It Represents The Cycle Of Abuse In Which These Characters Are Trapped. They All Want To Control Eleven

It represents the cycle of abuse in which these characters are trapped. They all want to control Eleven (for better or worse) and feel the only way to keep her safe is to keep her reliant on them. Mike is obviously not doing this knowingly, but he’s seen El’s powers in action, as has Dr. Brenner, and they fear the repercussions of allowing Eleven to control them herself. Mike rescuced her from the woods, so he feels responsible for her life. He worries that, without him, she or someone else (or many someone elses) will be hurt or killed. Max points this out during their Season 3 argument when she asks Nancy and Jonathon who should be allowed to control Eleven’s powers, Eleven or Mike.

While Dr. Brenner’s actions stem from a place of control and malice, wanting to harvest Eleven’s powers for his own benefit and gain, Mike’s actions stem from something more lethal—guilt and grief. He knows Eleven is intelligent and aware of her powers but if something happened to her, Mike knows he would blame himself. He brought Eleven into their world, just like Dr. Brenner brought Eleven into the physical world (according to the flashbacks, but that’s another story). Just like a parental figure (Dr. Brenner) has to let their child grow up and leave the nest, so does Mike. Is he a parental figure to Eleven? No, but he has taught her how to be human—how to function and survive in the world as a regular kid. Now it’s time for Eleven to spread her wings and venture out on her own, free from Mike’s protection.

Does Mike “controlling Eleven” and his parallels to Dr. Brenner make him evil? NO!!! It illustrates his arc. Mike desperately needs to feel needed. He needs to have someone to love and protect in order to feel worthy. It’s how he shows his love. Unfortunately, instead of loving Eleven, he’s smothering her and stifling her from discovering her true identity. Thankfully, there’s someone else who could benefit from Mike’s protection and care, someone who will always need him. Mike’s arc is about letting Eleven go—understanding he’s done everything he can for her and that she is more than capable of protecting herself—wrestling with his survivor’s guilt and grief, and discovering what it means to be a real leader and protector.

Anyway, Byler Endgame. 💙💛💚

Every(?) Fucking Time Mike is paralleled to people and things that make you go hmm whatthefuck Part 1 : The Brenner special

So. Not to be a crazy person and everything but what started as a small realisation that one Mike's line was identical to one of Flayed Billy's , I told myself 'Hey wouldn't it be kind of fun if i saw how many times that happens?'. More than 300 screenshots after, Mike's identical lines or extremely overt parallels with characters like Brenner, Henry/Edward/Vecna/One and even the parallels between him and the democreatures are something no one can ever deny. How is Mike's relevancy to the plot even an issue when they give him this? But I'm getting ahead of myself. These were SO MANY , that I decided to cut it to 2 posts. So today, we're getting (mostly) the Brenner Special, and the rest will come in Vol 2. I obviously didn't separate it perfectly, but these are mostly Brenner. If this feels like I'm putting you through rewatching all of his scenes....I kind of am, lol. I put some rainbow stickers every time a new parallel starts to make it easier, and as always left to right for the pics...Further commentary at the end<3

First round:

Take some rest traveler. Ok. Time for round 2:

Time for round 3 now you got this. You can do it.

Oh wow. I know. How can there be more. But there are. There are more. Give it up for.....ROUND 4!

Just hold on a little longer.....And....5!!! (One of my faves like can you believe this shit my liege lol)

Ok. Last one. Let's go! Let's fucking go!!! Only a tiny bit more and then it's done!!!!!! After the 6th round, both me and you are dead.

Wow if you reached the end here you are one dedicated little guy. Good for us bro. Never ask me what this means or I will burst into tears, and maybe start screaming and never stop. See you at the next post. Lol

mike is constantly trying to save others, but it almost always fails because he’s either never strong enough, or it’s stopped by a supernatural force - something that makes him feel inferior. he believes saving others makes him more worthy and needed, and if he can’t even do that, what is he then?

when he throws himself at billy for max and is slammed against the wall, when he tries to smack billy down to save el but billy stops him, when he jumps off the cliff but is saved by el’s powers, when he pushes troy down but gets saved by el’s powers before he gets into a fight, getting pushed to the ground and not fighting back.

yeah give his ass a sword in s5 to save HIMSELF for once and i better see NOBODY intervening or else i’m having a word with those brothers

I'm thinking about season one Steve, again. He never gave me the preppy popular vibe to me. I knew people like Tommy and Carol in high school. They weren't popular. They were outcasts who sat away from other people and exhibited gross weird behavior like propping their nasty feet up on the table. In season one, they mention that the game is about to start, but if Tommy and Steve were on the team, shouldn't they already be ready, you know? Maybe it was a different game. Did they ever actually say that he was on the basketball team, or is that something we just assumed? I know they said he was on the swim team. And I know that they showed him playing basketball in season 2, but that didn't necessarily mean he was on the team.

