Strangerthings - Blog Posts

Byler analysis

Ok so I was rewatching 4x09 and the one scene with the endgame couples came up and I noticed something.

Ok so if you look at each couple, they are very clearly divided despite the expected blocking of a scene with this gravity. I’ll break down the divided sections below. ⬇️

Section one: Jopper

So the section where they are is what I would call the clearest. The air and horizon look the least contaminated and the ground in front of them only has smaller cracks. So if you look in the background of the section you can barely make out a tower that resembles a radio tower, I’ll explain the significance of this in a bit. So I would venture to say their relationship is already established, has few problems, and is not heavily involved with the supernatural plot (similar to season one). Section two: Byler

Their section is sitting directly in the middle of the shot and the largest rift, has a red looking horizon, has a heart with lightning on top of them (as does Jopper and I will explain this later as well), the ground in front of them seems very affected by the rifts. Despite them being in the middle of the biggest rift it barely divides them. They also have a radio tower in the distance, very clearly in the middle of them (probably the clearest one in the shot). Overall they are very close and have the least interference in the shot. This signifies to me that they are very crucial to the story, are involved in the supernatural plot quite a bit, their arc focuses around their relationship, and figuring out where they belong.

Section three: El

So her section is directly in the middle of the biggest plume of smoke and there is no clear horizon in her shot at all. The largest rift is directly in front of her, no radio tower in sight. Instead on her horizon is a gap in the smoke surrounded by and emitting red light. She is very clearly alone except that mike is barely in her section and very far away and Johnathan and Nancy are further into the section and closer by a little. To me this means that in season five she is going to be the main character in the supernatural plot, she is going to be dating Mike but very briefly before they both end it, and then she is going to rely heavily on platonic relationships this season.

Section four: Jancy

Theirs is interesting, in the section with their heads (that’s what I’m counting as their section) there are multiple rifts and smoke plumes, the destruction looks bad, there is a helicopter in the sky, and there is a radio tower in the distance. They are close to El so I don’t think they will be off in their own story line like season one but they will have a slightly separated storyline. The helicopter is right in front of the radio tower symbolizing an obstacle or something in their way. Steve, the helicopter represents Steve. The helicopter played a big part in helping me understand the symbolism in this shot. So I would say that they are very crucial to El and the others and they are struggling with their relationship.

Ok onto the other things.

Heart clouds:

The heart clouds represent 2 things. One is a change in the relationship, this means for Jopper and Byler their relationships will change. Why these two and not Jancy? Well let’s start with Jopper. Jopper is an established relationship and they are adults and we are going to have a time skip so it is logical to assume there will be a wedding. Also maybe a more mature change in their relationship. For Byler they have been friends the entire show, and logically ( if you are able to see very obvious subtext) they will end up dating by the end of the show. The heart represents this change in relationship from friends to dating. Jancy might breakup and their relationship might be bumpy and need repairs but overall their relationship will not change. I at least think that they will end the series by them going off to some college together and very happy. They have not had a significant chance in relationship. That is why only Jopper and Byler have the hearts. Two is the hearts also represent charged scenes between the characters since they both have lightning coming out but that’s not as important as the change in relationship.

Radio towers:

The radio towers, these really tipped me off and made me want to do this analysis. Ok so the radio towers represent a future or destination of some sort. (If you all have any better ideas of what they represent feel free to share!) they are clearly placed in front of Jopper, Byler, and Jancy. Though Jancy has the helicopter in front. These represent happy endings for the characters since they are an end point on the horizon. Now El doesn’t have one and here’s what I think that means.

El’s lack of a radio tower and what I think that means:

So, El is very obviously positioned in the biggest smoke column, which is where the upside down is bleeding into Hawkins. She doesn’t have a radio tower or even a clear horizon. This to me means that, sadly, she is foreshadowed to either not survive or be stuck in the upside down somehow. Since the radio towers represent a future/ destination and she only has something from the upside down in her section, that’s why this foreshadows that. And also what Mille said about see El’s ending.

