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Some more soft Lumax content 🙏🏽
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Random Incorrect Stranger Things Quotes,
𝗟𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘀: Guess what I’m about to get!!
𝗠𝗮𝘅: On my nerves.
Mike: Shut up, You’re messing with my train of thought!
Max: I thought you didn’t have a brain, And now you tell me you have thoughts?
Will: You have to apologize to them Mike.
Mike: Fine! But I will warn you, this might make me a better, nicer person and that is NOT the person you fell in love with.
Steve: You guys don’t know about my knife stick. It’s a knife taped to a stick and it’s the ultimate weapon.
Eddie: Spear?
Steve: BLOCKED
Nancy: I owe you one.
Steve: That’s okay. You can just date me and we’ll call it even.
Steve: If I punch myself and it hurts, am I strong, Or weak?
Max: Strong
Robin: Weak
Nancy: An idiot, is what you are.
Mike: Can I bother you for a second?
Will: You're always bothering me, but go ahead.
Max: You have an impressive pain tolerance.
Will: Thanks, it's the trauma.
Max: Your future self is talking shit about you right now.
Will: Jokes on them. I'll ruin their fucking life.
Stranger Things As Songs From Speak Now (Taylor's Version)
This is my magnum opus. Should I do 1989?
Castles Crumbling - Steve Harrington
"Once, I had an empire in a golden age I was held up so high, I used to be great They used to cheer when they saw my face Now, I fear I have fallen from grace
And I feel like my castle's crumbling down And I watch all my bridges burn to the ground And you don't want to know me I will just let you down You don't wanna know me now"
The first time I heard Castles Crumbling I immediately thought of “King Steve” and Steve’s quiet identity crisis. Steve has undergone this simultaneously tragic and liberating fall from grace. He constantly wants to show people that he’s good and valuable despite him not claiming the title he once had. He’s burned bridges with Tommy and Carol and everyone from the part of his life he’s no longer proud of. While personally he may be fulfilled with his new life he is aware that he is perceived as a failure. He had the entire world gift wrapped for him and still found a way to tear it all down.
Nancy Wheeler & Jonathan Byers - Mine
"Do you remember, we were sittin' there by the water? You put your arm around me for the first time You made a rebel of a careless man's careful daughter You are the best thing that's ever been mine
Flash forward, and we're takin' on the world together And there's a drawer of my things at your place You learn my secrets and you figure out why I'm guarded You say we'll never make my parents' mistakes"
Mine is their song! It’s Nancy and Jonathan at their best. Especially in the early seasons both of them are very emotionally guarded but learn to open up to each other. In season 1 they both talk about not wanting to become their parents, wanting to stop the cycle of resentment and conventionality. Their relationship is almost defined by hardship, growing more intimate and personal the more they take on together. In their relationship it's them against the world especially because they are an unconventional pairing. They both have insecurities and baggage but ultimately they are there for each other and are better people for it (You can pry Jancy out my cold, dead hands).
Max Mayfield & Lucas Sinclair - Last Kiss
"I still remember the look on your face Lit through the darkness at 1:58 The words that you whispered for just us to know You told me you loved me So why did you go away?"
"Because I love your handshake, meeting my father I love how you walk with your hands in your pockets How you'd kiss me when I was in the middle of saying something There's not a day I don't miss those rude interruptions
And I'll go Sit on the floor wearing your clothes All that I know is I don't know How to be something you miss
I never thought we'd have a last kiss I never imagined we'd end like this Your name, forever the name on my lips
So I'll watch your life in pictures like I used to watch you sleep And I feel you forget me like I used to feel you breathe And I'll keep up with our old friends just to ask them how you are Hope it's nice where you are"
This song can be read as two sided but I primarily see it from Lucas’ perspective, particularly in the time of his and Max’s breakup. This song is about being crushed by the sudden end of relationship while still having allegiance to the person that left. Lucas is very compassionate and still worried about Max ever after their breakup. He didn’t care if she ever was with him again, only that she was safe and happy again. On Max’s side it crushes her to keep the distance between them and she’s haunted by the memories of their love and the sheer fact that Lucas is a good person who still loves her. They both wonder how much of the others life they missed and if things could’ve been different.
Nancy Wheeler & Steve Harrington - Back to December
"So this is me swallowin' my pride Standin' in front of you sayin' I'm sorry for that night And I go back to December all the time It turns out freedom ain't nothin' but missin' you Wishin' I'd realized what I had when you were mine I'd go back to December, turn around and make it alright I go back to December all the time"
"And then the cold came, the dark days When fear crept into my mind You gave me all your love and all I gave you was goodbye."
