Stranger Things’ First Happy Ending Ruined 2 Of Its Best Characters

Entertainment

Stranger Things gave its first happy ending to Jonathan Byers and Nancy Wheeler, but in doing so, ruined two of the show’s best characters. Audiences rejoiced when the pair made their relationship official in the show’s second season and were excited to see what else was in store for the couple. Unfortunately, their newspaper subplot in Stranger Things season 3 made little impact, and viewers were left wondering what happened to Jonathan and Nancy as both a couple and separate characters.

The pair first became close in Stranger Things season 1 while investigating the disappearance of Jonathan’s younger brother Will and Nancy’s best friend Barb and quickly proved themselves to be a formidable duo, capable of uncovering government conspiracies and hunting down monsters. Shy loner Jonathan and savvy girl-next-door Nancy were a clear homage to the couples of 80s teen movies. Although Nancy initially pursued bully-turned-hero Steve Harrington, it was clear that she was destined to be with Jonathan. Season 3 should have been their strongest season yet, but instead, Stranger Things failed Jonathan, Nancy, and their romance

Related: Stranger Things: Why Jonathan Takes Photos Of Nancy & Steve In Season 1

Jonathan and Nancy’s relationship has always been built on “shared trauma,” and Stranger Things season 3 was the perfect opportunity to explore how they function as a couple outside of that. The miscommunications and misunderstandings that took place once the two were put into a more grounded environment were realistic, and the situation could have made their relationship stronger than ever. Instead, the fight was left unresolved. They admitted that they didn’t understand where the other was coming from. While Jonathan apologized to Nancy, it was for being wrong about her story, not diminishing the misogyny she faced. Nancy made no apologies for making light of Jonathan’s financial struggles. The two reconciled just in time for Jonathan and his family to leave Hawkins at the end of Stranger Things season 3. The sentiment of “shared trauma” was brought up once again, but the season left viewers wondering if there was anything else keeping the couple together, or if their happy ending was based solely on something so unhappy.


Stranger Things Jonathan And Nancy

Unfortunately for the couple, the show’s format makes it difficult to explore every aspect of their relationship. Each Stranger Things season has ended with an epilogue set a month after the main events, and there have been six months to year-long gaps between seasons. While these time jumps work for the show’s larger plots, it has the opposite effect on the relationships between the characters. Audiences are told, not shown, the story of Jonathan and Nancy, and it makes their relationship feel unnatural. The pair are forced to spend entire seasons together to counteract this, isolated from everyone else. Jonathan is failed even further by this forced storytelling technique, as it isolates him from his mother, Joyce, and brother, Will. The Byers family was the heart of the show in the first season, and many of Jonathan’s best moments came from his dedication to helping Joyce and saving Will. By ignoring them in favor of Nancy, it’s easy to forget those positive attributes, particularly when he’s placed in a seemingly pointless plot.

Stranger Things season 4 will separate Jonathan and Nancy for the first time since the show’s beginning, making it the perfect opportunity to explore who they’ve become outside of each other. Being away from each other could help remind them what they’re missing without the other person, and why they made such a good team in the first place. Unfortunately, it could also confirm the worst fears for people who love the couple: that Jonathan and Nancy are better apart, and giving them a happy ending so early in the show ruined what made them great.

More: Stranger Things Just Spoiled A Heartbreaking Season 4 Twist


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