#perfect ending

[kendalroys]

"I was rather hoping you would say that." My Lady Jane 1.08 "God Save the Queen"

[socialbutterfly19]

Little by little I’m finding things out

[failedjovi]

Gary's family would have treated Pawbert this way if he had stayed on the right side

[nonlaregina]

So. David was asked about the S03 finale. This is HIS answer:

David: I know what it is. I KNOW.

You want to me make up a different ending? Speculate on what might be! BUT NO NO. I know where it’s going and

I DEFY ANYONE NOT TO THINK THAT IT’S THE PERFECT ENDING

I’m not getting very much away there. I’m not saying whether that’s good, bad or indifferent.

BUT IT’S DEFINITELY PERFECT.

Interpret that as you will…

[danijela08]

Why the Duffers remain silent (And why it's not a betrayal)

Many fans are angry with the Duffer brothers or accuse them of "queerbaiting." But anyone who truly understands the show sees that keeping Mike's story in the subtext was a conscious, almost painful choice.

Here are the reasons why they have to remain silent:

1. The "Two Different Shows" Phenomenon (The General Public)

The Duffers themselves have said that it sometimes feels like people are watching "completely different shows."

The surface (92% of the public) only sees a classic, heteronormative 80s action drama between Mike and El.

The subtext (the queer community) sees Mike's internalized homophobia, his fear, and the deep, repressed feelings for Will (the pipe burst, the mirrored symbols). If the Duffers were to speak out loud right now about what lies buried in the subtext, they would destroy the surface. They remain silent because they know that the global audience of millions cannot or will not see the truth.

2. "Never in the cards" did not mean an unconventional couple - but rather the path to liberation

Toxic Mileven fans use Matt´s quote "Byler was never in the cards" to claim that the realtionship does not exist. This is incorrect. It merely mean that the two of them were never meant to become a classic, loud 80s couple for the general public of the surface. The Duffers are telling Mike's story as a path through trauma toward liberation. Yes, during the trauma phase, a happy ending seems impossible. But that is exactly what breaks open: Mike frees himself from his emotional blockage, breaks out of the illusion, and conveys exactly that to Will. When Mike walks up the stairs at the end and closes the door, it is not a sad ending - it is the moment of ultimate freedom. Behind this closed door, protected from the constraints of the outside world, both are ready for each other. If the show had continued at this point, anything would have been possible. The Duffers are not denying us a happy ending; they are simply giving the two of them their well-deserved privacy away from the online noise.

3. Noah's and Millie's "Love Triangle" Honesty

Before the release of Season 4, there was a legendary joint interview with Noah Schnapp and Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven) that, in hindsight, takes on a whole new meaning.

The Hint: They were asked how the romance between Mike and Eleven would progress. Millie looked at Noah and said very seriously: "It's hard for Mike because he's trying to love someone (El), but at the same time, he has to protect the most important person in his life (Will). It's not really a normal love triangle."

The Protective Joke: Noah immediately started laughing, caught Millie's gaze, and interjected: "Yeah, Will just loves Dungeons & Dragons!"

They let the deeper truth flash for a brief moment (that El was merely the protective mask for Mike and Will's bond) and then immediately covered it up with the well-known "Will-just-wants-to-play" meme. This unmistakably shows that the younger cast also knows the queer subtext inside and out.

4. The PR Pattern: Why the adults slip up

This pattern of deliberately covering things up runs through the entire cast. Not only did Cara Buono get panickily tangled up in her famous "If Finn were gay... I mean Mike... which he isn't" sentence. David Harbour (Hopper) also provided the perfect example of this PR emergency brake at a convention:

He desperately tried to save the surface, claiming there was no twist with Mike, that he was "pretty clear".

Yet in the very same breath, his grammar broke down and he said: "He seems to love El a lot more" The word "more" is a linguistic comparison. You can only love someone more when a second person with real feelings is in the room! David noticed the mistake immediately, started stammering, nervously made up the name "Tyler," and laughed it off. The actors want to recite Netflix's official hetero script, but the enormous strength of the written subtext catches up with them in interviews time and time again.

5. The Global Netflix Pressure and Protecting the Cast

Stranger Things is a global, multi-billion-dollar project. Netflix sells the show to countries where queer content is censored or banned. The subtext was the writers' most brilliant compromise: They gave Mike an uncensored, genuine soul in hiding, while the surface remains clean and marketable for the studio. Additionally, the creators have to block out the online noise to protect their young actors from the extreme toxicity and homophobic hatred of the fan camps.

Conclusion

The subtext is not an unfinished script - it is the story. The Duffers didn't throw us bait; they used a secret language. They hoped that the queer community would understand these codes without them having to spell it out loud for the mainstream. While the surface is angry or remains stuck in its heteronormative bubble. Mike walks up the stairs at the end and closes the door. Behind it, he is finally free. And that is exactly why the Duffers take the online noise in stride with humor. They know exactly what an untoucable masterpiece they have created.

[urakenbomb]

credit: YusukeMinami3

[jessmalia]

Mal's Avatar: The Last Airbender rewatch: Sozin's Comet, Part 4: Avatar Aang 3.21

[bri-jo-g]

I came up with a little AU of BTA that will never actually exist. (Except for maybe a few drawings like this) Pretty much, this is a version of the story where everything works out how the characters envisioned. So maybe it's less of an "AU" and more just the character's fantasies.

Sans and Papyrus have been adopted, Alphys gets with Siqua, and they all live happily on the surface. Gaster is... Idk maybe hes the one taking the picture XD

I think in this fantasy, Siqua manages to stay friends with Gaster despite taking his kids lol. Idk if that would even be possible, but this is a fantasy! Anything can happen! Its quite literally named "the perfect ending."

But pretty much im in love with this concept and it actually brings warmth into my heart. Too bad its not real. If it were real, it'd ruin the entirety of the rest of the story. Maybe I can find a way to similarly end it in SE just to put hearts at ease.

How do they get to the surface? Theres actually a few ways that could have happened. Use your imagination.