Stranger Things Season 4 Episode 5 - Early Access
Added 2025-03-04 16:19:21 +0000 UTCStranger Things Season 4 Episode 5 - The Nina Project
I hope you all enjoy this week's episode!
Comments
This is a great breakdown of both Steve and Jonathan's relationships with Nancy. It's clear which one she is more compatible with when you highlight all of these moments! I can't wait to see the rest of your thoughts. - K
Oliver Eldridge
2025-03-10 17:56:52 +0000 UTCI feel like Jonathan always gets overlooked in this (very tired) love triangle because Steve is so popular. But the more times you rewatch, the more you start to understand all of their dynamics. From a narrative standpoint, I think Jonathan is the clear front runner. Steve has spent four seasons seeking validation from women. That’s where his confidence comes from, and he needs to learn to validate himself. He doesn’t really want Nancy. As far as the audience is aware (and as it’s implied,) Steve and Nancy probably haven’t really talked since they broke up. They only interact in one episode of S3, and it’s only when it’s the whole group. He tells Robin in 3x07 he doesn’t love her anymore. He tells Nancy in 4x05 that he’d still date Robin. The triangle coming back felt pretty inorganic. The writers didn’t even believe it. All of the characters around them had to beat the possibility into our heads. Dustin accuses Steve of throwing himself at Nancy, even though he’s just as protective of the rest of the group. Robin thinks Nancy doesn’t like her because she thinks she’s with Steve. Then later implies they should get back together. Eddie thinks Nancy must be in love with Steve since she jumped in to save him, but Nancy has often been one to act first and ask questions later when it comes to protecting others. We’ve seen Steve consistently not “getting” Nancy. In 2x02 he tries to distract her from the Barb stuff by going to a party, when that was clearly not what she needed. He inserts her into his fantasy of a big family, even though we’ve been told that’s not really the life she wants. She wants someone who shares her ambition and drive, someone who challenges her. We see some of that in 2x01 when she’s correcting his essay, vs talking about music and literature with Jonathan. Steve represents the life she sees in her parents—girl marries small town boy with a cushy job (Steve always says he’s going to work for his dad one day), they settle down, and have kids. Steve is sweet and he tries, but at the end of the day, the narrative has gone out of its way to show that Jonathan just understands Nancy better. He helps her get closure on Barb, he supports her obsession with the rat story even though it puts him in the line of fire too, and he calls her on her bullshit when she’s getting in her own way. Jonathan’s journey has been about taking care of everyone else. It’s a huge part of his identity. He’s smoking weed in California because he literally doesn’t know what to do with himself. Will is growing up, is close to El, and Joyce works from home now, so he doesn’t need Jonathan the same way that he used to. Joyce is doing surprisingly well for herself, so probably relies on Jonathan a lot less now. Nancy is 2000 miles away, and it’s hard to “take care of” someone long distance. He’s having an identity crisis. He’s afraid to leave his family because they might need him, and he’s afraid to tell Nancy he’s feeling that way because he doesn’t want her to make any sacrifices for him. Part of his journey needs to be realizing his needs and wants matter, too. I have more thoughts but I’ll wait for you guys to be done with the season!
Marcella Kryka
2025-03-10 16:45:03 +0000 UTCIt was great that they acknowledged that Suzie helped save Hawkins / the world last year. Who knew we'd get a road trip to Suzie's?! Let's go.
Octavia
2025-03-06 08:06:49 +0000 UTC
