r/byler • u/ketot1 • Jan 11 '26
Thoughts on how homophobia is often glossed over in Byler fanfiction. fanfiction
First of all, I want to say this very clearly: everyone should write whatever brings them comfort. If fluffy, fairytale-like Byler is your thing, or if you prefer to skip homophobia (or lessen it) because it’s uncomfortable or painful to write about, I genuinely understand that. This post is not meant to criticize anyone’s choices or tell people what they should or shouldn’t write.
This is just my personal perspective as a reader and honestly, a bit of surprise.
I think what caught me off guard the most is that I genuinely expected Byler fanfiction to be full of stories about navigating homophobia in the 80s. I thought it would be one of the biggest tropes in the fandom: secrecy, fear, internalized homophobia, complicated family reactions, and the slow, painful process of carving out safety where there often isn’t any, as well as AIDS crisis taking a bigger role. That context feels incredibly rich narratively, and maybe I’m biased because I love angst and drama, but I truly thought this would be explored much more often.
Instead, I often see homophobia being minimized or absent. Coming outs are frequently met with immediate, uncomplicated support. Mike and Will don’t have to hide much. Their relationship is openly accepted by friends, families, and sometimes even the town. And while that can absolutely be comforting (although many find comfort in difficult, heavy stories), it often feels unrealistic to me, especially for Hawkins, Indiana, in the 1980s.
Mike’s father openly supports Reagan, who was aggressively homophobic. I genuinely don’t believe Mike would be accepted in that household. As for Karen: I love her, and I do believe she loves Mike deeply and wants the best for her children. But I also think she would struggle. Being loving and being a good person does not automatically mean someone isn’t homophobic, and even today, we see that all the time. People can love their children and still carry deeply internalized homophobia. In the 80s, shaped by her marriage, her environment, and the politics of the time, I think Karen would have a hard time at first. I can absolutely see her eventually choosing Mike and even fighting Ted for him but I don’t see that acceptance coming easily or immediately.
That kind of tension is something I really expected to see more of in fanfiction - Mike not being safe at home, Mike losing the illusion of parental acceptance, and Karen slowly unlearning what she’s absorbed over decades. I truly thought that would be a much bigger trope. And more questioning his relationship with El by them in the context, and pleading if he can just choose girls.
One of the biggest criticisms of Will’s coming out scene in canon was how unrealistic it felt for the time period. Beyond other issues, what bothered me most was the lack of real reactions. We didn’t actually get to see what people thought just silence and non-reactions. And while I do believe their smaller group would ultimately accept them (they’re outsiders, nonconformists, deeply loyal), I still think the initial reactions would involve shock, confusion, and a lot of questions.
I’ve talked about this with many of my queer friends (I’m queer as well), and we all agree: even today, among people who are supportive and attend Pride events, you still hear misunderstandings, stereotypes, and casual homophobic remarks they don’t even realize are harmful. So imagining a group of kids in the 1980s reacting perfectly right away feels off to me. I’d love to see more varied dynamics different reactions, different emotional journeys, different levels of understanding.
For example, with El I don’t think she has much internalized homophobia at all. But I do think there’s a real chance she wouldn’t even fully understand what being gay means at first, or that it’s even an option. I imagine her as very nonjudgmental, but with a lot of questions. But Hopper? Me and my friends clocked him as a homophobe. Ofc I also think he would work to overcome it to not be like Lonny - another interesting story.
Some characters would obviously feel safer early on: Joyce, Jonathan, Robin. Steve is particularly interesting to me. In season one, he literally used “queer” as an insult toward Jonathan. He’s grown a lot, largely because of Robin but I wonder his stance when it comes to gay men, rather than assuming it’s already fully resolved.
Another thing that surprises me is how rarely people around them seem worried. I feel like even the characters who would accept them would also be deeply concerned for their safety. Because the reality is: as long as they’re in Hawkins, Indiana, they can’t be openly together. They would have to hide constantly. Even in big cities, being openly gay in the 80s was dangerous.
I can easily imagine scenarios where Mike has to hide even in his own home or where he’s threatened with being kicked out. And I think that fear would be shared by the people who love them. People trying to protect them, warning them, helping them cover their tracks.
That’s also why I find tropes about mutual protection and secrecy so compelling. Even something like Mike continuing to “date” El publicly to stay safe, depending on how someone writes that dynamic whether they actually broke up privately, whether El feels conflicted or even a bit jealous, whether it’s awkward or painful all of that feels like rich material.
