#stranger asks things

[0aurelion-sol0]

What do you want or expect Will's arc to be?

Well, again I'm sorry but this is something I cannot go over too extensively as I will talk about it in future posts at some point but regardless I will try to give an answer to your ask.

I am going to elaborate on what I think The Duffers will do first and what I want/think should happen after that.

We know from that Variety article that released back in August 2023 that Will is going to take center stage again in season 5 and that I quote “This emotional arc for him is what we feel is going to hopefully tie the whole series together. Will is used to being the young one, the introverted one, the one that’s being protected. So part of his journey, it’s not just sexuality — it’s Will coming into his own as a young man.” says Ross Duffer.

Now what I think is important to take from that quote and that part of the article is the part where they say that they hope his emotional arc is what is going to tie the whole story together which means they value, in some way, that Will's story as a whole, not just his sexuality, is going to be what gives the conclusion to the story of Stranger Things. They did not say [one of the things], they said [the thing] *wink wink*. Now between what The Duffers say and what they actually do, there is a gap but I do think that is a bold statement when you're about to enter your final season.

Because sure, I do think Will is more important than the series has led us to think but at it's core, it remains an ensemble type of show and is what was really happening during Season 1 & Season 2. Yes, there are stronger characters driving the story (and become way too present over others as the story progresses) & was first sold as the Winona Ryder show and after that the El show but it remained at it's core an ensemble show.

So for the Duffers to use Will, the character with the most inconsistent spotlight of the entire show apart from his brother, as the thing that ties the whole series together, that is bold cause as I said theories and biases aside, this is going to be a challenge and it is still a show that relies heavily on it's cast & characters to tell it's story. Now the way they do it and how well they do it is definitely up for debate but still.

There are for me, 4 main important parts of Will's character that are essential to his arc and for it to conclude well.

His homosexuality, what happened to him on November 6th, 1983, his connection to the Upside Down and his past.

Out of the 4 that I see The Duffers be very focused on for this final season, it's the two that are connected, his disappearance & his spider-sense because they have become very plot-focused as the series went on; they are going to have to explore his homosexuality, I don't see them doing something surprising or extremely developped with it anymore but they have kept that around and they are probably going to give a conclusion to it that's going to benefit the first two.

His past isn't going to be that explored much apart things linked to the first two and homosexuality but even then probably more in terms of vague mentions than anything really concrete. And it's because The Duffers, unless they pull something magnificent, have as of now and after everything they showed for the past two seasons have other priorities for want they want to explore which I don't think is the best choice for again, an ensemble show but it is what it is, and we need to be prepared for it.

I AM EAGER to be proven absolutely wrong but so far nothing has changed my mind about it, nothing has really alarmed me either which there's that at least.

So now what I want or think should happen...

About his homosexuality, his gayness, his rainbow-colored-emotional-state, his reddit is always scared of this debate, it's been there forever, it's obvious, I think if you're still in doubt about it, you need to go take a media literacy class, that boy is gay, that boy loves Mike Wheeler, let's end the debate. I'm sick of this fandom always turning endlessly on this subject, let's move on.

Now what do with it now, well the coming out, it's on everybody's lips these days, obviously, it's going to go to Joyce, Jonathan and the Party (mostly Mike, Dustin and Lucas). We are not going to talk about Byler, that's not the subject of today's post. I think overall, I don't see, for me, anything about Will's relationship with his sexuality that stops him from being out, at least to his close ones if not the world. The events that he went through outside and because of it, already ostracizes him from everyone else, including the ones he loves, that is just a fact and I think Will knows this & I don't think it's him being gay that is problematic for him, it's his very strong feelings for Mike that will probably be understood now by everyone and that will change the "nature" of them now but also acknowledging the lost innocence and naivity he experienced very very young even before the Upside Down stuff.

Because when Will comes out, it is not just him being gay that will come out, it's everything he went through because of it & he's going to start, in a way, healing from all it & that is sometimes just as tough as going through the trauma. And in a way, he kinda already started that process back in Season 4 so I think it would make sense for him to continue that path. It's going to be emotional, it would make sense and needs to be that way but to me the coming out definitely needs to be Joyce, Jonathan and as I said, Mike, Dustin & Lucas.