Anyway, I think because Steve was rich with good hair, nice clothes, and good with the ladies that people thought he was this asshole jock who bullied people. I mean, occasionally, he would show up to parties and show off his keg king skills, but for the most part, I think he was as much a loner as Jonathan was. He had two friends, and that was it. People called him king, and so with that title came the expectations of knowing everyone. Everyone wanted his attention, even Robin, but they never even bothered to try to get to know him. They just put that ball into his court. For the most part, though, I think he was this dorky outcast who just wanted to goof off with his friends and wanted so badly to stop feeling lonely even when he was around other people. I think he stopped feeling lonely when Dustin came into his life. Anyway, I just think what people know about Steve is just assumptions that they made about him like they made about Eddie. I like that in season 4 that Eddie admitted he made that assumption about Steve, that he was wrong, and that he told Steve that he was a good dude. It's why I love Steddie so goddamn much. Not even Robin said it out loud. I mean, I love platonic Stobin, but I hated it when she said that he was such an asshole for not paying attention to her in class. I mean, I get that she was jealous because of Tammy, but come on, does that mean just because he was popular that he has to know everyone in the goddamn school? In a way, though. I do like it because it shows that Robin isn't perfect, and I think later she sort of realizes it in the bathroom, but I don't think she ever apologized out loud for making that assumption about Steve like everyone else does. She also did say that people like her also wanted his attention. There was just something about Steve. I mean, yeah, he is a bitch but I love that about him but then again so is Robin, so is Eddie. I think that's why I always have them hanging out because, in a way, they're so much better for him than Tommy and Carol ever were. There's not this expectation of being perfect or being popular and Steve can be as bitchy as he wants with them because they'll bitch right back. It's their love language. To sum it up, Steve was an outcast in his own way. He just had a big house, rich parents, and women wanting to be with him. And I'm just really tired of Steve having to keep apologize for that. He apologized for the theater thing and what he said to Jonathan, and then he risked his life for them. He has nothing to apologize for anymore. People keep making him do that in fanfictions too, and it's so annoying. There needs to be a Steve Harrington apology tour in season 5 where everyone apologizes to him instead of the other way around.

could be a connection there??

please tell me will byers s5 sketch is comingggg we need you

well

ALL OF THIS!!!! There are so many signs that Mike Wheeler would rather not exist on this planet anymore, but his friends and family keep saving him. El pulling him up from the quarry (if you think that jump was only motivated by Dustin, you are incorrect), Hopper grounding Mike as he screamed at him (even if he was projecting), Max trying to protect him from Billy, etc. Mike has come to rely on others for his salvation and, quite frankly, would not be here today without them. I think of that iconic Grey’s Anatomy speech, “You’re careless with your life.”

In Mike’s mind, his life is inconsequential compared to people like El or Will. As long as they are alive and healthy, it matters not what happens to Mike. If he lives, great, if he dies, then he died protecting those he loved. He’s a Paladin, a hero, someone who gives their life to protect those they love—no matter the cost. That doesn’t mean they are completely self-sacrificing. Paladins utilize melee weapons and engage in combat—they have self-preservation skills!

It’s time for the Party to stop intervening (as painful as that may be) and let Mike truly feel the weight of his actions. He must face his mortality and suicidal ideation squarely in the face and fight his demons ALONE. I want to see Mike acknowledge his reckless and dangerous behavior and fully understand how close he has come to death—how his friends and family saved him every single time, but they can’t save him forever. He might believe escaping is the only way to neutralize the searing pain in his sole, but as someone who has been there and come out the other side, I want Mike to realize he has so much to fight for. He has a life and a future. He has people who love him. He is a kind, compassionate, lovable person who deserves to discover the beauty that comes with healing. I want to see Mike Wheeler save himself and choose to LIVE.

“I know you would die for me, but would you live for me?”

mike is constantly trying to save others, but it almost always fails because he’s either never strong enough, or it’s stopped by a supernatural force - something that makes him feel inferior. he believes saving others makes him more worthy and needed, and if he can’t even do that, what is he then?

when he throws himself at billy for max and is slammed against the wall, when he tries to smack billy down to save el but billy stops him, when he jumps off the cliff but is saved by el’s powers, when he pushes troy down but gets saved by el’s powers before he gets into a fight, getting pushed to the ground and not fighting back.

yeah give his ass a sword in s5 to save HIMSELF for once and i better see NOBODY intervening or else i’m having a word with those brothers