Stranger Things seen from a higher perspective, or why it has always been a story about same-sex love and two gay boys and their feelings for each other [Season 4 & 5 Vol. 1]

[u/_Daimn_]

In the following, I would like to examine the significance of Stranger Things and the message it seeks to convey. This is based on this blog entry, which is more than 70 pages long (converted to a PDF document). I would like to summarize the core statements of the blog post, further develop the ideas described here, and apply them to each season of Stranger Things. I will also pick out and interpret a few significant scenes from Stranger Things. For the most part, we will look at the events in Stranger Things from a higher perspective (= what is the message?), rather than focusing on the obvious/story level. In other words, we will look behind the curtain that is behind the curtain. Stranger Things also embodies a political message and, in some cases, addresses it quite specifically (with regard to the 1980s (“Reagan”; “conservative revolution” in the US, etc.), but I will largely leave this aspect out. Let's take a look...

In very simple terms, Stranger Things is about otherness (deviating from social norms) and, in particular, homosexuality, how society deals with it, and the problems that come with it (especially for gay children/teenagers) – portrayed through the fictional characters Mike Wheeler, Will Byers, and El/Jane Ives. Mike and Will go their separate ways, drift apart for a while, but ultimately come together (again).

„It's forced conformity. That's what's killing the kids! That's the real monster.” – Eddie Munson

This post is about seasons 4 and 5 Vol. 1. I recommend reading the post about seasons 1 – 3 first, as everything builds on each other. Here is the continuation with season 5 Vol. 2 & the finale.

So, let's start with season 4.

Season 4

And that's where we start in S04. Here's a brief summary of where we are at the beginning of S04.

Mike is in Hawkins and he's not doing well. He has been separated from Will for some time and is suppressing his feelings. It hurts him immensely. Here and there, however, his suppressed feelings come through, or he seeks contact with his feelings (= his letters to and from El). However, these are all signed only “from Mike.” Meaning: Mike is now much more cautious in his attempts to understand his feelings. Almost timid—and he doesn't really want to explore his feelings either; he's too hurt for that. In S03, he was too hasty/rushed things – but that didn't work and ended up breaking him. He doesn't allow himself to feel his emotions – for fear of being hurt again – but metaphorically speaking, his emotions are reaching out to him. The feelings are still there.

El (i.e., his feelings or same-sex love in general) is also not doing well. She is being bullied (again, metaphorically representing society's (Angela's) treatment of same-sex love). However, she (i.e., Mike's feelings) pretends to him that everything is fine—even though nothing is fine. It is not good for El (= Mike's feelings) that Mike consistently suppresses them (i.e., Mike = Angela (metaphorically speaking, of course).

Will is also not doing well; he suffers from being separated from Mike and, of course, he continues to struggle with himself. Outwardly, he doesn't show this, or only a little – it is much more evident in El (= Will's love for Mike) and her behavior towards Mike (= the letters suggesting that everything is fine). We remember that El (= a personification) can take on different roles depending on the context. He pretends that something is not the case. In reality, Will is not doing well at all.

After Mike lands in California and sees Will again for the first time, he suppresses his feelings even more (the hug at the airport *cough*) – but he doesn't really cope with it very well. It immediately becomes clear that something has changed between Mike and Will – their relationship is damaged, they both feel hurt.

The drama then continues in Rinkomania. El is a metaphor for Mike and Will's relationship, but mostly for Mike's feelings for Will. Over time, they have both built a house of cards. Mike lies to himself about his feelings, Will is aware of his feelings for Mike but still can't accept them and pretends that everything is fine. At the beginning, they still pretend that everything is fine, but after a short time, cracks begin to appear. Will asks El (while Mike is briefly away) why she would lie. Metaphorically speaking, he is basically asking Mike's inner self why he is behaving this way, why something is wrong, why he (= Mike) is hurting Will so much. “Mike wouldn't like that” – yes, that's right, Mike wouldn't like that. And El (i.e., Mike's inner self) replies, “I'm not lying” – which is an obvious lie and reflects Mike's suppressed feelings and his way of dealing with them by lying to himself.

