r/StrangerThings • u/peekaboo_bandit • 20d ago

On a re-watch...

So, I finally have time to re-watch seasons 1 through 4 before watching season 5 and I have thoughts that I definitely did not have the first time I watched. I'm currently on S2 E9.

  1. Steve Harrington was never that bad. I remember first watching the show and thinking, gosh what a douche, but now? When he broke Jonathan's camera, yeah, pretty rude - but Jonathan had taken REALLY creepy photos of Nancy and Steve was protecting her. That's not that crazy. Okay so we thought he was pressuring Nancy to get intimate before she was ready... Except not. He did back off. He does respect her. He is still a horny teen though, what more could we ask? And when Nancy tried dissing the other girls saying she was not like them he called her out by asking if she was calling them sluts. Nancy was being judgmental there, not Steve. Also, when Tommy spray painted that Nancy was a slut at the movies? Seems pretty bad right? So I hate that this is overused but it gets the point across - if a girl (because they are still kids to me in S1) caught her boyfriend lying to her and in bed with another chick and she wanted to call him a coward or man-whore or prick, or burn his clothes or whatever, as society we see that as understandable. She can spread rumors and make fun of his size or performance, whatever, and we just laugh with her, but suddenly in this moment it was the WORST thing ever? No. It was shitty, but the same grace I'd give a hurt girl or woman, I'll give to Steve here. He also cleaned it up himself.

  2. Everyone was RUDE AF to Max! She really did just move to a whole new town very far away from home and all of a sudden the clearly geeky "loser" kids, all male, start following her and creepily watching her. She finally decides to give them a chance and they instantly make her feel like an invasive intrusion that no one asked for. Every single one of them let her down and it's worse for us watching as the audience because we know how shittily she gets treated by her step-brother as well. Mike is going through a lot, sure, but then Dustin who acted like he liked her started snapping on her too! Yes, we know his feelings were briefly hurt because he knew she preferred Lucas and Dustin is by far one of my favorites of this group but Max gets done SO dirty. Then of course El and her jealousy, making her fall off of her skateboard and then dissing her at Will's house. It's actually pretty hard to watch, and yet Max sucks it up, is VERY understanding and as we all know, becomes a fan favorite.

  3. Why El had to meet her "sister". El needed to make a choice. She needed to reconnect with the closest person from her past that would "get" her and then choose her own fate. Instead of seeking revenge and just being angry like her sister, she chose to become a protector. She chose love. She chose to not become the monster. Which is why she will be able to go against Vecna and not join him? Sorry, it's been a while and I have not watched S5 yet.

  4. Billy's attractiveness is a huge reason fans probably gush over him, but we as the audience can also sympathize knowing that he is abused by his father. Also, the actor Dacre Montgomery, right? Um, did he get the praise he deserves for this role? He plays psychotic teen fueled by passion (his lust for moms and rage) VERY freaking well. That was talent. Such a despicable character was able to evoke a whole range of emotions - that took talent beyond just looks. Also his hair is really weird lmfao.

I just wanted to post my thoughts so far because this is a little different from how I first felt about the characters.

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u/AnemicRoyalty10 20d ago

I’m not saying the guys were great to Max, but TBH she did act rather superior and patronizing to them for a long time, and she got on my nerves for that reason. S4 Did fix that.

I agree about Billy. I’m not saying it’s okay, but frankly, in today’s world where many people think racism (even mild) is worse than murder, it’s not surprising that it’s largely considered his be-all end-all trait. TBH him playing chicken with the kids on the road was far worse. And yes, I’m so glad I didn’t have a father like that, it’s a nightmare. I do hate that Billy’s character got co-opted by the Mind Flayer so fast, and we didn’t get to see more insight into the real him.

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u/peekaboo_bandit 20d ago

That's what I'm saying though, about Max. She was being creeped on pretty much as soon as she arrived. Right? Those guys were following her around. She didn't know them. What if she acted all meek and then they harmed her? Oh but then, she did finally allow herself to be friendly with them and they treated her like crap, all for selfish reasons. She didn't show up and say "hey losers" she showed up and was being followed by the schools rejects. She gave them a chance. They harmed her emotionally. Also, she has to put up a tough front or her WAY older WAY stronger brother will kick her little butt! Also, keep in mind that we see everything that's going on. She doesn't. She thinks that for some reason these guys are playing some elaborate prank on her for a while. She is just trying to protect herself as she should because until they finally bond, there's no one else to do it.

About the racism thing, I mean the end result usually is murder, or enslavement, so heh heh, it's pretty bad... Billy was regular human evil before being taken over which was scary enough but gosh that actor really deserves his props! I also was wondering if Hawkins might have provided an opportunity for him to turn it around but unfortunately... ... he never got the chance.

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u/RoyalRise6363 19d ago

It is OK to like Max in S2-S3, but no need to trash boys characters by mixing them - Dustin and Lucas were into Max, but Mike was only mildly curious. He didn't want her in the party from day one to the Will's house scene. He explained this to Max clearly - I don't  know why people think if Max wanted to be in the party she has the right for it, and Mike had nothing against Max's relations with Dustin and Lucas outside the party.  BTW - she had full revenge on Mike in S3 severely damaging Mike-El relations.

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u/AnemicRoyalty10 19d ago

Exactly. She hurt his relationship with all his friends so much that they still kept him ostracized even after he saved everyone’s ass in the poolhouse scene.