Mike will suffer a major breakdown during vol2; he will probably be aware or unaware that he is controlling the story like a Dungeon Master, although he cannot control the characters.
In D&D, the Dungeon Master can control the story, but not the characters; each player owns and controls their own character.
This conversation resonates strongly again; I know it seems trivial, and that many debated whether Mike was a controlling boyfriend or whether he "loved" Eleven very much and wanted to protect her.
However, I think it's further proof that Mike controls the narrative throughout the series and wants to control others to maintain the idealized life he thinks he should have, especially to El.
But Mike can't control Eleven or anyone else; everyone is responsible for themselves and their decisions. That's why Mike argues so much with Max in season 3. They're also similar in personality, the letter M is the initial of their names, but the big difference is that Mike is a conformist, and Max isn't.
Eleven has shown great development and has become an independent person.
Mike thought he could control her, but he can't. Besides, he knows his relationship with Eleven makes them both unhappy.
Mike tried to write a story where he was "normal." In s3, he so desperately wanted that and acted that way, but it all backfired. In s4, at the beginning of vol1, he tried to act "normal" when he visited Eleven and Will in California, a stark contrast to who he was in Hawkins and the Hellfire Club. Mike was being himself without the pressure of having Eleven and Will (yes, Will too) around. When Mike is with Eleven, he tries to be as normal and "heteronormative" as possible, but when he's with Will, he pretends to be someone else and hides his true feelings. While Eleven and Will were gone, Mike, despite being depressed for months, was slowly able to return to his old self. In s4, Mike could no longer maintain the facade and keep pretending.
That's why Will and Mike spend almost the entire season together, a narrative device, almost an exact example of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. Luke separates from Princess Leia and Han Solo to train as a Jedi and defeat Darth Vader (similar to Eleven trying to regain his powers), while Princess Leia and Han Solo stay together throughout the film. Initially, there was some tension, but it's resolved, and it's acknowledged that they're both in love (throughout the season, the show tries to resolve Mike and Will's friendship, and it strengthens; they become the "friends" they once were). They even kiss. However, in the original trilogy finale, we don't know if Luke or Han Solo ends up with Princess Leia. Similarly, in s5, we don't know if Eleven or Will will end up with Mike.
So, Mike has to recognize that he can't control anyone or even his own story because he has lost absolute control of the narrative; his fears and insecurities have taken control of his story, and if he doesn't do something about it, he will have the ending he fears most: becoming a conformist, which metaphorically would mean his death.
Just like in the vision of Vecna, he gave it to Nancy.
7. A Winkle in Time foreshadows the end of Stranger Things
I'm sure Mike is the key, Eleven and Will too, but Mike is the most important.
When Meg (the protagonist) returns to Camazotz to rescue her kidnapped younger brother, Charles, from "It" (an evil force), she is reunited with her father and Calvin (her friend and love interest), along with Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, Mrs. Which, and the other inhabitants of the planet where they are taking refuge. Mrs. Whatsit give Meg a gift: the ability to use love to free Charles from "It."
This will probably happen in the end; Mike will have to face Vecna alone to free his sister. Despite not having powers like Eleven and Will, Mike will defeat him by accepting himself and will free Holly through love.
Charles was mentally taken over by "It" because he possessed special abilities that made him vulnerable; it would not be a coincidence that Vecna possesses Holly because of her vulnerability and controls her to attack Mike.
Mrs. Who also recites a Bible verse to Meg: "The foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men." The meaning Mike's name is "Who is like God?"
Meg confronts Charles, possessed by "It." At first, she feels overwhelmed, as if she can't defeat him, until "It" speaks through Charles, telling him that he hates her. Then Meg understands that "It" doesn't understand or control love, so she uses all the love she feels for her brother to save Charles, and she succeeds. "It" stops controlling Charles, and together with Meg, they escape from "Camazotz" and return home to their entire family.
Mike will save Holly through the love and understanding he lacked as a child. Mike understands how Holly feels, so he will use everything he has learned and become the adult he didn't have as a child. In this way, he will help his sister escape from conformity and unhappiness by giving her acceptance and love, lots of love, making Holly feel loved and thus escaping Vecna and conformity.
Stranger Things is about how Mike Wheeler, a queer kid in the 80s, after going through many difficulties, insecurities, and self-hatred, manages to accept himself despite everything and escapes conformity, escapes heteronormativity, escapes his conservative small town, escapes homophobia, and becomes a confident queer adult alongside his marginalized friends like himself and, above all, alongside the person he loves, Will Byers.
Also The Duffer Brothers said that Will is the heart of the story, because it is Mike's story and Will is his heart, the source of his love.
I hope I've explained myself well. I'll probably do a second part because I think there's much more to say. Maybe when the trailer for vol2 is released, we'll have more information and I'll be able to solidify my theory. However, if you have any questions, feel free to comment or inbox, I'll gladly answer them!
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