#whatpaintinggate

[chaosnbeauty]

I need conformitygate to be real PURELY because I need this scene to mean something

[im-not-a-plant]

"he's just my tammy" is will trying to convince himself that he doesn't need mike to reciprocate his love for him. he doesn't know that mike likes him back, even though we (as the audience) have been shown time and time again that that is not true. by convincing himself that mike is just his tammy and that will doesn't need to be with mike to be happy (just like robin felt with tammy), he's protecting himself from heartbreak when he's "inevitably" rejected. this is just what will THINKS is true, which doesn't necessarily mean it's actually canon. he's just having byler doubt but that'll be solved when mike gets it together and they finally talk (istg he's already putting the pieces together). honestly they just need to bring up the painting and they're set 🙏🙏

[bucks-apron]

i’m so excited for whatpaintinggate, not “i hope whatpaintinggate happens” but im so excited. bc they literally HAVE to address it in volume 2. like there is no way to avoid it.

[frozenfrogz]

mikewhatthefuckdidyoudogate

flickergate

lettergate

maxgetawayfromthedoorgate

watergate

birthdaygate

whatpaintinggate

elite ball knowledge

[afeelingsopeculiar23]

HELP i'm so behind can someone please explain all the byler "gates" to me 😭 i feel stupid

[fliickergate]

everyone else has probably already gotten to this point but it just hit me that we only need the painting. like that is the only thing we need to ensure byler endgame. “mike’s his tammy” this and “the arc is over” that…..if mike finds out that will made the painting for him and he has known that will was painting in california for a “girl” he presumably liked AND now knows that he couldn’t have liked a girl but has been crushing on a guy, it should only take a few puzzle pieces falling into place for him to realize that he is the “someone” will has been crushing on once he finds out that el did not commission the painting and will made it for him all along. boom done endgame possible and within reach, closer than ever before actually!

ALSO finn saying that the duffers told him that mike’s obliviousness surrounding the painting would pay off “in the end”. maybe they meant literally in the end as in the very end of the show the very last episode the finale on new year’s eve itself

[spideyana]

Me if Mike stays oblivious even when El says “what painting”

[bucks-apron]

everyone remembers the first time they watched this scene and had their heart broken into a million pieces.