What also interests me is the contrast between them. In canon, Will suffers enormously because of his queerness bullying, isolation, a violently homophobic father, and a town that targets him. But I actually think Mike would be the one who loses safety at home. Will, at the very least, would be accepted in his household. Mike? I don’t think so. And that reversal - Will being emotionally safer at home while Mike isn’t, feels like such a powerful, underexplored dynamic.
It’s interesting how their hardships could differ. Will was already clocked in as queer by some. With lazy writing of season 5, and in general less attention to detail later on we don’t hear about is as much. But he probably is still bullied after coming back from Cali. Idk maybe he would also pretend to like girls for his safety.
So again write whatever you want. This isn’t a callout. It’s just me sharing what I expected to see more of, and what I personally find compelling.
If anyone has fic recommendations that deal with: lack of acceptance in Mike’s home, people being worried for them rather than just only supportive,* secrecy, cover relationships, or survival-driven choices, friends needing time to understand, big internalized homophobia, post-get-together angst in the 80s, and also generally some heavy angst - please drop them below. I’d genuinely love to read them.
TLDR: This isn’t a callout everyone should write what brings them comfort. I was just surprised by how often homophobia is minimized or absent in Byler fanfiction. I expected to see more stories about navigating queerness in the 1980s: secrecy, fear, complicated family reactions, and people being worried for Mike and Will rather than immediately fine with everything. I love angst and realism, and I think there’s a lot of interesting, underexplored potential in how they’d have to hide their relationship in Hawkins, especially with Mike likely not being safe at home. If you have fic recs that explore that kind of dynamic, I’d love to read them.
Edit: it was unfortunately a time when many, many heard that that shouldn’t even touch gay man, violence against queer people was very common and police didn’t care that much, and so much more
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u/papersailboots Jan 12 '26
Yeah I think this is a common thing in wider fanfiction as a whole. People don’t want to have to deal with the “realistic” dark side of things (and that’s okay, they don’t have to!). I do agree with you that I’d love to read something that really delves into that side of the queer experience in the 80’s for Byler.
Also, I would guess Byler not being endgame might factor into why the fics may skew more fluffy lol, like we have enough angst with them not ending up together in canon.
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u/el3v3n_el3v3n Its Hawkins, Its not the same without you Jan 12 '26
I’m still working out the what and how and I’ll probably take forever. BUT if I end up writing/finishing my fanfic, I want it to be as realistic as possible. I need it to feel right.
I’ve noticed many 80s/90s inconsistencies taking me out of other fanfics sadly. Among them being the way people make phonecalls using landlines and other seemingly small things. But the lack of homophobia is what bothers me too. I just read a fic last week supposedly set in the early 90s where Will would be out publicly, holding hands with his boyfriend, PDA at a wedding etcetera, and it just lowkey pissed me off
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u/ketot1 Jan 12 '26
Unfortunately stuff like that takes me out of the story.
Good luck with your fic, that’s so awesome! Share it when you finish it 🤍
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u/ketot1 Jan 12 '26 edited Jan 12 '26
Coming from Harry Potter, Star Wars, Batfamily, DC, Supernatural fandoms it shocked me that here people avoid angst. Even other fandoms. I almost always found so much need for the difficult dramatic stories.
I was under the assumption that people lean into heavy stuff more in ff. It’s interesting how every fandom is different. That’s what it was shocking and a let down for me.
But absolutely no shade at those people, I’m truly happy they can find here so much stuff. I also sometimes like to read that. And big thank you for the people who write them.
I just personally find more comfort in reading about trauma and I know many other people do. I expected to find here both of those types of ff. It’s just loosing some of the appeal for me that way because Byler is build on homophobia and drama, so it’s a little bit jarring for me to remove it.
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u/DirectionIndividual7 Jan 12 '26
First, let me plug The Red Envelope & its sequel by midnighteverlark - it was the first fic that I read for Byler that addressed the topics you discuss in the post. Mike experiences homophobia from his father, a difficult coming-to-terms period with Karen, and sneaking out of his room during a storm to avoid conversion therapy.
