#jonathan byers deserves better

[willbyerssupremacist]

no way did i just see someone on tiktok say that jonathan still has a strong parental figure with joyce while steve has neglectful parents...

be. so. fucking. fr. are we watching the same show? joyce is loving, of course, but is she really there for jonathan as much as he needs? at 16, jonathan had to take extra shifts to help out around the house (none of this is joyce's fault, of course, but come on, you cant say his family life is all fine and dandy because his mom is loving). not to mention that he had to deal with planning will's funeral and barely had time to grieve because he had to comfort his mother, who was having a whole psychotic breakdown. AND he had to basically be a father figure in will's life. i love joyce, but she isn't this super strong parental figure that protects jonathan from all harm, not that she doesn't want to be, but jonathan has had to basically help raise himself his whole life...

but noooooo, steve had a party one time and suddenly his parents abandoned him. be fucking for real right now. nothing wrong with that headcanon, but let's not fucking pretend that his fanon is canon and therefore he has it "worse" than jonathan.

[friendsdontlieokay]

Apparently Jonathan's character has degraded in the latest season and "he's become worse than ever", now a lot of ppl are against that, and so am I, Jonathan Byers, bad? Jonathan Byers, worse? These words don't compliment each other even at the least.

But despite being a Jonboy defender and stan, I gotta admit that his personality has in fact degraded, and a lot of ppl say that his character was poorly written and that's why he became the way he did.

I don't think that's the case though, I think it's realistic and it was bound to happen, I mean just imagine having an abusive father, having to take care of your brother (he loves to do that, don't get me wrong), saving your brother from your father, taking care of your whole family, being the "man" of the family ever since you're a literal kid, being the "town freak" with absolutely no friends but your little brother and even he goes missing and you blame yourself for that, you see your mother going absolutely crazy over it and you see your brother being dead, and your mother going crazier and crazier and when you do get some news about your brother, apparently he's in an alternate dimension and even when he gets rescued, nothing is the same ever since! You see your favorite person, your little brother, your kid, fading away and when things finally start to go normally, well let's just say it doesn't last for even a year and soon you have to move out of the life you have been used to since forever, the house, the town, the people and that only person who understood, the person who felt so close to home, the person who is the love of your life, you have to bid farewell to her too, and when you actually did move out and bid farewell you feel like you're not good enough for her? For your girlfriend, for your family or for no one? (He is the best for them in every way just so you know though), so you feel like you need to choose between either your family or the love of your life and meanwhile forget that you have the right to have a choice of your own and that isn't even the worst part, the worst part is that you think you're not good enough for your girlfriend because apparently you, who has taken every step to keep your family and brother safe, have raised your brother just like your own baby, and has made sure that he never feels left out and made sure that he feels loved at all time, are turning like that abusive jerk father of yours that didn't give a shit when your brother went missing and only came by for the money, you think you're turning like him which makes no sense at all but in that little depressed and anxious brain of yours it does, so you feel the need to be addicted and stoned and even when you feel like you're slipping away from everything and everyone, especially your little brother, you can't stop it because that's the only thing that helps you keep your mind off of life.

So yes, season 4 Jonathan isn't the best but that's 100% justified, however no matter how stoned or out of touch he has become, he's still Jonathan Byers at the core and hopefully s5 is gonna prove that too.

[ryan-waddell11]

happy 4/20 to them

[stonathandreamer]

Me, every time I see a new leak and there's still zero pictures of Jonathan/Charlie. Like, come on, you guys are leaking stuff left, right, and center, and no one's said anything about him!

Can someone PLEASE come to my DM's and tell me Jonathan lives?! - I want credible sources!

(If they kill him, I swear what Darth Vader did will look like child's play next to the Upside Down I'll unleash on Earth)

[harringroveera]

Stranger Things Season 5: Episode 1

[lunabug2004]

You know, I really really wish that we had actually gotten to see Mike and Jonathan have a good, friendly, sibling-like relationship. I honestly hate the whole “Jonathan hates Mike bc he doesn’t like Will back” take.