That’s it!! Wow that was a lot of typing. Let me know if anything is off or if I should change anything. If I get a little repetitive, sorry!! I have a problem with that. If I need to elaborate on anything I totally will js ask!!!

And here’s the final character and the main one for @sethlenin’s fanfics, Seven or Sev for short. Sev is basically the Eleven of the group, being a test subject from Hawkins lab and having escaped there with a body count. Unlike El and many of the test subjects at the lab, Sev has water bending powers. Or hydrokinesis if you want to be technical. Sev is sixteen-year-old boy who is found by Gabe and AJ scavenging for food at the former’s house. Of the people in the group, Tara is the one he forms the strongest connection to. I ship it. #Tarven I’m actually really happy with how he came out. According to the character’s creator, he was supposed to be non-binary but that was changed due to how the term probably wasn’t that common in the 1970s. Their face claim/physical inspiration is that of the non-binary @lachrwatson Sev an absolute sweetheart in the story and I love his relationship with Tara and him trying appeal to Naty. #sevenchronicles #strangerthings #sev #seven #stranger #things #water #waterbender #bender #powers #power #love #friendship #nonbinary #hawkins #hawkinslab #testsubject #test #subject https://www.instagram.com/p/ChbhJeUOSJr/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

This is AJ Mayes. He was the last character I worked on for my class in the spring semester and I’m honestly not that proud of it. I don’t hate it, but I feel like I could’ve done better with his design and pose. Anyways, the character himself is a muscular Japanese-American boy who is kind of a dork and likes to draw. He’s the muscle of the group and has a relationship with Dawna Days while they’re alone in Gabe’s house. #strangerthings #sevenchronicles #stranger #things #himbo #ajmayes #aj #mayes #dawna #days #seven #chronicles https://www.instagram.com/p/ChLHxYGOUti/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

So… I missed a few Fridays, but I’m still going to try for a weekly schedule. So sorry. This character is Gabe McDonnell. As described by his creator “he’s laid back, open minded and a helpful individual, but sometimes he just wants to be alone for various reasons.” His mother is dating a sleezeball boyfriend. He and his best friend AJ Maye are the first to find Sev. The face claim for this character is based on #tannerbuchanan while the character’s body type is based on the Archie cartoon of the 70s. He’s kind of the Mike Wheeler in terms of being the leader, but also shares that role with Tara in bonding with Sev. #strangerthings #sevenchronicles #seven #chronicles #gabemcdonnell #gabe #mcdonnell #greaser #1970s #1976 #fanfic #stranger #things https://www.instagram.com/p/CgnmG2TDl_Y/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Sorry for the absence this last few weeks. I have been forgetting my own schedule to post these on Fridays. However, I’m going to try and be more consistent. Anyways, this character is Dawna Days, a people pleaser with divorced parents, seems to be on the shy side and has just recently gotten into a relationship with one of the boys in the group, AJ Maye. I call their ship name Maydays. She was kind of a hard character to design because she’s another brunette in the group of girls and the creator of this character isn’t someone that I could contact to ask. I like Dawna, it was fun to figure out how to make her style distinct enough from Tara so they don’t look like twins, but that she would look like her face claim #emilycarey I know plaid clothes would’ve been an impossible design choice in the 1970s because they would’ve need to paint that texture onto the character’s cell sheet. #dawnadays #dawna #days #peoplepleaser #people #pleaser #sevenchronicles #seven #chronicles #strangerthings #calvinhgatsby #stranger #things https://www.instagram.com/p/CfxXnmFF9WA/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Sorry I forgot to post last Friday of the character design from a Stranger Things fanfic. Anywho, this is Tara Haynes, created by Headless Gummy Bear on Fanfiction.Net. She’s a sweetheart kind of country girl who catch the eye of Seven. This also the first character I posted that I only make the design rather than wrote for. #calvinhgatsby #strangerthings #stranger #things #Tara #haynes #countrygirl #tarahaynes #sweetheart #seven #chronicles #sev #loveinterest #love #interest https://www.instagram.com/p/Ce7kFsEjn7q/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

