New Byler gate:
lovelockgate ❤️🔒
Padlocks, Bridges, the Berlin Wall and Byler. How it all connects.
Walk with me.
Padlocks in post WWII subcultures
As pointed out by @teambyler, padlocks are worn by various alternative and queer subcultures. However, their origins as fashion statements likely began with smaller subcultures which emerged in a post WWII Europe. (We're talking padlocks, chains, leather, distressed denim, military boots, and biiiiig belt buckles. Though it varied from group to group, of course!) ➜ These subcultures arose from a sense of post-war disillusionment, economic struggle, marginalization, and a desire to rebel against the mainstream. Basically, they were "freaks" like our beloved Will Byers.
➜ Alternative subcultures continued to spread, diverge and evolve all through-out the 20th century. For example: Gay Leather, California bikers, Punk, Goth and Grunge. And yes — some of these subcultures were about sex and wore fetish gear (*puriteen gasp!*) It's almost like there was a thing called the sexual liberation movement going on during the late 20th century... ➜ Will is of course also gay and listens to alternative music associated with these subcultures (punk and goth) — it's no surprise out-and-proud adult Will Byers might see these padlocks being worn by his community and adopt the fashion statement. (Can you imagine him going to his first gay leather bar or warehouse rave? Lmao).
A photography book named Swiss Rebels (photos of young men in a post WWII European subculture) was placed directly beside the Will funko pop while the Duffers "staged" a scene [see post here].
I believe this was very intentional. ➜ Berlin in paricular had some of the earliest flourishing alternative and queer subculture scenes (including the gay leather scene) where, you betcha... padlocks were appropriated into the fashion!
The Cold War
A post WWII Berlin was experiencing the Cold War (A direct result of Soviet occupation in Germany after WWII). The Berlin Wall was erected during the Cold War to separate East and West Germany. ➜ West Germany was able to flourish under the conditions of a democratic state, while East Germany was subjected to political repression under a Soviet-backed communist regime. ➜ Stranger Things deals heavily with the themes of political corruption and military oppression, as well as the oppression of marginalized groups. The Russian subplot introduced in season 3 (in which they illegally bought land in Hawkins to establish a base of operations in Starcourt Mall) is a nod to the Cold War.
(This subplot is often scrutinized as it feels very "red scare" but I think we should consider that Stranger Things tells stories through allegory, and through the lens of it's 1980s American characters).
No surprise then, that the Starcourt Mall is where we hear the secret Russian code: "When blue meets yellow in the West..."
This code is another nod to the Cold War, but it's also byler-coded: California (Will) is West of Indiana, and Indiana (Mike) is East of California. ➜ Mike needed to meet Will in California, but I also theorize this is foreshadowing that both Mike and Will are going to end up living in California in the epilogue — which had a vibrant gay scene in the 1990s!
(And still does of course. I mean... WeHo).
Love locks
Padlocks have also been historically attached to bridges and gates by couples as a way to symbolize unbreakable love.
These are referred to as love locks (how cute). ➜ The origin of love locks has been attributed to a story about a Serbian woman in Vrnjacka Banja who died of a "broken heart" after her lover betrayed her. [here]
Could this mirror how Hawkins was split/ broken after Mike's love confession to El? I posit it represented Mike's own heart breaking, for reasons which will become clearer as you read on.
➜ Following the tragedy in Vrnjacka Banja, local women began attaching locks to the bridge during WWI to symbolize their hope of their lovers returning to them. The bridge in Vrnjacka Banja is now referred to as "The Bridge of Love."
(A bridge of love... remember that). ➜ Lovers attaching love locks to gates and bridges together has remained a common custom across the world, with The Berlin Wall famously playing host to many love locks (as pictured above) — particularly on the East Side Gallery.
The East Side Gallery also hosts a very famous mural called "The Fraternal Kiss" which depicts two men kissing [read more here]. Couples often pose in front of this mural kissing, too.
(Byler's kiss won't be fraternal, but the reference could be a funny nod to those who insist they're just close friends or "like brothers").
The Bridge
"We Can Be Heroes" is a song about two "forbidden" lovers separated by The Berlin Wall. It's played twice through-out the series thus far:
When Mike is "heartbroken" by Will's supposed death by drowning, having seen his body lifted from Sattler's Quarry.
When Mike is "heartbroken" by Will leaving for California.
These scenes included very direct visual parallels:
➜ Season 1 Mike separates himself from the group (suggesting that his emotional reaction is different from the others), and hugs his mother Karen for comfort.
➜ Season 3 Mike once again separates himself from the group, needing a moment alone (and possibly embarrassed by his feelings). He then once again hugs Karen for comfort.
It was always Will, and it was always about Mike's heartbreak and perieved obstacles to get to him (death, distance, and homophobia — both internalized and externalized).
But let's not despair, because love locks on bridges symbolize lovers returning and unbreakable bonds, and Will is wearing a padlock. Meanwhile...
➜ Episode seven is named "The Bridge."
Are you guys seeing the vision?
This is the episode Mike and Will finally overcome their obstacles (the wall) by creating a metaphorical bridge (of love), so they can be together.
This will be the episode they kiss — I'm fully certain. (And funnily enough, "locking lips" is a term for french kissing. Definitely NOT fraternal).
It’s lovelockgate, ya’ll. ❤️🔒