I also wish we got to see Mike and Hopper have a better, almost father-figure relationship. And I hate the “Hopper hates Mike” take.

Mike deserves these relationships. He doesn’t have a good bond with his own older sibling, so it would’ve been nice for Jonathan to take that role. With how much we can guess Mike was over at the Byers’ place, and how long the two were friends (therefore how long Jon’s known Mike) you’d think that Jonathan would see Mike more as a younger brother than just his brother’s best friend/crush who doesn’t like him back. It’s for this same reason that I find Mike and Joyce’s relationship a little bit strange, but that’s a talk for another day. Continuing on, Mike also doesn’t have a good father-figure. We know that Hop can fill this role, he did it in s2 if only for a minute! And as much as I do like the reunion in s4 bt Hop and Mike, I wish we got a whole lot more than that considering how they were in s3 (s3 Hop is worst Hop, I hate s3 Hop, sorry not sorry).

It’s just upsetting to me that the perfect people to fill these positions for this obviously struggling child just… didn’t. Idk if this is a problem I have with the writing or if I just find it a huge missed opportunity, but the one thing that’s for certain is I’m upset we didn’t get these relationships, and instead we got the stupid overused “I’m an overprotective dad/brother so I have to dislike their crush” trope. Am I the only one that finds this annoying?

[nerodmcdevilslayer]

Stop. Comparing. Billy’s. Abuse. To. Jonathan’s.

There is nothing more disrespectful than comparing the reactions of abuse victims. No two people respond the same.

Also: Jonathan’s abuser left. Billy’s abuser never left. Billy only got away from his abuse when he died.

[msbillyhargrove]

Am I the only one who thinks they should make a stranger things dating simulator game with all the older characters?

[starry-eyed-steve]

I don't like how the Jancy fight got resolved here. Basically, Jonathan said it was okay for Nancy to be an ass to him about his financial situation because she was ultimately right. His problems got never addressed by the narrative because, yes, Nancy was right about the story, but Jonathan wasn't in the wrong either to call her out on her privileges. Unfortunately, Karen's pep talk prior to that did nothing but reinforce Nancy's behavior because ultimately Karen told her to keep going no matter who you hurt. Nancy didn't get a chance to grow because the show treats her as someone who can't do wrong. She still doesn't understand Jonathan and his struggles, and the show doesn't care either for this.

Neither of them really apologized. Nancy said she didn't mean it but couldn't say sorry, and Jonathan abolved her from it because in his mind, he deserved it. And definitely, the icing on the cake was Nancy's comment about him "better not doubting her ever again," destroying the small apology she gave. Again, showcasing she didn't learn or grew from this fight/situation.

[insertsacoolname]

"uhh I'm not homophobic, I just don't like Will 🙄"

Btch you were literally saying that L*nnie was a good father and only sane one in the family bffr!!

[unfinishedslurs]

Whoopsie!! I totally killed Steve. My bad guys

Steve is batted away like a rag doll, and goes flying into a tree. The sickening crack leaves Dustin stunned, and he stops in his tracks, staring. Waiting for Steve to get back up, like he always does. 

He doesn’t.

Okay, so he’s passed out. Bad timing, but it’ll be like when Billy beat him up. He’ll probably have a nasty concussion, and a broken bone, but it’s fine. He’s fine. He’s always fine. It’s Steve. 

“Steve!” Robin cries. She starts to run to him, but a monster gets in her way and she has to defend herself. One rushes at him, too, and Dustin goes back to the fight. 

As soon as it’s over, Robin is hurtling towards the tree that Steve is still lying at the base of. Bile rises in Dustin’s throat as he follows her. He shouldn’t be passed out this long, it’s a sure sign of severe brain damage. He shouldn’t be laying this still. 

