#team stancy

I know the Duffer Brothers wanted us to dislike the couple, but the more I read the reasons to hate it, the more I feel like the hate is more ridiculous than subjective (maybe I'll make another post to list every reason I heard and explain why I think this is nonsense.)

The only real reason to hate Steve is because he slut-shamed Nancy. At first, it seems as bad as Jonathan taking half-naked pictures of her. But let's not forget that Steve got punishing for it: Nancy slapped and after that, he still tried to fix his miss. Jonathan, on the other hand, gets away with it. The only bad thing is that Steve broke his camera but then again, he bought him another one at the end, so it doesn't count either. What's ironic is that not only every reason Nancy listed in S4 of why she loves Jonathan works well for Steve. Sometimes even better. The "only love can make you so crazy and so stupid" line is supposed to be about Jonathan beating up Steve but he only did it because he insulted his family, not because he disrespected Nancy. This however...

...feel more like crazy in love.

The only thing confusing is Nancy's feelings. In S1, she looked at Steve with desire. In S2, she said she wasn't in love and couldn't say she loved him. And the show is acting like she doesn't in fact love him but then, why would she stay with him for one year if she felt guilty on choosing him over Barb? Then in S4, she looks at him again with desire but because The Duffer Brothers listed more their young fans than themselves, suddently Nancy feels nothing for Steve and is annoyed by him. "It was never like this." Translation: forget the chemistry they built in S4:

"It was never like that." I hate this line so much. The Duffer Brothers did something brave and brought back something that almost no one asked for. Many Stancy fans became Stancy fans thanks to Season 4. And then after waiting three years, they decided to act like nothing happens and it's such a betrayal and coward move. I also hate how they made fun of Steve's dream. Granted, it wasn't Steve's best move but it was "In case we died, I want you to know..." moment and they turned it into a joke for Nancy, Jonathan, and Steve himself. You know, what it remains me? This scene from Batman Returns:

Bruce Wayne is calling out Alfred for letting Vicki Vale into the Batcave because many fans were mad at Alfred for letting her know that Bruce Wayne is Batman without telling Bruce. The problem is that in the previous movie, Bruce was on his way to tell Vicki anyway, AND after getting shot by the Joker, he disappeared out the window like Batman would. I think Vicki would have putting two and two together. But Tim Burton decided to agree with the fans, even though it shouldn't have been a big deal.

Anyway, back to Stranger Things, the problem with retconning their chemistry in S5, it was completely pointless to set up this "Nancy might be into Steve" plot point. What was the point? So that Steve can learn to move on from Nancy? He already did that in S2! He told her to go with Jonathan! It would make more sense if Nancy who couldn't make her choice herself in S2, actually chose herself in S5. But no, she broke up with Jonathan (and then again, it was so rushed, so the fans didn't even know it was a break-up) but she didn't talk to Steve. 18 months after he told her his feelings, she couldn't tell him that 'it was never like that." Honestly, it made me hate S5 Nancy.

I hated S5 Nancy. She was kind of mean and less likeable. Yeah, I know she was stressed because of Vecna's vision. But even in S4, she was not this bossy with everyone and so close. I also hated how childish was S5 Steve, after the previous season ended with Nancy saying "he growed up a little bit, you know?" Their character arcs were damaged in S5 and their ending was not satisfying.

Steve had the most steorotype job for a jock kid. He wanted to travel around the world but instead, he stayed in Hawkins and went from date after date, meaning he didn't change since S3. Nancy just said "screw up school, I want to see the world" as if she was Arya Stark. Correct me if I'm wrong but weren't women not taken seriously in the 80s? Weren't they seen by men as just pretty to see but too emotional to listen or something? Remember how she struggles with her intership in S3 because of this? They both gave up their own dream, and the show is so casual about it! I'm not buying that Nancy would just gave up school like she could find a job easy-peasy. But I guess, after she killed a bunch of trained soldiers without getting shot and without getting arrested, she suddently can do anything. This is ridiculous! Nancy was so ridiculous in S5! She wasn't a character anymore! She was a modern stereotype strong independant woman. This show was supposed to be against 80s clichés, so instead it bring out modern clichés. The Breakfast Club did the "screw stereotypes" way better.

Remember when female characters could have a partner AND be independant women? Imagine if Steve was a woman. Fans would be way more upset that Steve still tried to find a partner at the end of the show. I mean, following this logic, this is like saying Han Solo is a trash character for starting like a badass character and ending out like a more tender man.

So yeah, call me sexist, but I don't care! S4 did an amazing job, bringing back a couple nobody liked and yet brought a great arc for both characters. This is how they should have ended: Nancy fighting her trauma about Barb (it should have been brought out, Vecna literally used that against her in S4!!!) and getting back with Steve, Steve breaking the stereotype jock character and being a tender version of himself, respecting his girlfriend and supporting her to accomplish her dreams. Here's something someone did on TikTok:

If you love Steve&Nancy (Stranger Things) and you want reblog or like,this is the link of my reblog couples :)

Because in reality... he's NOT hitting on Nancy. He's just being himself in the scene where he wants to take care of the broadcast. Yes, it's heightened by Nancy's presence ; he wants to impress her a little because he still loves her. But essentially, we know he would have tried to handle it the same way even if she hadn't been there. The same goes for when he leans over her. We've seen Steve do that with other characters throughout the show. It's just that, again, since he's in love with her, there are obvious subtleties for the viewers.

But in fact, he's not hitting on her at all and isn't trying to come between her and Jonathan. He doesn't even seem aware of his behavior the whole time.

I was expecting something crazy when I heard about the competition, but the truth is that the only one making this situation a true competition is Jonathan. Because he understood that Steve still had feelings for Nancy and that she clearly isn't indifferent to them, even if she might not have fully realized it herself yet, given all the problems she's currently dealing with and her focus on finding Vecna.

The people who side with Jonathan baffle me. Steve isn't really competing ; Jonathan is. Because he feels threatened. And why does he feel threatened ? Because his relationship with Nancy is actually in trouble. You guys just love ignoring that fact.

Sorry, but during the car scene, Steve was right. If Jonathan focused more on Nancy, their relationship would surely be better.

Also... to everyone who said that Jancy's relationship wasn't based on shared trauma... The show literally had Murray say it.

Seriously, the fact that Steve essentially suggested to Jonathan that they pick flowers for Nancy together on the road proves to me that he doesn't have any real competition in mind.

Oh, and for those people complaining that Steve is apparently acting like he did in season 1... No ? He's just a little immature, but that's nothing new, is it? Even if he's grown, he's always had flaws, hasn't he ? And that's nothing compared to season 1 ?

Let me remind you, they're still teenagers. It's normal that they don't act completely like adults, especially when it comes to matters of the heart.

Adults don't always handle important things well, so what about teenagers? Calm down.

text:

Dear Nancy,

I want you to know I really like you! I think about you all the time and can't help but look at your beautiful face during passing period. You aren't like the other girls and I'd study science every day if it meant I could spend more time with you.

I love you Nancy, and hope you feel the same.