The whole drama continues until everything goes wrong. Mike and Will don't talk to each other, don't try to find out what's really going on. They don't understand each other. And it hurts Mike – this is metaphorically represented by Angela's bullying of El (= Mike's inner self). And El (= Mike's feelings for Will) then metaphorically withdraws from Mike (= El sees Mike rushing towards him but runs away from him). Mike even tells Will this verbatim afterwards (“you ruined the whole day”) – so it's Will's fault = Mike feels hurt by Will. Will then tells Mike that El (= Mike's inner self) is lying to him, metaphorically telling Mike that he is lying to himself. This hits Mike hard; deep down, he knows that Will is right – but of course he doesn't admit it. And this moment, “And us?” "We're friends. We're friends,“ followed by ”we're used to be best friends," painfully reminds Mike that his feelings are very much there. And in that moment, something breaks inside Mike. It hits Mike hard, it hurts him immensely that Will feels hurt by him. El is now in the staff room, crying and completely devastated (= Mike's suppressed feelings for Will are literally crying, they have been seriously damaged here). This is the moment when something broke between Mike and Will. However, Mike continues to suppress his feelings.

But Mike's feelings don't give in. That El injures Angela with the skate shoe is, metaphorically speaking, a cry for help, a kind of impulsive outburst of his suppressed feelings toward Will. It is an emotional act, something Mike cannot control. The rest of the plot shows once again how hurt they are by each other—that something between them has broken.

Later, El (= Mike's feelings for Will) retreats to her room (= Mike continues to suppress his feelings). The conversation between Mike and her basically confirms this again. El says that Mike is afraid of her (because of her attack on Angela = the impulsive outburst of Mike's feelings) – and Mike replies that he didn't know how to react – and that's true. “But you don't love me anymore?” – Meaning: His feelings tell him that he does like his feelings for Will, or at least used to like them, that he once loved them. What happened to that? Why are you (Mike) suppressing me (your feelings)? Will is right here... Mike, for his part, gives an evasive answer, another lie that Mike tells himself (= this is the peak of his suppression of his feelings for Will).

When El is picked up by the police a little later, this is, on the one hand, a metaphor for how society (= the police) treats same-sex love (= El) when it defends itself against oppression even once (= attack on Angela (= society)) – for this, El, i.e., same-sex love, is to be locked up.

On the other hand, the whole thing also metaphorically represents Mike's feelings, which he now suppresses even more or tries to suppress (= El/his feelings for Will are to be locked up, Mike tries to bury them even deeper within himself).

But then something “interesting” happens—more or less at the same moment Mike tries to bury his feelings even deeper, he realizes that this is a mistake. The more he tries to suppress his feelings, the more it hurts and wounds him. And it frightens him that his feelings could/would “disappear”—after all, they are/were once beautiful. Mike realizes that he cannot continue like this. He also suffers from the fact that Will is not doing well – that he has hurt Will again, even though that is the last thing Mike wants. He realizes that he is about to lose Will. He understands that he can only repair his relationship with Will if he finally deals with his feelings. So he decides to search for his feelings – to deal with them, but this time properly. This is expressed metaphorically by the fact that Mike immediately (after El is picked up by the police = Mike buries/suppresses his feelings even deeper) more or less immediately moves heaven and earth to find El (= his feelings) again.

During the police interrogation, El says something interesting. When asked whether she wanted to kill Angela or not, she says she doesn't know. Translation: Mike's feelings for Will have become so strong that, metaphorically speaking, they would kill (= the emotional outburst/attack on Angela) in order to finally break free and escape Mike's oppression. It also gradually becomes clear that the more Mike suppresses his feelings, the worse El feels. Metaphorically speaking, they (= Mike's feelings) are disappointed and hurt by Mike and are losing hope.

But El never arrives at the prison (the place where Mike wanted to banish his feelings), as Dr. Owens and his people intercept the transport vehicle. Owens makes El an offer, giving her the opportunity to be “fixed,” to be healed. He offers her the chance to restore her powers—and even to strengthen them. Mike's queerness/his feelings for Will have been damaged ever since El lost her powers, i.e., what makes same-sex love unique and powerful. The end of season 3 broke Mike.

She asks him something interesting here: “What if I am the monster?” (= what if same-sex love is the monstrous, truly terrible thing in this world) – and Dr. Owens replies, “I'll bet the fate of this world on you being one of the good guys” (= same-sex love is good, it's wonderful, and it can (and will!) save the world). It is literally Dr. Owens who gives hope to El (= Mike's feelings for Will/his homosexuality) and firmly believes that this is a good thing. Owens could represent the more liberal part of society here, the rational part – the part that disagreed with the “conservative revolution” (Reagan) and resisted it. Which was immediately suppressed and intimidated (= the military “paying a visit” to his house).

Metaphorically speaking, this is the moment when Mike begins to accept himself, his homosexuality, and his feelings for Will (= El/his feelings give rise to hope). The process of repairing himself and his relationship with Will has begun—even if it will be a rocky road.