While I am not a fan of the weird Stancy revival plot in season 4, this song really captures Steve's feelings towards Nancy. He deeply regrets the person he was when they were together and tells her that he didn't know what he had when he had it. She fundamentally changed him (which is why we should ALL be thanking Nancy for creating the Steve we know and love), and Steve wishes he could redo their relationship. The last line could also reflect Nancy's potential guilt about the way their relationship ended and her inability to reciprocate Steve's love because of her trauma and Barb's death. Also "I'm sorry for that night" is the night of the Halloween party. I don't make the rules. (Also Also Steve and Nancy dated for A YEAR that is so unfathomable to me :I)
El Hopper & Mike Wheeler & Will Byers - Superman
"I wonder if he knows how much that I miss him I hang on every word that you say And you smile and say, "How are you?" I'll say, "Just fine" I always forget to tell you I love you, I love you forever"
"I watch superman fly away You've got a busy day today Go save the world, I'll be around And I watch superman fly away Come back, I'll be with you someday I'll be right here on the ground When you come back down"
Superman can be interpreted from three different perspectives. Mike to El, El to Mike, and Will to Mike. In season 4 Mike reaffirms his love for El by saying that she is his superhero. Her strength is the thing that he admires most about her and he is constantly in awe at her power. The line “I’ve loved you from the very first day” parallels Mike saying that he loved her from the moment he saw her. He even voices his insecurities about her leaving him behind once she realizes that he’s not anything special.
El has the complete opposite perspective, seeing herself as the unworthy one. Because Mike is the first person who ever extended kindness to El, she believes that he is the best person alive and is incredibly lucky to have him. El and Mike see the other as their Superman.
From Will’s perspective Mike is his Superman. He is the leader, the heart, the paladin, and the great hero. He idolizes Mike in way which is why is rejection hurts so much. He wishes the cards were from Mike. That Mike knew how much Will reveres him. In his case, “I’ve loved you from the very first day” could be about the first day he and Mike met in kindergarten.
Will Byers & Mike Wheeler - Foolish One
"Foolish one Stop checkin' your mailbox for confessions of love That ain't never gonna come You will take the long way, you will take the long way down Foolish one Stop checkin' your mailbox for confessions of love That ain't never gonna come You will learn the hard way instead of just walkin' out
Now I'm slidin' down the wall with my head in my hands Sayin', "How could I not see the signs?" Oh, you haven't written me or called But goodbye screamin' in the silence And the voices in my head are tellin' me why"
The accuracy of this one hurts. I think the lyrics are self explanatory but the song reflects the anguish Will feels over Mike’s friendship and love slipping away.
Joyce Byers & Jim Hopper - Timeless
"I would've read your love letters every single night And prayed to God you'd be comin' home all right And you would've been fine We would have been timeless 'Cause I believe that we were supposed to find this So, even in a different life, you still would've been mine We would've been timeless"
"In a crowded room a few short years ago And sometimes there's no proof, you just know You're always gonna be mine We're gonna be I'm gonna love you when our hair is turnin' gray We'll have a cardboard box of photos of the life we've madeAnd you'll say, 'Oh my, we really were timeless'"
Timeless is an affirmation that no matter how many times they are separated and torn apart, Joyce and Hopper will find each other. It's also about them wanting to stop dealing with interdimensional threats to their families and have a normal life together and live to see the other get old.
what is the most insane line in stranger things and why is it "but i see you now. i see you."
shut up, the stupid fictional gay people in my phone make me happy
“this ship isn’t canon” to YOU. I, however, am delusional
Heart On Your Sleeve Part 10
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9
-----
The town is a wreck, but there's still space for them at the hospital.
Nancy recognizes a few of the doctors - ones who know about the Upside Down - and they're all whisked away into two private rooms. One for Eddie, and one for Max.
Steve is stuck with Eddie. He hates thinking of it like that, because he wants to be with Eddie, but he wants to be with Max, too. He wants to prowl back and forth between them, like his presence will make any difference.
But Eddie's heart is still in his chest, and while the doctor had praised his quick thinking in helping his friend, it's too risky to have Eddie's heart far away from his body while he's healing.
So Steve's in the chair next to his bed, hooked up to the heart monitor and listening to the faint but steady sound of Eddie's heart as he feels it beat in his own chest.
Dustin and Robin go back and forth, one of them always with him and the other giving updates when they come to switch out.
It's Dustin in the chair next to his now, and he feels the echo of his own heart next to Dustin's, knows the kid must be feeling what he is - and probably a little bit of Eddie's, too.
Three hearts, all entwined. Robin could make something poetic from that, he thinks.
All he can do is let Dustin pillow his head on his shoulder, press his hand to his own chest and think come back to us.
Eddie's hand twitches.
Steve jolts up, reaching for it automatically.
“Steve?” Eddie asks, even though his eyes are closed and his expression hasn't changed. “Dustin?”
Dustin makes some kind of strangled noise, fumbling for Eddie's other hand. “Can he feel us?”
“I've got his heart, and you've got mine, so yeah, he has to, right?” Steve asks, aware he sounds a little desperate and not really caring.
“Come on, Eddie,” Dustin pleads. “You have to wake up, okay?”
Eddie wakes up.
—
“I should have died in there.”
Steve feels his jaw tense. “No, you shouldn't have.”
“No, I meant - doc says I would have died, if you hadn't taken my heart,” Eddie says.
Oh.
“I know,” Steve admits. “That's why I asked for it.”
Eddie exhales, long and slow. “Where'd you learn that?”
“Eighth grade science,” Steve replies, shooting a little grin at him.
Eddie gives a surprised little laugh. “Seriously?”