This is another one of the characters that I made over the Spring semester at school. Funny how I’m posting this character during Pride Month His name is Harley Barr, but his drag queen name is Bunny Shademoore. He’s a poledancer at a gay club as a means of making money at least until his band gets off the ground. Got street smarts and confidence to mask his vagueness and jumpy nerves towards most people. He grew up relatively well-off in New York City and was fascinated by the drag scene there. It made him feel confident when his interests and androgynous appearance got him bullied at school. Despite his rather sexual occupation, he is asexual. However, being 1976, it wouldn’t be common at the time and so most would assume he’s gay. As of this post, he’s only appeared in one chapter so far: https://m.fanfiction.net/s/13948989/2/ Hopefully more to come as he could help the teens with his skills, loyalty, and being comfortable with gender being malleable. #sevenchronicles #strangerthings #Harleybarr #harley #barr #bunnyshademoore #bunny #shademoore #dragqueen #1976 #1970s #asexual #confident #loyal #androgynous https://www.instagram.com/p/CeUc-bjFkcC/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Hey. This is my first time posting anything onto Instagram. This past Spring semester I made character designs for this Stranger Things fanfic called Stranger Things: The Seven Chronicles. Technically it was for school, but I was having a sort of artist block when trying to think of something to work on for my class. I also wanted to make artwork for this fanfic because… well I created to characters personally for it. The fanfic is an SYOC fanfic (Submit/Select Your Own Character). The story takes place in 1976 in Rockford, Illinois where a group of teens find a strange boy who happens have waterbending powers. This character here is one I made for the fanfic. Her name is Natroya “Naty” Rhodes. She’s a black cheerleader who strives for perfection in her athletic ability and wants to maintain her position as a popular. Naty can come across as the mean girl, but mainly to those that are in the high school popularity hierarchy. She’s friends with classmates that are on the lower end of the popularity chain because they’re less of a threat to her. When talking to the author they sometimes say that Naty is like the Lucas of the teens. Granted the major difference between Naty and Lucas in my eyes is that Lucas’ hostility towards the new member of the group comes from the stress of one his best friends being missing. Naty’s hostility comes from not knowing who this teenage is and thus can’t recognize what he’s all about. She can figure out her classmates and whether they’re a threat to her on the high school social hierarchy, but not this teen in a hospital gown. Naty doesn’t have a missing friend, just the anomaly that this teenage boy is something she can’t figure out. #strangerthings #sevenchronicles #seven #chronicles #natroya #natyrhodes #naty #natroyarhodes #black #bisexual #erisbaker #cheerleader #1970s #calvinhgatsby #syoc #friendship #coolgirl #popular #popularity #faceclaim #face #claim #rockfordillinois #rockford https://www.instagram.com/p/CeCZPZvFu5o/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

boys don't cry

little byers-wheeler family.

Why do i have this in my drafts??? Is this for a fanfic? A prompt?? Did i make a copy-paste or..? Just what is this???

I'm not even into writing about Nancy, don't get me wrong, i like Nancy, but my brain cannot work into something that isn't somehow related to Steve, the "Eddie Munson and Sandwiches" post that i made was a miracle. Honest.

So i know that it was something Steve-related but i don't remember how...

Anyways.

Steve didn’t know how he ended up in this position.

On his knees in a high school parking lot.

In front of Eddie ‘the freak’ Munson.

“I said beg.”

That’s how.

It was all Dustin’s fault.

He just had to have their stupid game at Steve’s house for his birthday.

- 10 min earlier-

“Please Steve! Pleaaaasse!!!!!” Dustin stomped after him. The rest of the kids following behind him.

“Fine. Ok. Just quit it.”

“YES! You’re the best! I can’t wait to tell Eddie! Look there he is! EDDIE! EDDIE! ED-“

“What is it Henderson?”