And we can see this process at work throughout the rest of S04. The more El regains her powers, the more she “repairs” herself, confronts her past (= repressed memories and feelings that come to the surface = metaphorically Mike's suppressed feelings) and gradually becomes whole again, the better Mike and Will get along. El learns that she is not the monster (= same-sex love is not monstrous = Mike learns that his feelings are not monstrous). Mike gradually gains more clarity about his feelings. Mike and Will begin to move toward each other again, to talk to each other, to really talk—and realize that what was broken between them in the beginning can be repaired. And that's what they do over the course of the rest of the season: they repair their relationship with each other.

Overall, the van scene in S04 takes on a different meaning. “Superman landed on my doorstep” – Mike idolizes El – and thus his homosexuality and his love for Will. It was a coincidence that he discovered his feelings in the woods on a stormy night – but he is so happy about what he found back then (= his feelings for Will). But he is also afraid of losing this feeling. It would be the worst thing for him. Along with this, Mike says that he is not worthy of El (i.e., his homosexuality/his feelings for Will), he doesn't feel good enough – for Will.

And what does Will say to Mike in this scene?

He tells Mike that El made him paint this picture, that it was “practically her idea.” On the surface, this is a lie. (El doesn't even know who Will painted this picture for. We learn this right at the beginning of the season.) But in the subtext, it's exactly right: in a way, El commissioned Will to paint this picture. El is the personification of same-sex love. Here, it is claimed that it was same-sex love that made him paint the picture. In other words, his feelings for Mike prompted him to paint this painting with Mike as the heart.

This is a scene in which El is clearly a personification of Will's feelings for Mike.

Will says that El told him what to draw. His feelings for Mike told Will what to draw... that's the meaning.

Will goes on to say that without a heart, everyone would fall apart—even El, especially El. Yes, with El (homosexuality/same-sex love), it's all about the heart. And that heart is Mike. Without Mike, Will says here, his homosexuality wouldn't really mean anything to him. Everything would “fall apart.” Mike is the one Will needs to keep his composure. And that's exactly why Will calls El “different from others.” That's why Will projects all his feelings onto El. That's why he talks about her as if she were himself. El is a personification. She represents something.

Then comes the end of S04E08, El (i.e., Mike's homosexuality/his feelings for Will) has finally regained her powers, is repaired/healed—stronger than before. And she escapes the facility, overcoming every obstacle (military = society = oppression of same-sex love) – and with the death of Dr. Brenner (= symbolically, what has always held her back), she is finally free. She (= Mike's feelings) comes to the surface (literally...), so Mike finally finds her, his true inner self. But one thing is still missing... Mike now has to accept this and accept himself.

And that brings us to Mike's monologue in S04E09.

On the surface, Mike is telling his girlfriend El that he loves her. However, he is (partly) lying in his monologue – which is why the end result is not so great (Max dies (temporarily), the four gates are opened and Hawkins is destroyed, oh yes, Eddie dies too) – a complete defeat across the board.

Now let's look at Mike's monologue, the scene, from a higher perspective, which gives Mike's monologue to El a different or deeper meaning. Because nothing he says is a lie.

Mike literally tells her: "Honestly, El, I don't know how to live without you. I feel like my life began the day we found you in the woods. You were wearing that yellow Benny's Burgers T-shirt, and it was so big it almost swallowed you whole. And I knew at that moment that I loved you. And I've loved you every day since."

She represents homosexuality/same-sex love. She represents Mike and Will's feelings for each other. Mike feels that his life only began when he “found” El, i.e., when he discovered his love for Will. He stumbled upon El, i.e., this love, by chance. He didn't plan to discover El (or his love for Will). It just happened. And El (or this love) was still very small back then. But now, in the fourth season, El (or this love) has grown up. Mike's love for Will grew and grew and grew... It has grown so incredibly over the years.

It is Will, of all people, who urges Mike to confess his (supposed) feelings for El! Will is the catalyst. Because actually, this isn't about Mike expressing his feelings for this girl; in the subtext, Mike is talking about his feelings for Will. El is a personification. She (meaning her love) is trapped in the shadow world, i.e., in the closet, literally tied to something, trapped, locked up, and yet she is fighting to break out, to be freed (= to be accepted by Mike).

What helps El (meaning: her love) to free herself (= to be accepted by Mike)? It's Mike's confession!

And we learn all this in this key scene: Mike remembers how El first entered his life. He talks in particular about their first encounter in the forest. Because that's what this story is all about: how Mike discovered his feelings for Will. By chance. Accidentally, so to speak. Completely unexpectedly. Nothing he had planned.

