Pinned
My Stranger Things ship journey.
So I have been into Byler since season 2 but honestly the journey was a roller-coaster.
Season One
I didn't really have an opinion on Byler watching season one for the first time. I was 14, not even in highschool yet, and truth be told... I didn't know anything about LGBTQ+ or just even what gay was. Crazy, right? I didn't learn what gay even meant until highschool, but I DID know one thing. Mike and El made me feel weird.
I tried to brush it off because I thought it was maybe just jealousy from me having the biggest crush on Finn Wolfhard the second he was on screen. So I shoved it down deep inside, the weird feeling.
Season Two
If there is anything a Byler knows it is that season 2 was peak Byler for the longest time. When I saw season 2 episode 5 it was like something in my brain went "oh". Then the snowball scene happened and I pushed my thoughts down again because I thought I was just making everything up in my head and was finding an excuse to not like Mike and El together so I wouldn't be jealous again.
Season 3
So right before season 3 comes out I of course have a rewatch and im like "you are going to stop being jealous, you don't know Finn so stop being weird about this" So I tried, I really tried to like Mike and El together, and I can admit they had sweet moments for sure but I never didn't feel weird the whole time. I kept assuming it was jealousy, especially when the start of season 3 has them making out right in front of 17 year old me who still has a massive crush on Finn. That was until we got to the closet scene. That's when it really clicked for me, you are not jealous, THIS. IS. WEIRD. It was the most uncomfortable I had ever been, still to this day I can barely watch that scene.
Season Four
Now we get the confirmation season. So by now there has been a few years of my brain maturing and rewatching the show I can admit no you like Byler because of Byler not because you are jealous. Super triumphant about that because my family would taunt me all the time saying I was jealous, which doesn't make sense since I know what acting is. Season 4, blew into my family and while they were reactions on opposite sides I felt validated that now my family had to see Byler for what I saw it.
Season Five
Finally made it to now and while most of my family are homophobic, my dad got so excited for me and literally choked up during Will accepting himself. So, I am excited for what is to come.
Sorry for the long-winded speech nobody asked for lmao.



