Will Byers/Mike Wheeler

From Fanlore
< Will Byers(Redirected from Will/Mike)
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Pairing
Pairing: Will Byers/Mike Wheeler
Alternative name(s): Byler, MiWi, Cleradin
Gender category: M/M
Fandom: Stranger Things
Canonical?: No
Prevalence: Popular
Archives:
Other: Will Byers & Mike Wheeler (platonic)
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

Will Byers/Mike Wheeler, also known as Byler, is the slash pairing of Will Byers and Mike Wheeler in Stranger Things fandom.

Canon

Will and Mike as a friendship are given a significant focus throughout the show, compared to other like friendships.

In the first scene of the show, as the Party (Lucas Sinclair, Dustin Henderson, Mike Wheeler and Will Byers) play a game of D&D. Will's dice gets lost underneath the table near the end and the group have to leave. Dustin and Lucas state clearly to not tell Mike he rolled a seven. Immediately after the two leave, Will tell's Mike what he rolled. This sets the precedent of their relationship throughout the show: Will evidently, doesn't hide things from Mike. Throughout season one Mike is given focus particularly in Will's disappearance.

In season two, while Will gets possessed by the Mind Flyer, their relationship continues to be emphasized. Near the end, the people closest with Will try to tether him by sharing stories of their memories of him. Mike recounts the tale of how their friendship began to Will and gets quite emotional. He tells him, "I asked you to be my friend, and you said yes. You said yes. It was the best thing I've ever done."

Things take a turn in season three. Will tries to grasp on the remains of his childhood while the others (specifically, Lucas Sinclair and Mike Wheeler) would rather talk about girls. This continues throughout the season and eventually leads to a culmination of Will storming out of Mike's basement, and they confront each other as it rains, regarded infamously as the rain fight. Mike says, "it's not my fault you don't like girls," after Will outlines how he wishes they could hang out like the old days. This line alludes to Will's queerness as well as his feelings towards Mike. That is elevated after Will tears down Castle Byers in tears. Although it appears the two makeup at the end of the season there is an undertone of uncertainty which follows their friendship into season four.

At the beginning of season four, Eleven states in a letter to Mike, "Will has been painting a lot, but he won't show me what he's working on. Maybe it is for a girl. I think there is someone he likes, because he has been acting weird." When Mike arrives in Lenora to visit the Byers, Will is shown to be excited to see him, with the painting in hand. However Mike dodges his hug rendering the whole group and scene to an awkward tension. Will and Mike continue to conflict over their relationship and Mike's incapability of maintaining it normally. Will eventually gives the painting to Mike when Mike expresses his insecurities within his relationship with Eleven, but under the false pretense that Eleven commissioned it. He inadvertently confesses his feelings for Mike during this scene although Mike does not notice.

Fandom

Increasingly over each season – and particularly following confirmation that Will Byers is gay [1] – the fan-base around Will/Mike has grown, being especially popular on Tumblr. Parts of the fandom are certain that Will/Mike will become a canon relationship by the end of Stranger Things and a large amount of meta and interpretation of canon material has been produced in support of this. For example, the 'Byler Slides' refers to a 325 slide long powerpoint created by beepboop358 detailing aspects of canon that the creator believes indicate that Will/Mike has canon support and will be an endgame couple.

Other fans, both fans of the pairing and show in general, have been unconvinced and suspect that the ending will likely revolve around something closer to something demonstrating that Will is accepted by Mike and the rest of his friends, with him not having a romantic partner by the end of the season.

Fandom Theories

Blue/Yellow Colour Symbolism

Many fans noticed the usage of the colours: blue and yellow in correlation with Mike and Will.

BirthdayGate

A speculative theory that it was Will's birthday within the show (as opposed to what the Duffers claim -- that they forgot) and that Vecna is making people forget things, therefore everyone (perhaps even Will), forgetting his birthday.[2]

Statistics

As of February 2024, Will/Mike has 11,113 works tagged with the pairings on Archive of Our Own, and was 10th in Centreoftheselights AO3 Ship Stats 2023.

In 2019 Byler was in 13th Position in Tumblr Fandometrics [3]

Controversies

Byler vs Mileven Ship War

In some fan spaces there has been a considerable amount of animosity between fans who ship Will/Mike and fans who ship El/Mike. While much of this has taken place on Tumblr, the arguments can also be found across most social media platforms where media is discussed including Twitter, TikTok, and Reddit. For more information, see: Byler vs Mileven.

