Gus And Death?

Gus and Death?

This whole episode just REALLY dug (like it was making a grave) into Gus’ concerning motifs and repeated associations with Death, what with him showing a lot of respectful and kind reverence to the graves of the deceased, protecting and maintaining their memories, and being able to conjure up QUITE the nightmare for Bria!

Obviously this could be concerning, but with how Gus constantly makes references to dying in the context of trying to accomplish something, and again his respect towards the dead and their sacred graves… Did this kid have someone important to him who died? And that’s why Death is on his mind so much- Because this loss really messed with him, and it’s something Gus has been struggling with for a long time? Trying to cope and make sense of it, especially at such a young age…

Maybe trying to sort of accept and embrace it, in an almost attempted martyrdom sense? Perhaps Gus’ mother died, maybe trying to accomplish something- Again, explaining why Gus makes such a big deal about how he’ll get something done, even if someone has to die! It’s his way of venerating her sacrifice, trying to find some inspiration and meaning from the messed-up event, something to guide himself with and make sense of it all…

Did Mrs. Porter die doing research as a reporter? And that’s why Gus takes the interview in Understanding Willow so seriously… It’s not just because he admires his father Perry, so naturally he treats reporting with a special reverence; But the fact that it was something his mother died over… It only feels right and proper to pay his respects by continuing in her footsteps, carrying out that same intensity in order to honor and pay Mrs. Porter tribute!

I dunno man, I’m just getting Gus Porter feels. I dunno about you, but the constant allusions and references to Death seem suspiciously frequent and exclusive to him… And this entire episode being about Gus respecting the dead and acting on their behalf, even pretending to be vengeful ghosts from the grave- It sure makes you think, huh?

My favorite headcannons in my Stranger Things Fic:

Will hates that El's birthday is celebrated on November 6th (she picked it), but then he forgets that it's the day he goes missing so he moves on. She only picked that date because it's usually seen as bad so she wanted to make him happy

Back in California, Will and El used to split the time they spent with Sean. Will gets Monday and Tuesday, El gets Thursday and Friday, and he hangs out with both on Wednesdays. On the weekends, he spends time with Argyle.

Furthermore, Sean met them because he threw a book at Will's head. He was aiming for Angela, but she dodged it. He got two weeks' detention and met them after Argyle did. Will fell for him the same day he got hit.

Eleven likes to be called Jane more than "El" but she keeps it as a nickname.

Mike spent a whole day at Max's house complaining about how much he dislikes Sean.

Sean's real birth name is Ignacio De La Cruz. His birth mother is white Dominican and his biological dad is Afro-Dominican. His mother was shot four times because she broke into the lab repeatedly to get him back. She's alive, lives in Indianapolis, and is still looking for him.

Angela and Sean used to be friends but that was before he was outed. El and Will know nothing about this story.

Sean knows Spanish but no one knows how. In fact, no one in the adopted family taught him Spanish. He started speaking it one day and they just went along with it.

Dr. Roseanne, their therapist, believes that Sean and El are on the neurodivergent spectrum. They both have varying severities of ADHD, autism, BPD, PTSD, depression, and anxiety. She knows not to diagnose them just yet.

Sean would identify as genderfluid if he grew up in 2024.

Ana Maria was arrested because Sean and Mateo had found a dead body in their backyard and had moved it. She confessed to killing the man and got the charges dropped from her brothers.

The man died form heroin overdose

Eleven gets irregular periods. Jonathan was there when she got her first one. She was terrified.

Eleven and Will were taught how to surf by Argyle. Jonathan would take videos of them while Sean suntanned (he doesn't need to tan at all but he can't swim).

Elliot calls Max daily to complain about Lucas's gentle and unbearable physical affection. She laughs every time.

Erica loves Lucas. And she tells him every night before she goes off to bed. (She's terrified of losing him after Vecna)

Erica and Melanie are very close and do each other's hair.

Will, Eleven, and Mike go to NYU. Sean goes to Cal U School of Arts. Max enters the workforce and become a tattoo apprentice. Dustin and Lucas get into Perdue. Elliot and Melanie join them a year later.

Steve has been in love with Jonathan since he punched him back in S1.

The Guerreros are incredibly rich. Their dad owns the Sufer Boy Pizza Franchise, and Argyle just likes to smoke weed and make pizza.

Their majors are Double Major in Fine Arts & Art History (Will); Double Major in Business & English (Mike); Fashion Design (Eleven); Double Major in Theater Arts & Art History (Sean); Architectural Science (Lucas); Computer Science (Dustin); Sports and Physical Therapy (Elliot); Writing and Journalism (Melanie)

Suzie becomes ex-Mormon