“Eh, kind of.” Steve considers for a moment. He's never talked about this with anyone, but - “My parents used to lock their hearts in a safe in my dad's study at night. When I was little, and I got upset at them leaving, they told me they put their hearts in there when they went on trips, too, and I had to stay behind to watch over them.”
Eddie looks at him, soft and tender. Steve'd think it was pity, if it wasn't for Eddie's heart in his chest. It's just sad, and a little angry.
“I told Mr. Clarke about that, and he said it was hogshit.”
Eddie snorts. “Mr. Clarke said hogshit?”
“Who's telling this story?” Steve retorts, then laughs when Eddie mimes zipping his lips closed and throwing away the key.
“It was hogshit,” Steve continues. “But then he told us that people could survive potentially fatal injuries with heart exchanges. Then, after Starcourt…”
He trails off, not sure how to say it.
“Robin told me a little,” Eddie admits. “That it was the Russians and the Upside Down, and you let yourself get caught to cover for Dustin and Erica. That you tried to draw attention away from her.”
Oh.
That makes him sound more heroic than the moment felt, but at least it also makes this easier.
“The Russian spies, they had this thing that could open your chest. They didn't believe I was telling the truth, so they took my heart out.”
Eddie reaches out to take his hand, squeezing it tight. There's a faint trickle of horror and guilt and affection, and he knows that Eddie's put it together with the changes in his heart.
“I healed a lot faster because we were doing heart exchanges,” he finishes. “So I figured it'd keep you safe.”
Eddie's grip on his hand tightens. “I really am sorry,” he mutters. “About last summer. After - after that, you needed a friend, and I just left.”
Steve licks his lips, considering his response for a moment, before he goes with honesty. “I had friends. I had Robin and the kids, and they were enough. I didn't really need anything else. But - I wanted you.”
Eddie looks at him, and Steve can feel - hesitation, uncertainty, does he really want me?
“Eddie,” Steve says, slow and thoughtful. “I don't want you because I'm lonely, or I have no one else. Maybe there was a part of that when it first started, but - I'm okay, I'm happy. I want you because of you, not just because I want anyone.”
Shock filters through Eddie so hard that Steve feels it like an almost physical blow.
His heart aches.
He doesn't have to ask if that's something that Eddie hasn't been told before - he knows it already.
“I'm not letting you go,” Steve tells him, only because Eddie's heart is still beating in his chest and he's confident it will be well received. “Not this time.”
“I can live with that,” Eddie says, only a little shaky.
—
Dustin takes a turn swapping hearts with Eddie, and Steve heads immediately for Max's room.
Lucas is there, sitting by her bed and holding her hand.
“Hey,” Steve says softly, pulling up a chair to sit next to him. “How's she doing?”
“Same,” Lucas says flatly. “But she's in there, I can feel it.”
“You can feel it?” Steve asks.
“We swapped before - before. Just in case. To give her another tether to the real world.”
Shit, that was a great idea. It gives him more hope, and he sags a little in his chair.
“Jesus, you kids are smart,” Steve says, impressed.
Lucas looks at him funny. “We learned that from you, Steve.”
He doesn't really think that's true, considering he learned it from them just as much, but he lets it be, just gripping the back of Lucas's neck and giving him a little squeeze.
Lucas unwinds, just a little bit, and Steve gets a better look at him - notices his swollen eye, his puffy jaw, and feels a cold surge of rage.
He waits for a moment to let the worst of it pass, then asks, “Swap?”
Lucas looks over at him, clearly hesitant.
“The three of us are kind of banged up,” Steve says. “Figure it can't hurt to have more heart power at work here.”
Lucas snorts. “Heart power?”
“Heart power,” Steve confirms, radiating as much confidence as possible.
He's not sure if it works, but Lucas does open his chest up and carefully pull out Max's heart. Steve's extra gentle as he swaps them, tucking her heart into his chest.
It's immediate, what Lucas was talking about. There's only the faintest sense of Max, and an equally faint sense of a fear and guilt and love that he recognizes as Lucas - the residual of what Max is feeling from him, he guesses. Even stranger is an echo he can feel of his own emotions - from him to Lucas to Max and back to him again, apparently.
“Huh,” he says, at the same time Lucas goes, “Woah.”
They sit there, together, and Steve must fall asleep at some point because the next thing he knows, there's the shifting of a chair as Lucas jumps up. Steve startles, only to see El and Will and Mike come flooding in. They sweep Lucas into a hug, and Steve watches them hold on, clinging and desperate.
Eventually, they peel apart, and El goes to Max's side, taking her hand. Her eyes close for a long while, then open again, looking sad.
“I can't reach her,” she whispers. “Not even with my powers back.”
“She's there, though, right? I can still feel her,” Lucas says.
El's brow furrows.
“Max and Lucas swapped before this happened,” Steve explains. “To keep her tethered here, so Vecna couldn't take her.”
Mike frowns. “Vecna?”
“One,” El says, which - okay, yeah, clearly there's a story there, but not the time. She holds her hands out to Lucas. “May I swap?”
Lucas looks over at Steve, and he takes Max's heart out and offers it to her.