“Steve said we can have my birthday campaign at his house! Isn’t that awesome!”

“Pshh,” Eddie grumbled. “I’m not going to King Steve’s mansion. Ever.”

“What!?”

“Sorry kid thems the rules. It goes completely against everything I stand for. I refuse to desecrate my beloved campaign by exposing it to jock headquarters.”

“That’s ridiculous Munson. Stop being a baby and just do it.”

“Sure,” he paused. “If you beg.”

“What?”

“I said beg.”

Steve dropped to his knees on the spot. He was instantly confused. Why did that have such an effect on him? He felt…comfortable.

Eddies face was beet red. Steve could almost see the smoke coming out of his ears.

“Steve?” He heard Robin somewhere behind him coming from the band room. “Dustin why is he on the ground?”

“Shhh!” He thrust a finger in Robins direction and gave a nod to Steve.

Steve cleared his throat and looked at Eddie giving him his best puppy dog eyes.

“Please Eddie,” he pleaded. “Come over to my house and perform for the kids?” He pushed his bottom lip out.

Eddie stared at him for another couple of seconds before surging forward and hauling him up into his arms and-

Kissing him.

“WHAT!” Robin yelled.

“WHAT!” Eddie yelled back. “He looks like that and I’m NOT supposed to kiss him?!”

Steve felt lightheaded his body turning boneless and into dead weight. He looked around at Robin and the kids wearing matching expressions of shock. He looked back up at Eddie and shrugged his shoulders, giving him the ok.

Eddie pulled him back in for a second kiss more passionate than the first.

“WHAT THE FUCK” Robin yelled.

“God Robin, relax, people are gay, don’t be homophobic.” Dustin snarked at her.

——-

Comment 🫵

‘Wrapped’ Around My Finger

“Good evening everyone! I’m your host Ann Romano joined tonight by two of the biggest names in music….please give it up for Corroded Coffin frontman Eddie Munson and Grammy winner Steve Harrington!”

The crowd goes wild.

This is a big deal, two of the biggest names in history with a giant rivalry.

Everyone knew the story. They grew up in a small town together and were on different levels of popularity ultimately ruining what could’ve been a fantastic friendship. Even now ten years since high school they can’t get over it. They hate each other always trying to one up each other.

Eddie trying to make a point that even the freaks can become famous. Stating, “I didn’t need money like Steve Harrington to win a Grammy I have my talent to thank for that.”

The two walk out onto the stage and sit on the couch making sure to leave some distance between them.

“Thank you both for coming out tonight! I know it’s a big trip from LA to New York. It probably helps that you live here huh Steve?”

“Actually I moved to LA.”

Eddie turns to look at him shocked.

“You moved? When did you move? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Would it have mattered? It’s not like we see each other anyway. You can barely look at me and you’re sitting two inches from me.”

Eddie huffs in his seat and turns towards Ann, trying to remember what little of his media training he had.

“I only care because I’m a good neighborly fellow of course.”

Ann laughs flicks her hand at him.

“Oh you guys are just too funny. I knew you secretly cared for each other which brings me to my next segment, a game I like to call, “Wrapped Up!” You see gentleman, both of your agents gave me access to your Spotify wrapped and now we’re gonna let the audience in as well!”

The two turn white.

“Is that necessary?” Eddie asks through gritted teeth.

“Why not?” Steve adds in. “I have nothing to hide.” He narrows his eyes at Eddie.

Eddie rolls his eyes at him.

Ann laughs nervously. “Fantastic! Let’s jump to it!”

She gestures behind her where a giant screen shows Steve’s wrapped.

“Alight fellas, Eddie gets three points for every artist he guesses on the first try. He gets three tries, one point if he gets the artist by the third try.”

“Easy.” Eddie smirks.

Steve raises an eyebrow. “Oh yeah?”

“Yeah. You always were easy.”

“Alright guys let’s focus on the game here!” Ann jumps in.

“Alright number 5….Wham.”

