Okay, Season 3 is where it gets loud. Will and Mike are fighting constantly, and it’s not just about D&D or hormones. Will literally says to Mike: “It’s not my fault you don’t like girls!” — and then his eyes go wide because he realizes he just accidentally outed himself. The whole scene is dripping with subtext. Will is upset because Mike is spending all his time with Eleven, and Will is left feeling replaced. But it’s not just friendship jealousy—it’s the kind of jealousy that comes from wanting to be more than a friend.
The “I love you” conversation that never happened
In Season 4, things get painfully obvious. When Will is in the van with Jonathan, he admits that he’s scared to tell Mike his true feelings. He says, “I love him… but it’s not the same as what he feels for Eleven.” And then he cries, and your heart just shatters. He doesn’t say “I love him as a friend,” or “I love him like a brother.” He says “I love him,” full stop. The show doesn’t use the word “crush,” but come on—that’s a crush, wrapped in a decade of denial and fear.
Does Will Like Mike in 'Stranger Things'? (SPOILERS)