And I would like to be very clear, though I don't think it will be that much because ST & The Duffers have lost that touch for me, but I would like it to be very clear for him & the others and us, that he is gay, he likes boys and doesn't like girls, don't have to say it that direct but in a similar way because that's what a lot of queer people have to go through I think & it's actually verbalizing the fact that they are queer. Because we are going to have too much dumbasses still telling us he is not & it's important again for the representation be properly done in a satisfying way.

Next, his past, I think it would be essential to explore Will's trauma again because of his sexuality but also other elements of his character like the love he has for the arts, D&D, relationship he has with Lonnie & also violence because that is also important but I'll discuss that in another post. Because it would help us understand more about he & The Byers function as a whole but give us more depth & element to feel a satisfying conclusion to characters that have been left on the bench for quite some time now because if you talk about Will's past and issues, you will need to talk about Joyce's and Jonathan's past & issues and all the abuse they went through, which has become quite an important element to the plot now that hasn't been that well developed for all the characters and it would be nice if it starts being well developed.

Plus it leads to one of the reasons why he was taken AND not killed in 1983 which leads us to what is his connection to the UD now... and before. 👀

Because if the emotional arc of Will is important to tie the whole series together, it's important for the supernatural arc too & that opens interesting threads that I can't get into this post now.

After that, I think the climate of Season 5 needs to show us a more hardened Will, one that'll force Will to get his hands dirty to survive and to protect the group as well, while also fighting against things from his past that may be quite important for him with how he perceives and react to violence or danger. I would like to see a Will that's not always and has wants & needs that don't align for everyone & goes against the bigger geopolitical groups that are fighting including the supernatural ones. OH YES! I am going there!

Him being a villain would not make sense and would be a no no for me, but sometimes falling on the grey sides of things would make sense and would be so enjoyable for me. Especially against the threat that's looming on everyone in Season 5.

Also possibly drawing a parallel to what he experienced in 1983, because he survived in some way and we're going to need to explore that in the present. Will might likely be the most useful person to have in a UD infested environment. And him realising that he is useful is going to force him to go back to what happened and why that happened to help the best way he can, because if there's anything that boy knows how to do better than anyone else on this, it's self-sabotaging for the greater good.

Again, it's a snowball effect, if you do one thing you're going to have to do and explore another, to me, they are linked. Are the Duffers going to do that ? I'm unsure. But that's what makes sense to me.

So here's your answer, sorry if it's a bit vague but I will be exploring this in many different posts in the future.

[0aurelion-sol0]

(Answer to an ask sent by @lalli00035-blog that Tumblr prevented me from editing for some reason & I do not know why.)

First off, I want a sense of actual direction & good writing throughout the story at large & for all the characters' story arcs. It needs to have the same type of consistency that Season 1 had. We've had three seasons, with a fourth season that was extremely inconsistent with its different storylines.

I want a consistent tone, a more realistic, grittier tone in Season 5. Closer to the first two seasons.

We're going to be in a pre-, during, and post-apocalyptic Hawkins, where threats will be everywhere & in different forms. Whether humans, supernaturals, or both. It needs to match what the characters will experience and go through. Speaking of characters:

→ An actual exploration of the characters this time around, it doesn't need to be a character analysis of the characters & their tropes in your face with extra long monologues, but have them have actual depth, or use the depth they have & explore that plus make them have an actual growth. It's been 4 seasons, and so many characters are stuck or go back to how they were in Season 1 or 2.  No more of that. Put certain characters forward & others in the back, some characters need to have more screen time and story elements compared to others who have completed much of their arcs & potential by now.

And finally, actual interesting answers for the story that are compelling for 5 seasons worth of content & better explanations about what has been going on, whether it has been on the human side or the supernatural side. (Finish & bring back some of the plots that have not been finished in the previous seasons too, some have no reason to not have been finished by now unless they want to do something about it in Season 5.)