“We figured the more helping, the better,” Lucas says.
El exchanges her heart for Max's, looking thoughtful. It's an even bigger rush, with El in the mix, and - even though Max's heart isn't in his chest anymore, he can feel the echo of her even more clearly.
Lucas sucks in a breath. “It's working,” he says. “She's stronger.”
“The more, the better,” El says thoughtfully.
“Eddie woke up from me and him and Dustin sharing,” Steve says, the realization coming over him. “I mean, it wasn't a real circle, but he was just regularly unconscious, not creepy wizard unconscious.”
El looks at Mike, who immediately turns on his heel and leaves. He comes back a few minutes later, with Dustin and Robin and Erica.
“We made Nancy and Jonathan and Argyle stay with Eddie,” Mike announces.
“Uh, yeah, do you want to tell us why?” Dustin asks.
El's eyes flash. “We're going to get Max back.”
Hearts change hands quicker than Steve can keep track of, but in the end, no one has their own heart in their chest. It's an avalanche of emotion that Steve can't make out - so much it’s almost overwhelming - until he feels something like a guiding hand, firm and insistent.
“Max,” El whispers.
Steve turns his thoughts completely on Max, focusing on her - on taking her to the arcade, on the skate park, on her hanging out in his kitchen as they cook dinner. One by one, everyone's emotions start to take focus - on how Max makes them feel, how much they care, how they need her here.
Max's eyes open.
—
They set up another rotation schedule, this time for Max, who looks a little shell shocked and overwhelmed by all the attention.
“Did you think we wouldn't do this for you?” Steve asks quietly when it's his turn, when Lucas and El are sleeping and it's just him and Max awake in her room.
She doesn't answer for a while, but he can feel her conflicted confusion and then unsteady acceptance.
“No,” she says after a while. “I knew you guys would.”
He breathes out, and they sit in silence for a bit.
“Did you read my letter?” she asks, purposefully not looking at him.
“Nah. You said it was just in case, and there wasn't going to be an in case. We weren't going to let Vecna have you.” He manages to keep his voice steady, though he knows she can feel the edge of the fear he'd had for her. “I wanted to hear what was in it from you.”
She makes a face, and he thinks she isn't going to tell him, but then she blurts out, “I said I wished you were my brother, not Billy.”
Oh.
His stomach drops out, and there's a rush of vertigo that leaves him breathless for a moment, but - not in a bad way.
He doesn't know how to respond to that, other than, “I am your brother.”
She scoffs. “It doesn't work like that.”
“Sure it does,” he counters, growing confident. “Billy was your brother just because of a piece of paper your parents signed, right?”
She frowns, finally looking at him again. “Yeah, I guess.”
“So what's stopping us?” He taps his chest, over where her heart beats. “We have each other's hearts. We'll always be family.”
Max looks away again, then, very quietly, says, “Okay.”
—
“Heard you call Max your sister when you were talking to the doctor earlier,” Eddie says.
Steve feels a little smile tug at his lips as he takes Eddie's hand. It grows when Eddie laces their fingers together.
“You know Dustin's going to throw a fit when he hears it, and insist that you were his brother first, right?” Eddie teases.
“Of course he is.” Steve rolls his eyes. “Welcome to my family. You sure you still want to stick around?”
He's joking, but Eddie's expression goes soft and contemplative.
“Welcome to your family, huh? You planning a proposal soon, big boy?” Eddie asks softly.
Steve's mouth goes dry. He thinks he should say something - anything - but nothing comes out.
“Swap?” Eddie asks, after a few minutes.
Steve's not sure if someone told him or if he figured it out himself, and part of him wants to ask Eddie if he's sure, but he decides to take Eddie at his word. He opens his chest up, holding out his heart.
Eddie copies him, and - it's his first real look at Eddie's heart. There's silver lines all over it, delicate scars mottling its surface, but it's almost as deep red as Steve's still is.
“Oh,” Steve breathes once Eddie's heart is safely tucked inside his chest again.
There's a love there so strong he almost doesn't know what to do with it - isn't sure if it's Eddie's or his for a moment before he realizes it's both of them feeding off each other.
“Yeah,” Eddie says quietly.
Steve lifts Eddie's hand up, presses a kiss to his knuckles. “I know what I want my future to look like,” Steve admits. “And I want you in it.”
Eddie swallows, and Steve can feel an edge of trepidation before it solidifies into something sharp and determined. “Okay.”
“Okay?” Steve asks.
“I'm sticking around, this time,” Eddie confirms. “For good.”
“Okay,” Steve agrees.
He knows it's a risk, but - right now, they're alone, and so he leans in to seal the promise their hearts are making with a kiss.
-----
And that's the final part for now! I do have a sequel planned down the road for what happens after they get out of the hospital, folding Eddie into the heart sharing and settling Eddie and Steve and Robin into a trio - I plan on using the tag "hearts out steddie" if anyone would like to follow it for when it comes out!
Thank you so much to everyone who commented, reblogged, liked, or otherwise interacted with this! Everyone's reactions were so amazing, and I really love reading your thoughts!!