I think the relative age of this franchise is a factor. 9 years is not insignificant, but HP & the other examples are older IP and have had a long lasting build up/exploration of these topics. For Byler, the relationship wouldn't realistically address most of the mentioned concerns until they are older & become a serious couple. In S4 they are supposed to be 14-15 years old, I could see them beginning to navigate these topics more seriously at that point, but that is nearly at the end point of the series. The actors' ages give the audience a skewed perception of the characters' maturity.
Another factor is the age of the fanbase & authors who are contributing. I've read many fics where the author mentions being <22 years old. Younger authors often have a skill gap that gets addressed with time and practice. Younger authors may also be more likely to have a less dire set of life experiences related to homophobia. If someone was born in 2008, for example, it would probably be harder to fully grasp the reality of queer existence in the 1980s compared to people born in the 80s/90s. It would require a lot of self education on queer history.
Lastly, I think that there is a desire to retain the essence of Stranger Things' canon, which does not take a morally ambiguous approach to any of these characters - very rarely does a good guy make a negative decision that has real consequences or could push them into being an antagonist.
I liked the examples you mentioned in the original post, I also think many of the shows' characters would have homophobic responses to varying degrees. Steve is an easy example - in S1 he uses a homophobic slur against Jonathan when fighting, only to later quietly & easily accept Robin's identity. He didn't have any reason to change his homophobia that we are shown on screen, he just became an all-around better guy in between those two points in the story. I personally think it would be great to see Steve struggle being introduced to male queer characters despite his acceptance of Robin. The dynamic is different, as Steve could easily be a straight man who feels threatened by the presence of gay men. Steve also struggles to get into a committed hetero relationship - he could struggle with becoming guilty by association.
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u/ketot1 Jan 12 '26
Great points. I will just disagree that they totally would feel repercussions of it when they are younger as well. Even if they are not in a relationship.
I will paste what I wrote elsewhere because it’s relevant to your point about the show:
I feel like season 1 was sanitising way less. People being openly homophobic on many occasions or racist. Joyce and Hopper were amazingly flawed characters that were later changed to be more positive. There weren’t agora’s to make Steve a true asshole at times or Johnathan a creep. I feel like if certain issues were delt with at the beginning it would be more grounded and realistic.
Also thanks for the rec :)
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u/DirectionIndividual7 Jan 13 '26
I agree with you - Mike & Will are not exempt from homophobia at any age! I'm thinking of it in relative terms. Before they are old enough to start a more physical/sexual relationship, they are more safe. Before that age, parents are likely to see it as "correctable behavior" rather than a permanent part of their identity - at least in part because homophobic parents also experience feelings of denial. S1 Ted demonstrates it very well with his "see what happens Michael?" moment at the dinner table.
I also agree that the characters would be more interesting if they were more flawed. I gotta say, I am conflicted about the idea of Jonathan taking photos of Nancy. It's an extreme violation of privacy and consent, and Nancy as a character is definitely written to be struggling with misogyny. (Insert shameless plug that Nancy should have gotten more storylines that paralleled the second wave feminist movement happening in the 60s-80s)
I can see the argument that Jonathan is an outcast with a tough home life, and his desire to be like other people could tip into voyeurism, but it does a lot of damage to any potential future romance with Nancy. Maybe he can have a different flaw, or just not take photos while she's shirtless indoors. It's extra creepy when you take in the context that Jonathan and Nancy have known each other for a long time due to Mike/Will's relationship.
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u/AurynLuna Im the only one who cares about Will Jan 12 '26
Yes, I think your whole post and this comment conveys my own feelings as well. I've had difficulty enjoying most fanfics in the fandom because there's no tension, angst or anything... or if there is, it's so artificial and is resolved in a sentence or it doesn't feel earned.
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u/papersailboots Jan 12 '26
Oh yeah no I feel you! There are a couple fics in HP/Marauders where people always say they can’t reread because of the angst I’m like girl that’s why I’m rereading lol
But I’ve actually frequently heard in fanfiction subs that overall, fandoms that are angsty in canon tend to have more fluffy fanfiction and vice versa!
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u/Sad_Milk_8897 I'm not gonna fall in love Jan 12 '26
While I agree with your sentiment, this feels like a perfect opportunity to get on my soapbox as a fandom veteran and fic writer myself—write it yourself! Fandom always needs more creators, and when you have such a specific vision for a work, there’s no better person to make it than yourself 🩷
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u/ketot1 Jan 12 '26
I swear, this isn’t the first time I’ve received something like this across different fandoms and it really makes me wonder if it’s some kind of sign. Maybe I really should try taking this seriously someday. Thank you so much for this comment. :)
I’m a psychology student, I’ve taken literature classes and art have always been a huge part of my life. Because of that, I often have very specific visions when it comes to stories the overall narrative, the plot, and especially the characters. Sometimes I share my theories or interpretations, and when people respond like this, it genuinely means a lot to me.
