Where there is value, there is crime

[olivermoss]

I've you've heard a dull roar coming from the direction of the Stranger Things fandom over the past few days, here's a rundown of the #BylerScript saga this far:

I've looked into it enough and at this point I am confident that yes, Byler Truthers from Stranger Things fandom did crowdfund $7k to buy a fake Stranger Things script (S4 E8: Papa) from 8Flix in hopes that it would prove the Byler Truthers right. (check the updates for confirmation that almost all the money is from one fandom, but the deets on that being for the script was all on tumblr)

If I had looked into this sooner or had screencapped some tumblr posts from a few days ago I'd have far more receipts. 8flix's twitter is now protected and stuff is busily being deleted. This is what I get for writing rather than looking down rabbit holes. I haven't actually poked at a situation like this or consulted The Internet Archive for proof in at least 7 years.

Lemme unpack that a bit. Byler = Will Byers / Mike Wheeler. It's a big ship and it is not now, or ever, my intent to paint any ship by it's crazy fringe. Byler Truthers are people who think Byler is the clear endgame, the clues are all there and the show's PR is a literal psyop to condition the mainstream masses to accept them as a pairing.

Per this 8flix Tumblr post here he is claiming the scripts are 'sourced'. As in, these aren't his transcripts. He claims his posts are the actual scripts, but his scripts do not follow the editing guidelines for the respective shows. He is lying, or his 'source' is. Also, The Internet Archive says The season finale transcripts of Stranger Things 4 are now online and ready for consumption. Looking for the REAL SCRIPTS? We have those too! He posted transcripts, but promised the real scripts as well. The recently bought and delivered scripts were supposed to be the actual production scripts.

Amusingly, the 'additional info' from the screen directions didn't actually support the Byler ship, however, they did strongly support the idea that Nancy was going to leave Jonathan for Steve. If you were wondering why Jancy was a top twitter trend on TODAY of all days, that was from the scripts being debunked.

Signs point to this all being an intentional scam. There may be a second revenue stream I cannot currently fully confirm.

One claim floating around is that the website has been a reliable resource for film students for 20 years. But if you check the Wayback Machine captures, the site did start in 2003, but it's mostly been an abandoned URL with pornspam links. It looks like it became a real site again around 2020. The site is new. It is not some long standing reliable resource.

The official twitter account for the Stranger Things writer's room has debunked the fake scripts but have also promised to start releasing real pages. Basically, they've been handed an easy mode for keeping fandom engagement and social media traction up between the last two seasons.


Woof. I haven't played fandom internet detective since... certain fandom events from ye olde el jay era. I need a shower. But hey, Leverage fans, John Rogers ain't wrong. Where there is value, there is crime... and there is value in ship wars. It looks like someone actually managed to monetize one. If anyone uses this for a heist/con plot please send me a link!

I've hedged my wording slightly in case somehow Nick from 8flix was conned by some evil script selling mastermind, but signs point to this being a scammy site from the start.

Comments

[finch]

Man, I love how the more things change, the more fandom stays the same.

[olivermoss]

I spent days trying to ignore all of this and now wish I'd been taking notes.

[mistressofmuses]

Holy crap. I'm amazed at the fact someone successfully monetized a ship war to the tune of several thousand dollars. Fucking wow.

Thank you for doing that deep-dive investigation, because all I had seen was a bit of vagueing and the impression of something happening that I didn't see anything directly linking to.

(Also, have one random mutual on tumblr that I followed for utterly unrelated things that has now ensured I have a solid stream of Byler Truther posts to scroll past. Zero shade on the ship, just on the super tinhatty "proof" based on unrelated screenshots and promo and such.)

[olivermoss]

I'd been trying to ignore it for the past week. Then I saw that $7k number floating around and had to dig in. If I had been following it rather than trying to ignore the crazy I'd have amazing screenshots and stuff, but I just kept my head down and tried to focus on fic.

I've peeked at some of the worst Byler Truther stuff, mostly to try to point out that it's... I don't think it's Apple Tree Yard 2.0, but it's not good.

[mistressofmuses]

I had somehow missed most of the details. Bummer about the missed screenshots chronicling the crazy. It sucks how some of the *real good drama* passes by when you're just trying to focus on your own stuff! I know the feeling!

Yeah... I don't think it's near big enough (though I could be surprised yet) to rival the Apple Tree Yard stuff, but some of the serious reaching definitely reminds me of that.

[olivermoss]

The Stranger Things writer's room is going to release The Van Scene script pages. But the Byler Truthers are already laying the groundwork to reject it as a fake. That it's 'taking them time' to post means they are editing it.

They are setting up the writers as the villains when... when... if Byler is real then it's a long game by literally the same people. How do logic? It'll be interesting to see what happens when the pages come out.

[mistressofmuses]

That... seems so... backwards? Weird? Inexplicable? The same ones who have been seeding all of these supposedly obvious and intentional clues and hints and "proof" are also the same ones who will... be faking the scripts to hide the truth?

Wut. How do logic, indeed.

[olivermoss]

Yeah, they whole Byler truther thing is scary, but I am just hoping that recent events have taken the wind out of their sails somewhat

[mistressofmuses]

I kinda hope so.

Those kinds of major fandom conspiracy things are always just... so wild. Like, it's fun to read into subtext and write meta and dig into interesting interpretations! I love that shit. But if you don't keep the dividing line between "this is fun" and "this is PROOF" it can get pretty messy.

[olivermoss]

There can be a lot of depth read into a media, and also how it's a product of it's time, production environment, etc. Even shallow-seeming media can be a starting point for a lot... but these weird fandom rabbit holes try to pretend to be that, even bragging about their media literacy.

[mistressofmuses]

Oh, absolutely! There's a lot of context to be brought into analysis, looking at the surrounding culture and time period and biases of the people who made it (in positive and negative ways.)
There's also enjoyment in using a particular lens or framework to examine something, even when you also know that those readings aren't likely intended by the creators. It can still be a fun thing to do... but hoo boy, that is not the same as the Truther brigade.
Extra frustrating when yeah, they're bragging about their media literacy and analytical skills... while utterly missing and disregarding the vast majority of the series in question.