Plus, be, let's say, daring. More political, go there. Finally, explore what you want to talk about instead of throwing progressive words around and barely scratching the surface of them about what outcast, conformity or morality are. Etc...

After that, I expect the overall same creativity in the set designs, the wardrobe & monsters/supernatural elements, Stranger Things, and even Season 4 (which I thought didn't use its budget the best way possible for every element), has always been of quality about that. The music and filmmaking as well are always rather good, which is to be expected given the people working on it, the budget and now the experience that has come after 4 seasons of material. Actors will also all do their jobs well, regardless of what's given to them at this point.

That's all I have to say for the moment. As I said, I will elaborate on those thoughts in future posts, but I hope it answers your question in some way. Also, there will be a long theory/prediction post that I will do that will summarize everything that I think will happen or could happen in Stranger Things 5 & other content coming from the Stranger Things franchise as a whole.

[0aurelion-sol0]

wow i’m so scared. 😐 i don’t give a fuck, still weird to think things in finn’s life revolve around a ship. but i mean if you wanna be delusional and out of touch with reality to the point where you think an actor picks out songs, about a ship (that isn’t even actively happening in the show) to put on his playlist, i can’t help you. i don’t care about byler or you guys shipping byler or your theories, i just don’t like that you’re bringing someone’s personal life into it, it’s strange. focus on the actual show maybe? don’t be “moronic” :)

There it is! 😈 Show your true colors. The good old "delusional" and "out of touch with reality" arguments. I have missed those.

I never said Finn's life was revolving around my ship just that like every actor who works on a show or movie they love, they put elements of it into their own lives as a reminder or as a reference. Hell, it doesn't even have to be about Byler, it could be about an indie movie he did, he just liked the song, reminds him of something, it could be ANYTHING.

You haven't heard of Samuel L. Jackson and the purple lightsaber ? 😏 Or David Harbour using his social medias or even personal life hinting at things in ST ? Whether happening, appearing or not...

And if you didn't care, you wouldn't have a tantrum about it and a simple theory, especially about something "not happening" (Finn liking stuff about and defending it doesn't really support your hypothesis 😏...) You do care and it pisses you off because it's this ship and nothing else. And like it's a public playlist, of songs, that you can find somewhere and anywhere on the internet... You never had a song on your playlist because it's based on something you remember or like ? I have! Multiple ones in fact.

It's not his birth certificate or a family photo like chill. And again stay in your lane wasn't to scare you, it was a warning and an advice. 😁

[0aurelion-sol0]

I haven't been in the ST fandom in ages. But since the S4 trailer dropped I'm back and reading every theory I can find. I read one really interesting theory about the possibility of Vickie being Sarah. But I also liked your comparison between the names Victor and Vickie. You have a lot of good and well rounded theories in general from what I've seen on here and other places (some a lot better than what I think will end up playing out on the show tbh), so I was curious what you think about the possibility of Vickie being an aged up Sarah?

Sorry I took so long to answer your ask. I am not very well at organising myself. X)

I did read that theory a long time ago and it was very interesting. And I did consider the connection between Vickie and Sara given the actress's work before joining ST.

But considering the latest stills that were present in that magazine that came out not so long ago. As many and I have predicted, she is connected to Robin's and Hawkins's storyline this season. So I do think it's unlikely she is connected to that directly

Now The Duffers did say she plays a big role in things to come in Season 4 and possibly the final season, so we will have to wait and see what they do with her.

However, Vickie could be important in a different way. Vickie could be part of a bigger message from the show, something more connected to the subtext of it or a meta narrative that has been built up since season 1. There's many possibilities. (I sound like @strangertheory right now. XD (Her and her endless optimism about this show may have rubbed on me it seems. 😏))

Her and Sara could still have that connection but in a different way that we have yet to learn.