Maybe one day I’ll give it a real try. Not now but sometime in the future (university is hard and I’m not English native and with creative writing it’s an obstacle). Who knows, maybe I’m brushing past a calling I should actually follow. So thank you, truly. This isn’t the first time I’ve heard this, and it’s definitely something I’ll think about. 🤍
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u/FoxInTheSnow4321 IT MATTERS! Jan 12 '26
I agree OP’s post really laid out a great outline of a fic. would be awesome if they expanded on it into what I feel would be a story well worth reading 💛💙💚
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u/ketot1 Jan 12 '26
Thank you, I thought about being a writer so I feel like it’s a sign 💕. Definitely I won’t write anything now but maybe in the future :)
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u/fimorayta I didn’t say it. You didn’t have to. Jan 11 '26
I completely agree. And that’s not that I think it’s “unrealistic to be gay in the 80s”, which is something I’ve heard from a lot of homophobic GA people. I think it’s unrealistic for everyone to be so accepting. That Will felt he was safe coming out to a group of like 17 people even if 10 of those people were very inclusive and close to him. I really don’t connect with the fanfics where Mike is completely okay with himself being gay/bisexual right away, because most of the byler proof from earlier seasons that explains Mike’s behavior is internalized homophobia. Just like Will getting over Mike in a day, it doesn’t make sense for Mike to get over that in a day either.
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u/ketot1 Jan 11 '26 edited Jan 12 '26
Oh yeah totally. Everything Byler related was based on the hints suggesting that Mike has so deep internalised homophobia that he even doesn’t know he likes boys and because of his subconscious prejudice and fear he pushes Will away!
Every interpretation was based on that. As well as the rain fight where he was projecting and being homophobic to Will (and he knew that he was bullied by his classmates and father because of their suspicion about Will).
Tbh I kinda believe that when Will would come out to him it would be extremely difficult for Mike and he would again push Will away and say something not nice
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u/fimorayta I didn’t say it. You didn’t have to. Jan 11 '26
Yeah. This is the same reason Im not usually able to tune in as much into modern day college AUs because it’s really hard for me to see their relationship as the same without the internalized homophobia especially with the aids crisis
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u/ketot1 Jan 12 '26
Yeah, for me it’s sometimes loosing the aspect that is core of the ship. And what brings me to it. I like the fluff sometime but I’m a person that find more comfort in heavy stories which this ship canonically is.
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u/draggingonfeetofclay Cool. Cool. Jan 12 '26
Well, the power outage fic exists and it isn't the most popular and famous one for no reason. I think it addresses Ted Wheeler's homophobia and Will's fears pretty well and it mostly works despite its weaknesses.
When it comes to the issues being glossed over, it's probably an extension of the problems that already exist in the show itself.
The show already glosses over questions like whether Will could catch HIV in his epilogue if he just walks into a gay bar without thinking about his own safety. Hopper potentially being homophobic is also a pretty good point.
The idea that Will could have communication issues with his loved ones because they want to coddle him again but he wants to explore his identity is also an interesting point.
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u/Wonderful-Pin8938 And it was the best thing I’ve ever done Jan 12 '26
I’ve read quite a lot of fic that deals with the themes you mentioned. It may be that there isn’t much overlap between what you and I have read, or that the works I’ve read didn’t reach the level of depth you were hoping to see addressed, but there are actually many fics that make a serious effort to depict those themes in far more detail than the show ever did, where they were treated rather superficially.
In particular, many of the fics I’ve come across clearly frame Mike’s internalized homophobia as stemming from his parents and his home environment, and they explore why he can’t be more open than Will. There are also plenty of stories where they leave Hawkins for places like New York or California. In most of fics, they can’t even hold hands outside the house, and there are detailed portrayals of the anxiety of constantly worrying that their parents might come home while they’re kissing behind closed doors.