Final taglist: @fairytalesreality @lostonceandneverfound @wheneverfeasible @awkwardgravity1 @theintrovertedintrovert @thewickedkat @ravenfrog @scarlet-malfoy @missmagillicuddy @xxfiction-is-my-realityxx @ollyxar @cringe-culture-is-dead-99 @thedragonsaunt @makewavesandwar @cryptid-system @ajeff855 @mae-liz @the-fantastical-asexual @jettestar @warlordess @persnicketysquares @samsoble @my-love-of-books @mydysfunctionallife @dreamercec @holyangelstudentuniverse @breealtair @shunna @xtraordinarally @thatdamnfan @justalittledrainbamage @strangerfolks @disrespectedgoatman @amber-ambience @anxietyfulloption @thepossummoldypasta @irregular-child @th30ra3k3n @powdeeee @theohohmoment @5ammi90 @ominous-pool-light @beeeeeeeeeeeeeeens @rebellatlas @blackpanzy
Eleven: Mike, spell ‘perfect’
Mike: E-L-E-V-E-N
Lucas: Aww that’s sweet
Lucas: Max, spell ‘perfect’
Max: M-A-X
✨ Max and Lucas 💕
the superior Stranger Things couple, obviously
You’re such a dork. I thought you were, like, one of the cool kids now? I’m not cool?
MAX MAYFIELD and LUCAS SINCLAIR STRANGER THINGS 4.05 “Chapter Five: The Nina Project”
No one asked but I did this on Twitter & Insta so here’s my Speak Now TV songs that remind me of my fave ships/characters 🫶
Mine - Ronance
I fell in love with a careless man’s careful daughter, she is the best thing that’s ever been mine
Sparks Fly - Ronance
You’re the kinda reckless that should send me running but I kinda know that I won’t get far
Back to December - Lumax
Wish I’d realised what I had when you were mine, I’d go back to December and make it alright
The Story of Us - S4 Jancy
This is looking like a contest, of who can act like they care less, but I liked it better when you were on my side
Enchanted - Ronance & Jancy
These are the words I held back as I was leaving too soon, I was Enchanted to meet you. Please don’t be in love with someone else
Long Live - Byler
Long live all the mountains we moved, I had the time of my life fighting dragons with you
Ours - Ronance
And it’s not theirs to speculate if it’s wrong, your hands are tough but they are where mine belong, and I’ll fight their doubt and give you faith with this song for you
Superman - Byler
And I’ll be okay, I always forget to tell you I love you, I loved you from the very first day
Electric Touch - Ronance
All I know is this could either break my heart or bring it back to life, got a feelin’ your electric touch could fill this ghost town up with life
When Emma Falls in Love - Nancy
‘Cause she’s the kinda book that you can’t put down, like if Cleopatra grew up in a small town
I Can See You - Ronance
I’ve been watchin’ you for ages, and I spend my time tryin’ not to feel it, but what would you do if I went to touch you now? What would you do if they never found us out?
Castles Crumbling - Steve
They used to cheer when they saw my face, now I fear I have fallen from grace
Foolish One - Will/Byler
Oh, you haven’t written me or called but goodbye screamin’ in the silence. And the voices in my head are tellin’ me why, ‘cause you got her on your arm and me in the wings. I’ll get your longing glances, but she’ll get your ring
Timeless - Jopper
I’m gonna love you when our hair is turnin’ grey, we’ll have a cardboard box of photos of the life we’ve made and you’ll say “oh my, we really were timeless”
🥰🌸💌
Happy Valentine's Day! 🕊💞💌💘
my fav ships :)
I’m writing my first fully sad ending soon. No character revivals, no second chances, nothing. It’s the end of the series too. We’ll see how it lands
you can pry happy endings from my cold-dead hands. It can be the most heart stopping, gut wrenching fic that has every existed and I will read every drop of it if I get my happy ending. I have had enough painful endings in real life, give me happy in my fantasy world. It can be at the last second, it can be a single sentence, even a single word. Give me all the angst and hurt in the world for 500,000 words, but please give me the comfort I need in the ending. please and thank you.
mike “my boy’s mad at me. i hope i die” wheeler
vs
lucas “me and my girl don’t fight. she tells me shut up and i do.” sinclair
can you draw season two lumax?? 💗
I loveeeeee lumax :3
Also Ola embracing who they are
Like lowkey the drawings are right next to each other (to explain myself lumax endgame and Elmax headcanon but I would be happy with both as the endgame I’m saying lumax endgame bc el should be independent) :)
Gonna reblog this with more tags just bc I need requests plsss 🙏🙏🙏🙏
I’m bored and don’t know what to draw so I’m gonna do..
STRANGER THINGS ART REQUESTS :D
Cause I wanna draw stranger things but don’t know what just send me ideas in asks (idk what it’s supposed to be called)
Do we think the duffer brothers did this consciously or do they just default to music when writing characters in sync / out of sync? I wonder if there could be other parallels similar to this.
“The Chemistry Test” Theory
(How the Duffers demonstrate romantic AND platonic chemistry in Stranger Things’ relationships)
When one character starts singing, how does the other react? Are they in harmony?
(alternatively: do they match each others freak?)