[0aurelion-sol0]

never said it was weird to theorize finn’s playlists “because it’s byler” quit acting so insecure. it would be weird as hell if it was mileven too. i don’t care if his playlists are public, it’s fucking weird to drag his personal stuff into theorizing a fictional ship? he shouldn’t have to make his playlists private so y’all won’t do weird things? also, “horrendous straight ship.” you guys sure talk a lot of shit about mileven when all you do is call milevens “toxic” for hating on your ship. you think if you cared about byler so much you’d ignore mileven and focus on your ship? i’m not a hypocrite, nothing about what i said has to do with byler as a ship. i’m simply telling you that theorizing over a real human’s playlists for the sake of a fictional ship is fucking weird and you should leave him out of it, no matter what the ship is. if you can’t understand that and immediately wanna take it as an attack towards your ship, and feel the need to attack mileven back when they weren’t even brought up..idk what to tell you.

Your ask sounded like using songs he putted out there publicly for theorizing on things he worked on was harassing or being creepy/weird about him, is moronic. Things he has openly hinted (or even liked stuff about) about like any other actors on things they work on, Finn is not the only one to do it. Many people who worked on some stuff hint or incorporate it into their lives. That argument of yours is moronic. And you were referencing an action or a process, in this case theorizing, related to Byler since it was referencing a theory about Byler. So yes it was directed to that ship. Who knows why Finn putted this on this playlist of his ? Maybe he was inspired by some of his works that he loved doing, maybe he was not. Let people have their goddamn interpretation.

So yes, the argument was definitely against Byler since it has been used before by other people. I've been doing this for a long time now so I'm starting to recognise what people really mean behind their words now, (and what type of people says it) and I know exactly what you meant by this.

If it was Melvin, no one would bat an eye. It's Byler, everyone loses their f*cking minds. And yes I will trash that relationship since it has offered nothing so far into the story but dragging the plot and being horrendous (which is a fact) while it's fandom who exists because of this very ship trashes every other fandom that exists in the ST fandom, including ours, because people get something else out of the show. And who came to bother us and me in the first place with an ask in the Byler tag and a fellow Byler theorist? You.

We can never theorize in peace without having people like you bothering us 24/7 and telling us what to do and not to do (like who are you ?). No harm or creepy things were done or said. Stay in your lane because you will not want to play that game when I'm on. I'm not like the other Byler shippers who try to be as calm and respectful as possible, I'm not nice and definitely not polite.

[0aurelion-sol0]

Yo~

What's your opinion on the Will Byers DID theory? If you like it, which version do you like better? Both interpretations seem cool to me, though I personally like strangertheory's version better ^.^

Hi!

That's a very interesting question. I want to start by saying that I am a singlet, so I don't have DiD or OSDD. My knowledge of this condition is primarly known through medias I consume or some more "advanced" psychiatric documents or researches.

DiD is a condition that hasn't been always best represented or accurately represented since this condition varies from people who have it and so while there are similarities, the experience of it is very much unique and personal. It is also something that in a fictional setting with different genres, themes and tones is very hard to pull off or represent unless you go for the very realistic take on it.

It is bound to be, like many other things in fiction, dramatized. And speaking from a singlet perspective, who also had particular problems represented in fiction, I think it's okay as long as it's done right, in the setting, tone and genre it is in.

For example, we have today a lot more LGBTQ+ representation and like everything, unless you go for the fully realistic route, it's going to be simplified and dramatized. There's so many gender identities and sexual orientations today, you have to simplify it. And that goes for many other things that people care about in media, it has to be done right, but the writers still have a story to tell and unless that subject is the focus of the story, they're not gonna always spend their time talking about that. There is a story to tell.

Secondly, if it is the main focus of the story, that is where people have to do their research and really represent what they are talking about. Not some half-baked representation with dull arguments and points that come from a capitalist and conservative worldview. (Looking at you Disney.)

Now what you are referencing are @strangertheory 's and @kaypeace21 's theories which are about the show being about a DiD system where we see different alters evolving in said story with the host being Will Byers.

There is a lot of evidence pointing towards it, I'm gonna let you go see their posts and read it.

But their theories are very different in the way that they see the show portraying DiD, I have actually find quite a great way to describe the two takes.