When he catches up, Robin is already shaking him. “Steve,” she pleads as the others come to see what’s going on. “Steve, c’mon, wake up. We gotta get you to a hospital. Hear that? It’s your least favorite word! I’m going to stick you in a hospital for life if you don’t wake up right now—“

“We should check his pulse,” Dustin says distantly. “Make sure his heartbeat’s steady.” He drops to his knees to do just that. Just as quick, Jonathan nudges him away. 

“I’ll do it,” he says, in a voice Dustin’s only heard him use on Will. “I’ve got some first aid training under my belt.”

He doesn’t reply, just takes the hand Robin’s not clutching and stays still, staring at Steve. He can’t stop feeling like something’s off about the way he’s laying there, completely motionless—

His heart stutters in his chest. Steve’s completely motionless. He’s usually so bad at staying still, always running his hands through his hair, or flicking his lighter, or tapping a beat against the steering wheel. Now, he’s not doing any of that. He’s not moving at all. There’s not even a rise and fall of his chest. 

Dustin stares uncomprehendingly. He has the puzzle pieces, he knows he does, but he can’t make them come together. It’s like his brain is rejecting the picture it makes. 

Jonathan pulls his fingers away from Steve’s throat, brow furrowed, anxiety pulling at his features. He starts to take Steve’s hand, but Dustin can’t make himself let go. 

Gently, ever so gently, Jonathan pries his fingers off the limp wrist in his grasp. Dustin lets it happen, silent.

Robin hasn’t stopped talking, quiet murmurs replacing the panicked concern from before. He can’t understand the words through the roaring in his ears. 

Jonathan has turned white as a sheet, frozen with his fingers looped around Steve’s wrist. He thinks he might know what it means. He thinks he’s wrong, he’s wrong, he’s got to be wrong—

Robin shifts to lie perpendicular to Steve, and lays her head on his chest. Quiet, like she’s listening for something. 

She doesn’t find it. 

It’s been three weeks, but Dustin can still hear Robin’s anguished howl ringing in his ears. 

They had to pull her off of him, needed Hopper and Murray both because she fought. Kicked and scratched and screamed when they took her. Kept calling out for Steve to wake up between it all, escaped twice so she could go back and hold him. Hopper was grim, face open and awful, Murray pale and swearing as they wrestled her away. 

Dustin hadn’t moved, still in shock. Jonathan and Argyle had to practically carry him out, because he couldn’t make his limbs work. He couldn’t make himself leave Steve’s side. 

He realized what they were doing halfway to the car. 

“Wait,” he said, twisting, “wait, what are we doing? We can’t leave him there. We can’t leave him alone, he hates being alone. We can’t—“

Jonathan and Argyle exchanged a look over his head. 

“I’ve got him, man,” Argyle said quietly. Jonathan gave a sharp nod before moving in front of Dustin, ducking down to meet his eye. Tears were streaming down his face. 

“I’ll sit with him,” he promised. “Go ahead and go with Argyle, okay? I’ve got him. He won’t be alone.”

“But I—“

“I’ve got it,” Jonathan repeated, voice cracking. Dustin nodded and fell limp against Argyle’s side. He trusted Jonathan. Steve did too. 

When they got to the car, Robin was still thrashing. Murray was practically sitting on her, a bruise forming over his eye. 

“Where’s Jonathan?” Hooper asks sharply when he sees them. 

Argyle gestured helplessly. “Sitting with him. Dustin said…he didn’t want to leave him alone.”

Hopper's eyes were defeated, and he swiped a hand across his face before getting up and heading towards Steve and Jonathan without another word. 

Dustin climbed into the backseat, where Murray finally had Robin pinned. She was yelling herself hoarse. 

“You—you asshole, get the hell off of me, you can’t just fucking—you don’t get it, he needs me, he hates being alone, he hates it, he fucking hates it and he’s never alone. As long as I’m here he’s never fucking alone so let me go—“

“Robin,” he croaked, holding her arm. She whipped her head towards him immediately, eyes wide. 

“Henderson. Dustin, tell this asshole to let me go. I need to go to Steve. We can’t—I can’t leave him alone, please, he needs me there—“

“He’s not alone,” Dustin promised around the lump in his throat. “Jonathan’s with him. Jonathan’s gonna stay with him, he won’t be alone.”