“Chemistry” describes the emotional connection between two characters in a relationship. This can be either romantic, platonic, both, or neither.
We know that the Duffer brothers highlighted the importance of music in Stranger Things 4, so let’s look back on it’s uses in earlier seasons.
I’ve noticed a lot of parallels between scenes that focus on the relationship between two characters. One of these two characters will sing, and the other has one of two reactions:
Indulge in the fun
Try and shut it down
Depending on their reaction, we can conclude a lot about what the Duffers want to communicate about the chemistry between two characters.
So let’s look at 6 examples:
Exhibit A: Dustin and Suzie
https://youtu.be/ehtsmxu1w10?si=CGnKM5PubO5lC-V4
This - I think - is the most glaringly obvious example of how the Duffers like to demonstrate chemistry between two characters. Mostly because this scene is purposefully very memorable.
Dustin and Suzie have clearly sung this many times before, we know this because Dustin immediately knows what Suzie wants from him just from her saying “I want to hear it”
At first, he’s embarrassed - all of his friends are listening, friends who didn’t believe until now that Suzie even existed. He doesn’t want to sing it in front of them.
But when Suzie joins in, he’s actually able to forget about the danger they’re all in, he’s doesn’t care everyone is listening, he’s able to indulge. Because he loves Suzie, these moments bring him joy. They bring Suzie joy, too. Just look at this shot of them together, despite being states apart. Because they are in harmony, the distance between them doesn’t matter.
These two cutie patooties pass the chemistry test with flying colours.
Exhibit B: Max and Lucas
(Max and Lucas are presumably also in a relationship at this point in the series, and they don’t break up until after.)
As another couple, the two are mocking Dustin for his relationship - making kissy faces at him and calling him “Dusty-bun”.
However, whilst doing so, they are demonstrating their own chemistry - synchronous clapping, smiling at each other, holding eye contact. When they start singing the second time, they need nothing more than a look from the other before they start again from the same lyric.
Max and Lucas may not have the same romantic dynamic as Dustin and Suzie, after all no two couples are the same, but they will sing to make lighthearted fun at their friend.
It should also be noted that Max didn’t even hear Dustin’s original rendition, she had to hear about the whole ordeal from the others, I’ll wager Lucas sang it enough to Dustin that she picked up on it and joined in. She indulged in the fun.
If Lucas and Max did not have chemistry, Max would’ve been at most only slightly amused in Lucas’ mockery, but she would not have joined in on it (similar to Mike) and might have even told him to knock it off during the time skip if he continued doing it.
These two pass the chemistry test.
Exhibit C: Mike and Eleven
Might be time to start contrasting these examples to other scenes in the same season.
This is our first look at Mike and Eleven as an official couple - and what I would label as the start of their downfall.
(may make a whole post dedicated to this one scene because it speaks volumes about Mike and Els relationship and what the Duffers want us to take away from it in retrospect)
This scene is special because it’s not like the writers are trying to make it glaringly obvious that Mike and El are not a compatible couple. Rather, this scene is disguised as a cute (albeit slightly awkward) scene, hell - i thought it was cute when i first watched it (I was also, you know, 12, but whatever, I’m now 17 I have a very different idea of what romantic relationships actually look like).
It’s only later when we gather the other examples in this post and compare them we can start to see that somethings not quite right with these two cutie pies.
Even whilst they’re still kissing, Mike is pushing Els hands away from him - already not a good sign.
When he pulls away to sing, it’s because he wants a break from constant kissing. From my own experience, I can tell you that making out is very exhausting (especially when you don’t have a lot of chemistry with the person you’re locking lips with).
El reacts very quickly by covering his mouth, she calls his name to grab his attention, she tells him to stop, she gives him a look that just says “What are you doing?”. This is her trying to shut him down. She is not indulging in the fun, even though Mike is trying to make her - he shakes her and her arms, he maintains eye contact. He asks her if she likes it, and she says “No!”.
If the Duffers wanted to portray Mike and El as a couple with chemistry, a better way to portray that could have been to have them just sitting and reading their own respective magazines, when Mike sings, El could have smiled and bopped her head along despite likely not knowing the words. They could have demonstrated that the two enjoy each others company even when they’re not making out, that they are still close, and a kiss goodbye to make it clear to the audience they still have a romantic dynamic.
This scene doesn’t just not do that, it does the opposite. Mike and El are only interested in kissing. When they break up later, it’s for comedic relief.
These two unfortunately do not pass the chemistry test.
Now, due to the very thick romantic tone of this scene, we can conclude that Mike and El do not have romantic chemistry, but we cannot make any conclusions about their platonic chemistry.
What does platonic chemistry look like with Eleven, you ask?
Exhibit D: Max and Eleven
This example is slightly less noticeable, but this scene starts in Elevens room, a parallel to the previous example with Mike.
Max is singing along to the radio, much like Mike was, the only difference is Els reaction. Instead of trying to shut her down, she is bopping her head along to the music. She may not be singing along, but she is still indulging in Max’s behaviour, she’s having fun.
Max and Eleven have platonic chemistry.
Exhibit E: Steve and Nancy
Let’s now look at the very first example of this Chemistry Test the show gives us, way back in season one. It’s so small you may have missed it.