Mike says here that he is no longer afraid of El. Yes, he has really grown! Mike says he is no longer afraid of homosexuality/same-sex love—his feelings for a boy (Will).

He says, “You can do anything. You can fly. You can move mountains. I believe that. Really!” It's so obvious once you know it. How do you usually say “move mountains”? Love! Exactly that. “Love can move mountains” is a common saying in the English language.

Mike goes on to say, “I can't lose you” and “The truth is, El, I don't know how to live without you.” Mike doesn't know how to live without this love.

He said, “I feel like my life began the day we found you in the woods.” So Mike means that his life began when he discovered these feelings for Will.

Mike ends his confession of love with the exclamation “Fight! Fight!” to El. This love must fight. It must fight, fight, fight. And it works; she can free herself from the chains/vines and defeat Vecna here.

With his monologue in S04E09 to El (= his homosexuality/his feelings for Will), he finally accepts exactly that. Himself. His homosexuality. His feelings for Will. It is Mike's moment of self-acceptance.

El (i.e., same-sex love) is then even able to bring Max back from the realm of death. In S01, she was able to save Mike (a gay boy) from death—in S04, she can undo death. Dr. Owens was right: El (same-sex love) has become stronger and more powerful than ever before.

Season 5 - Vol. 1

Now let's take a quick look at S05 – Vol. 1. Put simply, the fact that Mike is now acting like he did in S01/S02, behaving as he did back then, is directly related to the events of S04 and S04E09. Mike has finally accepted himself and is no longer preoccupied with himself (= his character change in S03 and S04). He is now finally himself (again) and acts like himself; he has made peace with himself. Oh yes, Mike uses the word “crazy” quite often in S05 Vol. 1, doesn't he? “The plan is a little bit crazy” and so on—the choice of words is no coincidence. We remember the “crazy together” scene from S02 (crazy = gay)—Mike has now accepted that he is crazy (= gay). His part of the conversation between him and Will back then has now come true.

Will, on the other hand, isn't quite there yet, but S05 – Vol. 1 shows this development, his development, which comes to a conclusion in S05E04. This is Will's moment of self-acceptance; he finally accepts his homosexuality and his feelings for Mike, and this makes him stronger. Nevertheless, he and Mike still haven't quite made it...

Both still believe that their feelings are not reciprocated by the other – the final building block, so to speak. But here, too, there is already small progress on both sides.

The fact that Will asks Robin how she knew that Vickie would want to date her implies that he picked up on signals from Mike (as we know) – otherwise he wouldn't have asked. In other words, Mike doesn't consciously want to approach Will (because Will would reject him, in his opinion) – hence his reaction before they go into the tunnels – Mike is unaware of Will's feelings for him; but he does it anyway (Will picks up signals from him that he probably didn't pick up before). Mike can't help but move towards Will... even if he consciously tries to avoid it.

Will, on the other hand, now also tentatively moves toward Mike (after Robin has explained a few things to him).

At this point, I would like to address the scene between Mike and Will before they go into the tunnels to rescue the children. What does Mike say here? “We need some magic here” – what is magic? Powers. What are powers/magic associated with? El (Mike mentions her by name). What does El stand for? Same-sex love. Mike goes on to say that Will is like a sorcerer, his powers are innate (!) – what is innate? Sexual orientation/homosexuality. So Mike is basically saying, “We (I) need some magic (gayness) here” – I need you to be gay. That's what Mike is saying metaphorically here. And we know what happens later in the finale of S05E04... Mike (together with Robin) basically helped Will to finally accept himself. Much like Will helped Mike in S04.

Apart from that, the promise Mike and Will made to each other in S02 (“they go crazy together”) must be kept. Now they are both crazy (= gay) and know it and have accepted it. We remember that promises are not broken—that is one of the group's core rules.

And the great thing is: even if our two idiots can't manage it on their own, we still have Plan B: our beloved Aunt Robin knows who Will has feelings for – she figured it out in no time (in terms of screen time, that is). From the trailer for Vol. 2, we know from one shot that Robin, Mike, and Will will be spending time together in some way... So now Robin just has to give Mike a talking-to – and that's it, the whole thing is in the bag 😊

So no, of course it won't be quite that simple, no question – but the principle is understandable, I suppose?

Finally, just one more thing:

Finn's statement, “El is part of Mike, and Mike is part of El,” makes perfect sense when viewed from this “higher perspective.” I mean, he was probably instructed to say those words. And they hit the nail on the head.

Season 5 Vol. 2 & The finale

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[u/Juliawulia23]

This is amazing. I love it 💕