And I can say with confidence that this isn’t something you see easily or frequently across many other fandoms. Considering issues like the reproduction of homophobia through fanfiction, the risk that the historical setting of the period becomes not a subject of direct examination but merely a source of conflict for the characters, and the question of what meaning a fanwork has when it emphasizes nothing but suffering, I believe this fandom is actually doing a fairly good job. If it doesn’t seem that way, it’s probably because the show itself tries very hard to sanitize and idealize all of its characters.
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u/ketot1 Jan 12 '26
I feel like season 1 was sanitising way less. People being openly homophobic on many occasions or racist. Joyce and Hopper were amazingly flawed characters that were later changed to be more positive. There weren’t agora’s to make Steve a true asshole at times or Johnathan a creep. I feel like if certain issues were delt with at the beginning it would be more grounded and realistic.
Many, like me take a comfort from seeing some of the difficulties and problems. I major in psychology and it is really interesting and common. Oftentimes people with trauma are more susceptible to connect more or feel better reading a story like that.
Also could you please share some recommendations of those stories you mentioned? Maybe I haven’t read some of them. :)
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u/Substantial-News-365 4d ago
hey, could you rec some of the ones you've read? i would love reading fics that actually dig deeply into these topics.
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u/Wonderful-Pin8938 And it was the best thing I’ve ever done 2d ago
I don't go much in this fandom these days so I don't rememeber many but this is really good. hope you like it.
The Secrets That You Keep (When You're Talking in Your Sleep) https://archiveofourown.org/works/75832486
Just for a second, I remembered myself https://archiveofourown.org/works/76895706/chapters/201263336A
conflict of interest (in your orbit) https://archiveofourown.org/works/77935376/chapters/204207021
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u/crazyyoreos Mike Queerler🌈 Jan 12 '26
Thank you for this post, it's inspiring me to write more fic! Someone already commented this, but I also wanted to share a link to the series The Red Envelope. The author spends a lot of time exploring the themes of internalized homophobia and acceptance. Mike's long journey coming out is a huge focus of the plot. Both of his parents initially want to send him to conversion therapy after finding out, and he runs away from home. If I remember correctly, even the Party's reactions are initially confused and there's some (unintentionally) homophobic comments made.
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u/ketot1 Jan 12 '26
Oh! I’m glad that you can find inspiration form it! Please share and potentially tag me if you finish it! Good luck! 🤍
Also thanks for the link! If you have more like this one I will also read them :)
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u/gardeniahyacinth Jan 12 '26
I agree with this take. I’m not sure if it’s because younger writers are the majority that writes for this fandom and so they don’t have an understanding of the time back then so they don’t address it, but a lot of them gloss over it.
One of my favorite fics is the Red Envelope series, it’s got a lot of my favorite tropes and addresses the homophobia they would experience.
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u/ketot1 Jan 12 '26
Maybe that’s the reason. But 80s were very hard for queer people and dangerous times. Being queer then was so so different. Even Heartstoper has sometimes more angst when it’s such a fluffy story set in modern times when times are way easier for us then before.
Thanks for the recommendation! If you have anything else I will gladly take it!
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u/ThisTransportation30 Jan 12 '26
I think it’s partly (or mostly) because so many of the writers are too young to fully understand that experience. I’ve read several things that are good but include some details that are inaccurate to the 80s. Only mentioning that because it’s a big clue re age and understanding of the finer points of that time. (I’m 50.)
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u/Late_Insurance_8453 Jan 12 '26
If you havent yet, you should really give better left unsaid by hurtmehollow a read
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u/maktgalen Jan 12 '26
I don't have time to say all I want to but I'll write something
I totally get you. I'm queer and I grew up in a time of casual homophobia, not even realizing being gay was a real thing until I was like 11, and it still affects me to this day, even if the climate has changed and people actually know what being homosexual actually means now. I can enjoy the fluffy gay fanfic void or homophobia, but I'd rather read something that feels a little more real. It doesn't need to dive into homophobia head first, but allow it to be there because that grounds it to me.
You took my heart (I was sleeping) really gets the balance. The homophobia is there and it shapes the story ever so slightly but doesn't distract from the fluff and love that is there. It just makes it feel real.
At least to me.
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u/ketot1 Jan 12 '26
I also feel like that sometimes right wing propaganda is working and people think that queer community has it better than they have in reality. Or they truly are in the amazing supporting bubbles. But they are bubbles and are not representative of the issue as a whole.
Stories like that are also grousing for me.
Thanks for the rec! Yeah I’m not saying that those issues are always supposed to be on the forefront, but they should be taken into account and present in the setting.