She shook her head. “No, he needs me—“

“Jonathan will take care of him,” he repeated. “He’s Will’s big brother, he’s good at taking care of people.”

She finally stilled, eyes on Dustin. “Jonathan has him?”

He nodded, face wet, and she finally relaxed.

“Jonathan’s good,” she said. “Steve…Steve likes Jonathan.” She laughed, sharp enough to make him flinch. “He’s a sucker for pretty boys.”

Argyle made a low, hurt sound, like he’d been punched. Murray moved to the middle seat, relieved that he no longer had to pin her down.

In a move that they should have seen coming, she opened the door and bolted. 

“Shit!” Murray barked, and ran after her. 

[thecelestialsyzygy]

[ryan-waddell11]

happy 4/20 to them

[beawritingbooks]

Jargyle headcanons?

Okay, I LOVE Jargyle!

There is something so right about Argyle's more relaxed energy meshing with Jonathan's more serious energy. Like, I think Jonathan really needs someone like Argyle in his life.

Jonathan has had a lot of responsibility and stress forced upon him at a young age, even before Will's disappearance and the upside-down, he was basically a second parent to Will & co-provider for his mother. I know Joyce did her best with the hand she was dealt, but Jonathan didn't get to have much of a childhood because he was parentified.

Argyle already is interesting, but I feel like they could do a lot with his character if they fleshed him out more. But, as it stands now, I think Argyle sings the siren song that Jonathan currently needs to hear.

He calls him on his bullshit.

He points out the fucked up things that Jonathan & the kids have been forced to become accustomed to.

But, even though things get scary, Argyle is a ride or die type of friend. Someone that will be there for Jonathan & his siblings when they need him (and that is something Jonathan would need in a partner).

He also, makes Jonathan happy & it seems like Jonathan makes Argyle happy, too.

When the series ends, I could see them being happy stoners in California. Jonathan would take the time to let himself be young and responsibility free with his friend/bf, and Argyle would get to enjoy a relaxed and worry-free life with his friend/bf (probably therapy, too). Basically, I think that they'd both find happiness, security, & safety in one another's predictability and "mellowness." They'd be the chill, happy couple.

In summation, when it comes to Jargyle, for anyone that doubts they'd make sense or work out:

[stevie-petey]

it truly does sicken me that we have almost no interactions between steve and jonathan in the show. yeah, nancy made them both a bit awkward, but they dont hold any ill will towards each other and i think itd be lovely to see jonathan acknowledge steves ability to take care of the kids since that was something he used to do himself but noooo the writers instead made jonathan a silly side character turned stoner with no real personality

[dwobbitfromtheshire]

Season 2 rewatch, Nancy Wheeler meat riders AVOID:

Man, I really tried to like the show's version of Nancy, but I think the writers really screwed up her character. She's not a badass as everyone thinks she is. She cheated on Steve, lied to him about loving him, strung him along, and then made this big decision for everyone involved. Yes, she wanted justice for Barb, but there were other ways to do that without risking everyone who signed NDAs. Steve was right to worry about it. She could have waited, thought it through more, and talked it out with everyone involved, but she didn't. Her judgment was obviously screwed when she chose to date a guy who took her picture without her consent. Meanwhile, shit was going down with Will, and Joyce had no clue where Jonathan was. Imagine if Nancy had just waited, then Jonathan would be with Joyce, and it would have been one less kid for Joyce to worry about. Yeah, he left a note, but did she actually read it? What was his excuse? I wish people would see Nancy as the dumb regular asshole teenager that most teenagers actually are and that they are allowed to make mistakes. She fucked up majorly in season 2 or rather the writers fucked up her character. I wish they had made her single instead of jumping into bed with Jonathan and had given her time to process Barb's death. I also wish they had given her the realization that sometimes, in situations like these, there's really nothing that you can or should do. Steve needed a wake-up call, but so did Nancy. Where was her thump on the head?