*a bell rings*

“Fantastic start Eddie!”

“What’d I say, easy,” he smirks.

“4. Tears for Fears.”

“3. ABBA.”

“2. Queen.”

“1. Toto.”

*incorrect buzzer sound*

“Ok…Madonna.”

*incorrect*

“Alright Eddie this is your last chance. You’ve done fantastic so far so I think you’re going to win no matter what. Sorry Steve.” Ann says.

“Hey none taken. I definitely didn’t even think he’d do this well.” Steve smirks at him.

“Alright big boy hold onto your pants. I got this.”

Eddie takes a deep inhale.

“Brittney Spears!”

*louder more incorrect buzzer*

“Ugh!”

“Sorry Eddie! But I don’t think even you could’ve guessed this one. Are you ready folks let’s see what it is-”

The crowd goes wild.

Steve’s smirks goes crazy.

Eddie is pale.

Up on the screen in big obnoxious letters is “CORRODED COFFIN”

“That’s right folks! Since Eddie did so well let’s let him play a similar game for Steve’s top songs. Are you ready Eddie!”

Eddie is not breathing.

“Um-”

“Great let’s start!”

“5….Girls just wanna have fun?”

*DING*

“4.Dancing Queen”

*incorrect buzzer*

“Material Girl”

*incorrect buzzer*

Eddie sighs.

“Crown of Thorns.”

*DING*

“That’s right Eddie! Your very own song Crown of Thorns was his number 4? Wanna take a guess at the rest?”

Eddie grits his teeth. “I’m not sure I have a choice.”

“Haha of course you don’t! Now! Number three!”

“3. Heavy is the Head.”

“2. Reign.”

“1….”

He looks nervous.

“Kneel Before the King.”

*DING*

“You got them! Fantastic work Eddie! Were you surprised that four of his five were songs written by you? How could you possibly guess them?”

“At first I was surprised…you know we have this rivalry thing going on but…I’ve been watching Steve since I was fourteen. I know him well. As soon as I saw his top artist I knew his top songs would be the ones I wrote about him.”

The crowd gasps.

“Don’t get me wrong I wrote a lot more about him but these in particular…”

“They’re about forbidden love.” Steve chimes in. His eyes are watering.

“Yeah.”

“That’s why they were my favorite.”

Eddie gives him a sad smile.

“You wrote them about me?”

Eddies smile turns into a frown. “About you, for you, it was always for you, all of them.”

“All of them?”

“Everything. My entire discography. Every performance. Every press tour. Every photo shoot. You just had to worm your way into my life Harrington…my heart.” He whispers that last part but they’re so close together Steve can hear it.

Well barely hear it…his heartbeat is so loud in his ears.

“Anyways Ann what’s next.”

Ann is staring at him in open mouthed shock.

“Wow. This so perfect.” She turns to Steve. “Ready for your turn?”

“Nah.” Eddie says. “Skip to my number one artist.”

Behind them a video starts playing on the screen.

“Hey it’s Steve! Thanks so much for being my number one fan! I mean top .01 percent is a tough spot to get! It means so much to me that I’m your number one artist-”

Steve can’t take his eyes off of Eddie, when could he ever?

“I’m your number one artist?” he asks so softly Eddie can barely hear it.

“Of course…I like the sound of your voice.” He shrugs his shoulder like it’s no big deal.

“Can we talk? I mean after the show?”

Eddie smiles at him.

“Of course Stevie, I’d like that.”

“I would also like to know!” Ann cuts in.

They forgot this was being streamed to millions of people and filmed in front of a live studio audience.

—————

Later Backstage:

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU’RE MY NEW NEIGHBOR HOW DID I NOT KNOW THIS!!!????”

“Honestly Eddie I don’t know. For someone who claims to be obsessed with me-”

“I didn’t-“”

“Obsessed.” Steve puts a finger to Eddie’s lips to shut him up. “You didn’t notice I’d moved in next door.”

“Hell just move in with me.”

“…alright.”