‘Stranger Things 4’ and The Evolution of the Unexpected Friendship Between Robin and Nancy
This article contains spoilers for Stranger Things 4, Volume 1.
This year’s new chapter of Stranger Things is scarier and more mature than ever. The Duffer brothers with Shawn Levy and Nimròd Antal introduce new characters, further develop the ones we know, and bestow upon us seemingly unlikely friendships as the group battles the new monster, spread across Hawkins, California, and even Utah (hello, Susie!). One of the most unexpected friendships that develops to the delight of viewers is between Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer) and Robin Buckley (Maya Hawke). It’s also one of the show’s aspects that catches the eye as we cheer on the journey of everybody involved.
It’s been a few months since the legendary Battle of Starcourt transpired and Billy sacrificed his life to save the residents of Hawkins, including Max (Sadie Sink), his stepsister. The gang we know and love is now split between Indiana and California. Will (Noah Schnapp), Joyce (Winona Ryder), Jonathan (Charlie Heaton), and Eleven, aka Jane (Millie Bobby Brown), navigate their lives in a new state, while Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin), Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo), Mike (Finn Wolfhard), and Max starting high school in good ol’ Hawkins. There, the boys join The Hellfire Club led by Eddie (Joseph Quinn), while Max cannot shake the loss of her brother. But soon, a new danger awaits. Vecna, the monster straight from Upside Down takes us back to the beginning of it all—The Hawkins Lab massacre.
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Although Stranger Things 4 Vol. 1 focuses largely on Max’s curse and introduction of Vecna, it also delivers many other aspects of the show that the audience can be passionate about. With Volume 2 of the show premiering on July 1st with the two longest episodes of the Netflix Original Series in history, we have plenty of time to delve into the narrative of the fourth installment and appreciate all supporting characters. For example, a new addition to the plot is Jonathan’s stoner friend, Argyle (Eduardo Franco). But one of the best character developments lies in the unique and quite unexpected friendship between Nancy and Robin.
With the group split, the older kids, including Nancy, Steve (Joe Keery), and Robin, join the Hellfire Club fellows to solve the mystery of brutal killings taking place in Hawkins. Even though society blames Eddie (hello, he plays D&D in the 80s, he must be possessed by Satan and make human sacrifices, right?), the characters know the truth about what’s happening; something dark and brutal from Upside Down somehow got through to their world. The threat is even more personal than before. The characters have to unavoidably split to investigate many different aspects of the case. Therefore, Robin bands with Nancy to examine one of them — the case of a mysterious Victor Creel (Robert Englund), the only known survivor of Vecna who may be able to help Max.
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In perhaps the best, most emotionally-charged episodes of Stranger Things 4, Volume 1, titled “Dear Billy,” the girls travel to the Pennhurst asylum to meet with Creel. The aforementioned man has been locked away for allegedly murdering his family. The entirety of the scenes that include interactions between Robin and Nancy is one of the most precious moments of this year’s Stranger Things. The audience can notice an initial tension and maybe even awkwardness stemming from both Nancy and Robin. The oldest Wheeler is suspicious of a newcomer, especially Robin’s close bond with Steve. It’s quite amusing to see, especially knowing what we know about Robin. She’s head over hills with the girl from her school band and has no interest in Steve.
Hawke’s character tries her clumsy best to assure of her clear intentions, not wanting to antagonize someone so important in Steve’s life. It’s evident that Robin is very anxious about being in the presence of Nancy, which is reflected in the way she stutters. We could even go as far as say that Nancy is even dry and cold towards her, which doesn’t make the trip easier. But the journey to Pennhurst asylum is a pinnacle moment in the evolution of their eventual friendship.
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Everybody knows that one of the best parts of any quest is a dress-up. Prior to the mission, Nancy gives Robin and herself a makeover; from a tomboy-ish high schooler, Buckley, dressed in a long skirt, a nice blouse, and hair styled, may very well be a college student writing a dissertation on Victor Creel. The consecutive scenes showcasing the girls getting prepared to go undercover evolve into something out of The Silence of The Lambs. It’s certain that the reference is a homage and a wink at the audience. Whether intentional or not, it’s a masterpiece to watch Nancy and Robin slowly walking toward Victor’s cell as other inmates are yelling and whistling. “Must be one of his moods,” the guard says when they get to Victor, who doesn’t initially acknowledge them.
Their cooperation in this specific scene is also very important for another reason. As we see the characters lying through their teeth, stumbling but eventually succeeding in getting to Creel, the narrative reveals the true story behind the murders and a real perpetrator that directly connects to the present. Their Silence-Of-The-Lambs-like adventure ends with them running away from the guards and driving off furiously as Robin yells: “Holy shit! Holy shit! Holy shit!” in very Robin style. At the same time, Nancy replies, “You really are a weird runner.”
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Ultimately, the characters cement their relationship when stuck in the Upside Down after finding a portal underwater, graciously calling it Watergate. The duo showcases great bravery as they jump into the freezing water and through the portal to save Steve from evil, bloodthirsty, bird-like monsters in the final episode of Stranger Things Season 4, Volume 1, “The Massacre at Hawkins Lab”. That’s when Nancy fully opens up to Robin about her issues with Jonathan and her ambivalent feelings towards Steve. It’s touching, especially when remembering that she lost Barb, her best friend, and has never had a new close female friend. Thankfully, that’s about to change as she finds a new friend in Robin.
We’re yet to know how their relationship advances. The creators have much runtime to successfully conclude the fourth installment, satisfying the viewers’ appetite. When it comes to Nancy and Robin, it would be quite exciting and significant to see Hawke’s character further open about her sexuality as Nancy further expresses her issues with Jonathan.
We can easily agree that the friendship between Robin and Steve is one of a kind and an aspect that certainly attracted the audience before. But the unlikely and unexpected bond between Hawke’s character and Nancy has the power to charm us from the very beginning. It can also have a quite empowering feeling as we see them unite and contribute to the battle for Hawkins, their friends, and their families.
Stranger Things Season 4, Volume 1 is now streaming on Netflix.
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