I think the most frustrating part about watching shows that have queer or queer coded characters, in which the show is not about their sexuality, is that they always seem to get the raw end of the deal in terms of relationships.
Take Byler- Will was a main character and the only one out of the whole cast to have not received a relationship in the entire show. No one likes him or shows an interest in him (romantically); his journey with acceptance has been a background part of the show until S4/5.
On top of this, most queer young people have their first experiences with love that blur the lines of friendship/situationships. People say that Will and Mike are just friends, but Mike has other friends, and he definitely doesn’t treat them the way he treats Will. The closest comparison would be Jane, which he is romantically involved with. The “no thanks” scene was cruel, not just to Will, who was clearly hoping for more, but to a queer audience who had found representation in this character and relationship to Mike. Arguably, a main theme/concept in Stranger Things is the power of love and connection, which can be seen through Mileven, Lumax and Jancy, but also in platonic pairings such as Stustin. A core part of the plot is the connection that these characters have with one another and how this enables them to face the horrors of the Upside Down. Why, in a show about magic and monsters, is a relationship between Will and Mike so out of the question? Having only one queer pairing, that we see for less than half a season and don’t even get a proper ending too is a joke. The Duffer Brothers knew what they were doing.
And yes, I ship Merthur and Destiel :(.
