Stranger Things Season 2 threw together some unexpectedly dynamic duos, creating delightful new pairings that helped highlight the show’s emotional themes of friends and family. No matter how intense things get when it comes to the dark powers of the Upside Down, the series hinges on friendships and friend groups and these relationship dynamics are what makes the show standout...besides all the nostalgia evoking 80's reference. So, which was your favorite pairing in Season 2. Rank and share your rankings with your friends and family!
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Steve and Dustin are this season's MVPs. Their blossoming bromance plays out as literal brotherly love, with Steve unexpectedly taking on the role of older sibling and mentor to Dustin. He gives Dustin advice on his love life and even reveals his secret hair care routine. Both characters saw great character arc this season, with Dustin from just being a comic relief to having one of the most emotional stories of the season and Steve breaking out of the “jerky jock” mold of last season and becoming a mature adult.
The heartwarming chemistry between Dad Hopper and Eleven has won the fans over, As much as we loved Chief Hopper schooling Eleven as best he could and spoiling her with Eggos, the most powerful scenes between them might have been their fights, which felt pretty much like typical frustrated teenager / parent screaming matches. As a father who has lost his child and a child who never knew her real parents came together in this season, the authenticity in their relation dynamics made their bond one of the most rewarding of the series yet. Hopper realizing that Jane needed to go to the dance and see Mike was one of the best Dad moments maybe ever on TV. Image courtesy: Netflix
Even though Will is back in the real Hawkins, his experience in the Upside Down still haunts him. In fact, we witness the development of deeper relationship between Will and Upside Down as the Shadow Monster literally inhabit him as he tried to scream it away in his dark visions. From that point on, he was always split between two worlds. His connection to the monster even makes him an unwilling spy against his friends . It also made for one of the more emotional stories of the season, as Will continued to be pulled into that nightmare. Image Courtesy: Netflix
Sean Astin’s character Bob was the best thing that could happen to Joyce after everything she went through last season. The scenes of Joyce and Bob's awkwardly goofy courtship were some of the cutest moment on the show.The sweet and nerdy guy became one of the season’s saviors, as he laid down his life to save Joyce and the kids. Joyce was so upset over what happened (rightfully so) that she literally scorched her own son to ensure that Bob did not die in vain. Image courtesy: Netflix
Max was a great addition to the Geek group, but even greater was her rapport with Lucas. Their conversations about the truth of Will’s disappearance and their chat atop the school bus showed more than a crush, but the beginnings of a real friendship. It also led to some sweet moments like them holding hands and then later dancing together. Image courtesy: Netflix
Dustin discovered a tiny creature in the trash can, took him home and shared 3 Musketeers bar with his new pet before dubbing him d'Artagnan (Dart for short).Dart had a long journey from adorable polliwog to killer “Demodog. But Dart seemed to have recognized Dustin and didn't devour the little boy who fed him nougat while he was still the size of a tadpole at the first opportunity. Turns out that raising a tiny monster and feeding his candy can have surprising advantages when the world is seemingly coming to an end. Image courtesy: Netflix
The groundwork for this relationship was laid out in the first season and it came to fruition in the second installment of the show. In the wake of Barb's death, Nancy broke up with Steve and ended up with Jonathan during their quest to get Justice for Barb!. Nancy and Jonathan as a couple just feels right. Image courtesy: Netflix
While Dustin and Lucas are focused on impressing the new girl Max, Mike is more concerned with Will’s well-being and the freaky “episodes” that are preventing him from living a normal life. More than his other friends, Mike seems to sense that Will whose brain is being violently haunted by a shadow monster, needs him now more than ever. The sweet scene where the pair sits in the Wheeler basement and Will confides to Mike about his visions, speaks volumes of the sensitivity surrounding these two young characters. Mike knows Will is in a fragile state, so instead of harping on his own pain, he uses it to relate to Will and reassure him. No semblance of competition. No teasing. Just pure understanding. Image courtesy: Netflix
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