@kaypeace21 's take is that elements of the DiD system have been externalised through science-"fictional" or supernatural means. Similar to Legion from the Marvel universe.

(David is a powerful mutant with DiD where each alters, if I remember correctly, has a different power or powers. (Which to this day is still one of the most BADASS thing I have ever come across though it must be quite terrifying for David.))

@strangertheory is an internalised POV on the DiD system existing in the show. She believes that what we are seeing right now is what is exclusively happening INSIDE the DiD system and that what we are experiencing is not our standard definition of the "real world". As in the physical world we all know. This would be in very vulgar terms happening inside Will's self, head, mind or brain. In a sense, it would be a more accurate representation of what DiD is about. A Shyamalan twist if you prefer.

(Though right now I don't have any word for word examples of such take, there is a show called MR.ROBOT that fits a bit of this description since there are moments in the show that we are seeing are only happening in the DiD system itself.

I recommend this show A LOT. It still is a bit dramatized but from what I know the DiD representation is quite accurate and pleased a lot of people with DiD. Also some people on the Stranger Things crew worked on that show.)

Now do I love the DiD theory ?

Heck yeah, I fucking love it! And with a big L! (Am I right "The First I love you?").

And I Love both of the takes and I think each one works at explaining the mysteries of this story. I even think that in some ways both could work well together.

I believe that DiD can be, without the meaning of being used, like many things a powerful storytelling "device" since it is connected to so many themes and other writing tools and is linked literally to the psyche, emotions and personalities of the characters.

I can understand why some people like both or one or respectfully and logically dislike both or one of the takes. But it is close to my belief about what the show is about or were even before I came into this fandom or on the internet, not as complex and thought out as the theory itself but pretty close in the overall themes and aspects of it.

(Though it bewilders me how much people lack imagination or are scared of such twist when I have seen so many of those types before whether it's done well or not, accurate or not.)

Now both @strangertheory and @kaypeace21 are intelligent people with very nuanced takes. And they had their fair share of completely unjust controversies coming from either rabbid ignorant shippers, far too sensible people or downright ignorant stupid people, most of the time 16 year olds. I am not saying that they are perfect, no one is, but the hate they have received is completely unjust.

And I am gonna lay it down right here, they are begging for an accurate representation here, they are not doing this because it just sounds cool and is edgy, they are actually wanting that The Duffers pull this off well. They would be very mad if they use all the imagery just to make it look cooler or scarier.

They are not bringer of truths, they are just like us. They are theorists, they believe in something that they think can explain the story they love and are experiencing. And so far, they have a pretty damn good track record.

They are analysing, dissecting the show because it's what they want to do and they believe in it and they believe the Duffers wants them to do that (I mean how come no one believes it when watching a show like that set in the 80's with so many references ?).

It is also supposed to be fun. Have fun for God's Sake! You can disagree with it but calling names and being disrespectful because somehow they don't agree with very basic, lazy and cliché theories (and no it's not being hypocrite, a lot of people barely do the work.) or are not on board with your creepy projection over the characters IS not okay.

And no, they aren't supporting p*d*philia as some people have claimed. How can you read these theories and come up to that conclusion ?

Most people haven't even read the DiD theory or have gone all the way through with it because they are lazy, easily bored people who don't have the time to just relax, process and think.

Stranger Things is not a kids show, some dumb teenage romance drama show with cool monsters! It's a very mature show, with real problems that are treated, out of which is trauma and mental health. Kids are killing people and even dying on this show. There is sexism, racism, abuse both physical and psychological.

It is a very mature and dark show. And you are being disrespectful to the Duffers when you say they are not that smart or that isn't that important. They are putting a lot of thoughts into this and the fact that no one really recognises this annoys me.

Or people only think it's important when it is only about the things they enjoy in the show. (Which is more hypocrite to me.) OR people are very stupid if they truly think that or are just jealous, bitter that two women have more imagination together and individualy than all of them or that person alone.