I think this is a very good example of how interactions like these are a two way street.
(For context, Steve is apologising to Nancy for his lack of empathy towards Barbs disappearance, and tries to invite her to a movie to take her mind off it all - note that Nancy is yet to verbally forgive Steve in this scene)
Nancy goes through a lot in the first season, I don’t doubt that even if her and Steve shared romantic chemistry, that she still wouldn’t be in the mood for a little sing song. But Steve still sings to her anyway, he hasn’t picked up on how distraught she is over Barbs disappearance, and how “pretending everything is normal” is not something she wants to do.
What she wants is to go out and look for Barbara with Jonathan - Steve later misinterprets this as them hooking up, completely ignorant to the fact that they both have lost someone they care deeply for when they both feel they could have prevented it (Jonathan was not supposed to be working that evening and Nancy convinced Barb to come to Steve’s even though she didn’t actually want to)
It’s clear Steve is genuinely trying to make amends with her in this scene, but there is still a glaring disconnect in their emotions because Steve does not apologise proportionally to the distress Nancy is in. When he sings to her and tries to make her laugh, he is demonstrating this lack of understanding of her needs and emotions. Of course she doesn’t laugh, she looks away awkwardly and eventually shuts him down.
The lack of chemistry between these two is demonstrated by Steve singing in the first place, then confirmed when Nancy does not indulge.
These two, unsurprisingly, do not pass.
Exhibit F: Steve and Robin
(Skip to the end of this video for a refresher)
This is a very intimate conversation. This time, Steve appreciates that it takes a lot of trust for someone like Robin to talk about what she just has. It takes a lot of love from Robins end to be honest with him as to why they can’t be a couple.
Trust and love that didn’t come from no where, I’ll remind you.
He reacts the way he does because he values Robin as a friend, and as friends do, he picks apart and judges her crushes.
Steve doesn’t have to grasp at straws for something to say, despite having never been in this situation before, despite having never even thought about being in this situation before. He just talks. The right words come out of his mouth because they have that shared love and trust. He just talks and says the right thing because he feels and thinks the right things.
He sings because it’s appropriate for their dynamic and his approach to this conversation as her friend, she indulges to confirm that they are in harmony now their relationship is defined as platonic.
These two have undeniable chemistry. Id argue this is the best example of this Chemistry Test because it’s such a raw and real interaction, even if it only demonstrates a strong platonic bond.
(I would love to see some sort of parallel with Mike and Eleven in S5)
“Great! We have a theory about how the Duffer brothers have previously demonstrated Chemistry, with evidence to support it! … Now what?”
Now we apply it to Season 5 Speculation!
I bring to you a whole three possible applications of this theory.
Number 1: Robin and Vickie
Crucial detail that loads of people overlook about Robin and Vickie - they’re both in band.
We’re constantly reminded of it, too.
Steve to Robin: “You’re worried about a high school pep rally, you expect me to believe that? […] This is about Vickie!”
Our first look at Vickie is during said pep rally, we see Vickie and Robin standing side by side, sharing a glance during the band performance.
We see them interact later that night, during band (again), whilst Tammy Thompson sings the national anthem.
Dustin to Eddie s4 e02: “You know Robin! From band!”
Vickie to her boyfriend when he asks who Robin is: “Someone from band.”
Robin and Vickie are in harmony, even in their limited on screen interactions, because they both play music together.
It’s also worth noting that both of their instruments are wind instruments. We know that the both of them struggle to stop themselves from rambling, so their best interactions are during band, they do not have to worry about finding the right words because they literally cannot talk.
According to the Duffer Brothers, Robin and Vickie have chemistry. Rovickie endgame - next please!
Number 2: Steve and Nancy
Let’s be so fr they are not getting back together.
This post is one of many arguments as to why they should not and will not become a couple again in s5.
I said “next, please!”
Number 3: Will and Mike
Stay with me, now.
Small throwaway scene? Maybe, yeah, but i’ll add that the exact frame Will sings here is the thumbnail for this episode.
Do with that information what you will.
In this scene, Mike is making a plan to find El by getting help from Suzie. Will is the only one who picks up on Mikes plan, and sings the Never-ending Story theme to remind the others who haven’t yet picked up on it. Basic example of show don’t tell.
Contrary to Steve and Nancy, Will sings because Mike and him are already in harmony. They’re on the same page about “Utah” meaning “Suzie”.
This is one of the many examples in season 4 alone where Mike and Will do not need to communicate with words to pick up what the other puts down.
You could say that these two have quite a good rhythm, their interactions seem to flow seamlessly, and when they don’t ( *cough* airport reunion) it sticks out like a sore thumb.
I cant find a clip of the scene I can link here, but think of that scene where they’re formatting a lie for Suzie in her room as to why they need these coordinates, and it’s complete improv and such a natural flowing lie despite the fact they’ve never discussed it before.
And if we’re defining chemistry as a measure of emotional connection, well, which two characters have the most heart-to-heart, ‘lethal dose of emotion’ interactions this season?
yeah…quite a few more than average.