Byler Fans and Noah Schnapp's Social Media Posts in Support of Israel

Common Tropes in Fanworks

  • Childhood Best friends to Lovers
  • Either/or gets "Vecna'd"

Fanworks

Fanfiction

Top Ten Byler fanfics on AO3 (based on 'kudos')

  1. undertow by beansie
  2. I Never Find Out 'Til I'm Head Over Heels by orphan_account
  3. Geography Notes and Doodles by midnighteverlark
  4. Force of Gravity by oceanfruit
  5. i'm tearing you asunder by smoosnoom (moonsooms)
  6. The makeup dilemma by Kikinu
  7. The Red Envelope by midnighteverlark
  8. Jealousy (turning saints into the sea) by wasabi8000
  9. there's a Starman waiting in the sky by the_angry_pixie
  10. kiss it better by beansie

Byler Fanfiction Recommendations

byler must reads - Archive of Our Own by thesecretsoftheuniverse

The Definitive Byler fic rec list” by valenhell

Byler fic master doc by luciddixon_ and owlqueen9

Byler Fic Finder by cleradins

Fanart

See the following artist pages:

noodles_and_tea

2019

untitled, Archived version by AthossAurora, formerly WithEverydayOkFandom: Stranger ThingsDate: 26 January 2019Length: 3Medium: FanartStatus: CompleteGenre: Cheek Kissing, Cuddling, Hand Holding, Wearing a Beanie, Wearing a Scarf
A little Byeler sketches
untitled, Archived version by AthossAurora, formerly WithEverydayOkFandom: Stranger ThingsDate: 09 May 2019Length: 2Medium: FanartStatus: CompleteGenre: Kissing
Well, I think this is the last byler art for a time before I’ll draw them again. I think I’m gonna just let the Byler go for a while and enjoy another pairing (like namjin , adventuretime and etc). Maybe after season 3 I’ll make smth new. I can’t say for sure now.. They make me feel pain every time when I see Mileven and sad/crying Will. I hope you will understand me.
untitled, Archived version by ShinisFanartFandom: Stranger ThingsDate: 22 May 2019Length: 842px × 563pxMedium: FanartStatus: CompleteGenre: Holding Hands
We can run away together. (Byler)
untitled, Archived version by AlvrudArtFandom: Stranger ThingsDate: 23 June 2019Length: 500px × 596pxMedium: FanartStatus: CompleteGenre: Aged Up, Cuddling, Sleeping
will and mike being cute because we need more byeler content
Mike and Will being awkward messes. Mmm dat bi/gay panic doe~♥, Archived version by AlvrudArtFandom: Stranger ThingsDate: 30 June 2019Length: 540px × 402pxMedium: FanartStatus: CompleteGenre: Playing Games, Pre-Slash
As suggested by @FutureBoy (and will in a big yellow sweater as suggested by anon)! (Byler & Dustin Henderson, Lucas Sinclair)
untitled, Archived version by ZaharayFandom: Stranger ThingsDate: 02 November 2019Length: 1,280px × 1,280pxMedium: FanartStatus: CompleteGenre: Cheek Kissing
Stranger things 💖 (Byler)
untitled, Archived version by ZaharayFandom: Stranger ThingsDate: 05 November 2019Length: 1,280px × 1,280pxMedium: FanartStatus: CompleteGenre: Hurt/Comfort
does it hurt a lot? (Byler)
untitled, Archived version by MarySpacesFandom: Stranger ThingsDate: 13 November 2019Length: 1,280px × 1,656pxMedium: FanartStatus: CompleteGenre: Wedding Plans
A comic page based on this beautiful byler fanfic, Archived version
untitled, Archived version by ZaharayFandom: Stranger ThingsDate: 24 November 2019Length: 1,280px × 1,280pxMedium: FanartStatus: CompleteGenre: Kissing
kiss now 💖✨ (Byler)


2018

untitled, Archived version by AthossAurora, formerly WithEverydayOKFandom: Stranger ThingsDate: 01 December 2018Length: 540px × 304pxMedium: FanartStatus: CompleteGenre: Vampire AU
Haven’t done this yet, but I’ll post a part of this. Please don’t hate on me. THIS IS NOT A SEX, Mike is a vampire. This art was for Halloween
untitled, Archived version by UpsideDownCastleFandom: Stranger ThingsDate: 21 December 2018Length: 400px × 521pxMedium: FanartStatus: CompleteGenre: Hand Holding
can’t wait for summer

Gifset

2019

untitled, Archived version by DailyBylerFandom: Stranger ThingsDate: 20 May 2019Length: 4Medium: Animated GifStatus: CompleteGenre: Canon
mike and will vs the creature from the upside down
untitled, Archived version by DailyBylerFandom: Stranger ThingsDate: 26 May 2019Length: 3Medium: Animated GifStatus: CompleteGenre: Canon
Season 2, Episode 5 (Byler)
[1/?], Archived version by BylerlyFandom: Stranger ThingsDate: 01 June 2019Length: 2Medium: Animated GifStatus: CompleteGenre: Canon
[4/?], Archived version by BylerlyFandom: Stranger ThingsDate: 10 June 2019Length: 2Medium: Animated GifStatus: CompleteGenre: Canon

Date Published Unknown

untitled, Archived version by JaedenLleberherFandom: Stranger ThingsDate: unknownLength: 2Medium: Animated GifStatus: CompleteGenre: Canon, Movie Night

Zines

Meta

References

Stranger Things
Master Lists Stranger Things CategoryChallengesCharactersShipsZines
Crossover Ships Will Byers/Richie TozierBill Denbrough/Mike WheelerEddie Kaspbrak/Mike WheelerWill Byers & Eddie KaspbrakRichie Tozier & Mike Wheeler
Part of the Fanlore Project on Stranger Things! Join us, say hello on the talk page, or join our Discord!