Color and costume choices, subtext, context, camera angles, directing, VFX, music, editing, sets, props, script, acting and editing are very important. All must be carefully done or you get very bad or generic stuff if you don't. If you love and you are passionate about the work, you put all the details you can into it.

And the Duffers and all the people working with them have already referenced those sort of things AND the practice of what we do on the internet. They are aware, they know because they have been in the same place too. They grew up with stories too, they made theories too whether it's on the internet or not.

At the end of the day, it is just a theory. An explanation of what is unfolding, may unfold or may have unfolded. I believe in it, I think it is reasonable, it has logic and it makes sense. It also has a lots of elements backing it up.

And the Duffers don't even have to go with DiD or mention it. Will creating some of the characters and supernatural events from his trauma is also similar and more accessible to the masses. But a Shyamalan twist can also work if it is done well.

And I am also open to other possibilities and theories, if they make sense and have enough elements IN THE SHOW and everything connected to it backing it up.

If the Duffers write something completely different but it is as good and also explains even better than this theory than I'll be okay. I love being wrong, it makes me learn new things and enhances the way I approach stories in the future.

If the Duffers only used this as some very inaccurate and disrespectful scary/abstract subtext without commiting to it. That is where I will have a problem.

Or write something completely incoherent with the rest of the show with a bad plot twist catering to the main public masses to sell the story even more and just make money so that they are safe with a fallacy of a work of fiction. Because they are cowards who didn't know how to manage themselves and baited entire audiences or listened to some crappy executive who didn't understand shit about the story. (wink wink, looking at a certain something...)

So yeah, I do love the DiD theory and both of it's takes and if it happens and is done right, with of course my perspective on the thing and PRIMARLY the perspective of people who have DiD or know a lot about it, I'll be pleased with it and I think it could be something very important for stories, people, the world and "art" in general.

Thank you for the question it was really fun! I hope I described the theory and the condition in the right way @kaypeace21 and @strangertheory and also the people who are concerned or know about it if I didn't let me know. Also, if you disagree with what I said, the way I said it or the subject itself let me also know IF it's respectful of course.

[0aurelion-sol0]

I have a dumb question and you can only answer with something dumb:

If you could replace all of the grass in the world with something else, what would it be and why?

Okay I literally wanna know how this question came into your head and why you decided to give it to me specifically. XD

Honestly it would have to be moss phlox. Especially pink moss phlox. A flower you will probably know for having popular and huge fields of spaces to bloom on in Japan.

Like look at this. Earth would be far more fun and trippy to live on if grass was replaced with that.

[0aurelion-sol0]

Hi❤️how are you? Can you please tell me the name of the game whose photo you shared a month ago? (I am actually confused ... Isn't his surname supposed to be Hargrove or were we wrong this whole time)

Hi. I am fine as usual. Thank you for asking.

What you are referencing here is "Stranger Things: Puzzle Tales" video game.

I've talked about it here, especially a certain chapter of the game that could be relevant for the future stories of ST.

An ST video game available on mobile that came out recently, you have many different characters you can play including Billy. In the game however, during it's first days, instead of having Hargrove as his surname, he had Mayfield. I reported it here and many people like @strangerthings4theories gave their thoughts on the situation.

A few weeks later I think, during Stranger Things Day and a new patch, I reported here that his surname changed to Hargrove and Mayfield was gone.

I don't know if this was a mistake or something intentional but I thought it was important to bring it up since The Duffers likes to use ST's extended universe properties like games to drop many hints.

Even lately something happened with ST3: The Game. Netflix launched the "video games section" of their app and to celebrate the characters had new outfits for example. (I will talk about it one day.)

I am basically the gaming nerd of the ST Fandom. If you have any questions that are connected or relevant to video games you can come to me. XD

But for now, Billy's surname remains Hargrove in all of ST's extended universe properties.

What I'm more interested in Billy in the game is the fact he is literally a walking anti-Demogorgon fighter which is very interesting given the connected symbolism he has with Fathers, Water (because the Demogorgon was compared to a shark, he is a lifeguard and a surfer), Sons and Upside-Down stuff in the show.