About the byler x little women parallels
Imagine if they were to carry it over to season 5. Similar to the way things played out in Little Women(2019). It also aligns with how clueless Mike has been even though somewhere deep down inside we know that he’s loved Will all along.
El breaks up with Mike within the first two episodes - she tells him they just don’t work together romantically anymore, Mike realises it was Will’s feelings being laid out in the van and that the painting was by Will himself, Mike running to Will and telling him maybe he could learn to love him as well (Same as how Laurie tells Amy to not marry Fred after he sees the drawings she made of him. The final asshole move Mike pulls) and Will shoots Mike down by telling him that he’s loved Mike all his life. That he refuses to be second to El because it’s unfair to him. Mike understands then just how deep Will’s love for him runs. And we finally see Will standing up for himself after all this heartbreak he’s been put through.
Cue the timeskip and we see Mike Wheeler falling in love this time. Genuinely. No longer left to the audience’s interpretation. He’s had time to think it over and realises that it’s always been Will. Mike realises he’s the best version of himself around Will. Mike Wheeler is queer, and he is truly and wholeheartedly in love with Will Byers, and the pining is real and strong. The tension is always present. I can imagine them getting Murrayed in this situation perfectly too. Because this way, Murray wouldn’t accidentally out them to each other. He’s just going to give them the final nudge. Mike is going to have to win Will over this time (and he will. he always will) because I think Will deserves a love story where someone goes above and beyond for him.