And that’s just season four! Mike and Will share emotionally intimate moments like these throughout the seasons.
So, will we get to see some more musical interactions this next season? If we do, i’ll place my bets on these two getting fed a version of our Chemistry Test.
Love to hear other people’s thoughts!
The two things I really like about Lumax
Number 1) They broke up.
We see them as cute in s3, but is is a candy-coating. Underneath, the relationship is strained with unhealthy dynamics.
Max is too distrusting of men and takes to heart messages of playing hard to get- just waiting for Lucas to come crawling back after anythingnhe does displeases her instead of talking it out- to be able to support/understand Lucas properly.
Lucas is too invested in being a man- keeping his woman happy and viewing women as "other"- to open up to Max/how her he is a safe space to be vulnerable.
And then they break up. They grow and reflect. They start showing these missing characteristics- Max is there for his games (maybe not in the stadium, but she is there as much as she can be with the shit in her life). Lucas pleads with Max to talk with him; admits he didn't look hard enough.
So they start talking. Like really talking and beginning to be open and vulnerable.
I love that they did not officially fet back together yet (despite the very clear implications they both still love and care for one another and would consider another foray into the romantic) because we can clearly see Lucas has grown to be able to support Max and that Mac has grown to be open with Lucas, but we still don't see it fully reciprocated. Lucas keeps his insecurities so close to his chest. I really want him to find an ear in Max.
It is devastating that Max is killed before Lucas can really start leaning on her in return or see how much she wants to support him too.
I really hope Max is out of her coma in s5 to see some of this growth occur.
Number 2) The continued/potential growth into a healthy dynamic
Max is able to be fully open and vulnerable with a boy/man.
This is big for Max. We see a lot of Max's issues with how the men in her life have treated her (and presumably other women) and how that has effected her with how defensive she is with the boys.
Max was much more open and readily so with El. Max also jumps on the El needs independance train so quick.
It is obvious the girl is struggling with some things. Things that can be very hard to unlearn with the way we can assume she learned them.
And yet, she exposes her soft underbelly to Lucas. She apologizes to him. Something she doesn't do anyone else (outside of her letter to Billy). She decided to trust Lucas when he says she can talk to him; when he listens to her when she tells him she doesn't want empty reassurances.
She began trying to trust Lucas all the way back in s2, when she admitsbshe was mean and defensive to him and Lucas responds that she is nothing likenher brother even though she was being a dick. This is why she went to the Snowball with Lucas and not (sweet/good/happy) Dustin. That bus moment was defining, but it didn't fix their core issues. She kept pulling back and falling on her "madmax" persona; kept breaking up with him in s3. Even early s4 it was impossible for her to let him in, even though she wanted to: Lucas knew she needed help and begged her to reach out to him and while she didn't go to his game, she did listen to it.
And then she really does it. Her issues aren't resolved, but she is willing to finally open up with Lucas and trust him.
Max opening up to Lucas is part of what let her survive Vecna.
Number 2) Lucas has someone pick him as their first choice.
Lucas gets sidelined pretty hard by the party. Certaintly Mike, those two have the most actual fights/disagreements within the party. And even Will ccommits a pretty hard pass on him by not confiding in him.
Will has always supported Lucas, which is made clear even with the very little screentime the two share (Going with fireball s1, venkman argument s2, laughing at his jokes opening mall scene s3, and the fireworks against the mindflaesher s3). So even though Will supports Lucas, he still doesn't chose Lucas as his confidant (that role- so far-goes to Jonathan or Mike or even no one before Lucas).
Lucas is always coming in clutch. And that is part of the issue. Most of the time, Lucas is given no option but to make a save at the last minute because he didn't get enough support initially. Even his younger sister is presented as more together and capable. I adore their scene in s4, but she is still operating as his guide here. Lucas' popularity arc in s4 is so painful because he wants to be a protector/rock for the party (someone) but no one gives him the time of day.
Except Max. As s4 progresses, Max really does treat Lucas as that person for her. She is depending on him to keep her safe while she acts as bait for Vecna. She discusses her real fears and wants with him. She looks to Lucas. Even when he has no big plans, no part in the major action (that goes to Dustin and the older kids), not even his popularity, Max wants Lucas, the dork, by her side. She trusts that he will let her go through with her plan (acting as bait because she doesn't want anyone else to be in her place) and work to support her. Her memory with him is her happiest (and then the Snowball is no longer a happy memory and Lucas' promise to put her headphones is dashed to pieces and Caleb is spitting out ominous lines about things not working out as we hope... I want Max to wake up and chose Lucas again, despite him failing for the first time- failing whatbhe must feel was his most important task...)
And Lucas steps up. He faces down a greif-maddened Jason, who has both a gun and phsycial prowess over Lucas, to keep Max safe. He is there with her at the end.
And, while Lucas really needs more screentime for himself and with a partner that supports him, we do see Max trying to reciprocate this role. Lucas is very vulnerable when talking about Patrick. Lucas normally gets angry/confident/defiant when he is vulnerable with others, not reflective. Max lets him talk and Lucas feels comfortable enough to be vulnerable. Something we haven't seen with anyone else, except a bit with Erica.