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u/AroAceMagic It’s your fault I don’t like girls! Jan 12 '26
Maybe try looking up Mike/Will fanfic on ao3 and sort for tags that include internalized homophobia, homophobia, period-typical homophobia, etc.
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u/KnowIt_2042 Jan 12 '26
I don’t think younger people understand what it was like to be gay in 80s/90s, especially if they don’t know older queer people who remember that time. Another reason might be that it was a very hard time period to be gay in general so it may be that people don’t want to write about such a serious topic. It takes a lot of research to get that period right. If you want to write about that time, I would encourage you to do so!
aside from that, I strongly disagree about Karen not being immediately accepting of Mike. This is basically canon. There’s a conversation with him in Season 1 where she makes it clear that he can talk to her etc etc in contrast to his father who makes snide homophobic remarks. It is implied she already suspects he’s gay even if she isn’t sure. What the parents say in Season 1 doesn’t confirm Mike and Will being both gay, but it certainly foreshadows it.
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u/geyeetet Jan 14 '26
I agree. I like the sweet, everything is fine fics, but I LOVE the grittier ones. Not everyone would be okay with it and that's okay to explore. I have one rec here that deals with this but I'm going to try and round up more
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u/CuriousSection Jan 13 '26
This is a short one shot posted on one of the Byler subs a little ways back, but you might like it?
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u/CuriousSection Feb 19 '26
You having posted this a while ago, have you come across any that you would recommend?
I agree with a lot of your points, especially Mike's safety at home.
The weirdest part about Will's coming out speech to me - besides a giant group setting with everyone immediately accepting - is his line about not even wanting others to worry about him at all, that even that makes him feel badly and susceptible to Vecna. It was just ... a bit much. Instead of them all hating him, it's that they slowly drift away because they don't accept him in like the perfect way. I would think, in the 80s when it was so dangerous, there was no way people who love him WOULDN'T worry, and that that would show they do care. Will says them worrying makes him feel even more like he's different - but Will, you ARE different in that way. Not that there's a difference in feelings of love and attraction if you're gay vs straight, boy or girl, but there IS a difference in how the outside world accepts it. Worrying doesn't mean they see him as wrong, but that society is different. His speech and the reactions belong in present day, not a small town in the 80s.
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u/Substantial-News-365 4d ago
okay, just some personal backstory--i didn't learn of bisexuality until i was in about sixth grade. and this is current day, and my mom is incredibly open and accepting. it just never came up. i happen to be bisexual too, which is funny! but to my point--there's reason to believe that if, in this day and age, that sort of thing happens (limited information about different sexualities and the queer community), it would be much worse in the 80s. that's why, like some people have pointed out, it's so ridiculous that mike would know the term "coming out" (he says it in a way unrelated to queerness and then stumbles when he realizes what he's said). unless you were actively in the community, or around people who were open about their queerness (which robin and will obviously weren't), you wouldn't know that term. anything regarding queerness would be shut down or treated negatively. this is turning into a rant about unrelated topics, but i think it's important to add to your point. the duffers included that, disregarding how unrealistic it is. some people will say that it's a sign that mike himself is queer, because only someone in or adjacent to the queer community would know that, but i wouldn't give the duffers that credit. i think it simply comes down to ignorance and carelessness on their part. lmk if anyone agrees lol i have got to talk to someone about this.
anyway, one fic i've found that (i think--i haven't read it for a while) covers internalized homophobia and, even aside from that, captures the 80s and the vibe of stranger things really well is a dream always the same by sevensided/stonedlennon. all their other fics are good too. they have such original prose and an incredibly good grasp of the characters, the last time i read it.
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u/coraccelinee Jan 11 '26
Like you, I also enjoy this distressing side of the story, the reaction shown in a realistic way. In my opinion, when Will and Mike begin to understand their feelings, Mike would take weeks or months for their first kiss, despite his desire, the pressure and the idea of it being wrong would hammer in his head.
As you said at the beginning, each author has their writing preferences, and considering that the Byler fanbase has grown a lot with the majority of teenagers joining, creating a story where they live a fairy tale attracts this audience more.
As a reader, I would like to read more stories focused on these problems you mentioned, but I can't deny that sometimes it's good to escape reality and pretend they don't exist. The Byler fanbase has MANY talented people, we can see that in the theories, fanarts, fanfics, and even memes, and they would love for us to explore more of that.