#nancy Wheeler

[dollsanddandy]

Sorry I just need to type this out because it feels so perfect if this was the intention. Baseball represents conformity… but what about our most iconic Stranger Things baseball bat?

Let’s talk about this particular bat’s journey, shall we?

Our first scene with the bat is when Nancy is practicing to attack the Demogorgon in her garage. At this point in the story, the bat is still a regular baseball bat. Steve comes over and Nancy is still emotionally invested in him. She has not quite realized she is on the path of conformity. She pushes him away here, though. She has plans with Jonathan to find the monster, so she takes a rain check at the invitation to go to the movies under the guise of Will’s funeral and Mike. I would argue this is at the beginning of the bat’s transformation.

The bat was originally meant to be wielded by Nancy. The revolver was also supposed to be Jonathan’s weapon. However, upon learning that Nancy’s a sharpshooter, Nancy takes the revolver and Jonathan takes the bat. They have swapped roles. This is when she’s finally begun not to conform. Nancy has taken the more “masculine,” powerful role in this relationship. She wields the stronger weapon and thus takes the lead in their relationship. During this scene we learn that Nancy believes her parents to be the image of conformity, detesting the idea of ever becoming them.

While wandering through the woods, the two have an argument in which Nancy finally has to confront that she is conforming just as much as her parents did at her age. She’s no different and she needs to realize that she and Steve are the image of Ted and Karen. The bat remains in Jonathan’s hands.

The two once more swap roles upon finding the dying deer. The two decide to put the animal out of its misery, but it’s too much for Nancy to handle and thus Jonathan offers to do it himself. They swap weapons once more. You could interpret it two ways:

Their willingness to swap their roles fluidly offers more to the idea of nonconformity. They are not concrete in the roles they choose, unlike the societally acceptable dynamics of the time. Men and women had concrete gender roles and were expected to follow them, whereas Jonathan and Nancy are able to go against that norm and be what role is needed depending on the situation.

Jancy are willing to do what the other needs from them and are already complementing each other from Season 1. Jancy endgame.

After this scene Nancy and Jonathan split up, with Nancy discovering a small gate to the Upside Down. She leaves the bat and her belongings outside the gate. I would like to say that her going to the Upside Down is quite literal for her character and for the baseball bat. Their identities are changed after this. Nancy from this point forward becomes incredibly tactical and combative. She goes shopping for weapons with Jonathan, definitely going against the norm. Her form does not change, she remains herself, preppy and kind, but now she has spikes. In her next scene with Steve she’s angry, she’s pushing him away and recognizing him for what he is. She could have been submissive to Steve’s actions, but the first thing she does is slap him and assert herself. She is no longer conforming.

While we do not see the baseball bat for the rest of the episode or in the following episode, we do see it again in the finale.

Here we see the baseball bat change into our easily recognizable icon. Together, Jancy decides to kill the Demogorgon and hatches a plan to do so. They set everything up in the Byers’ home and during these preparations we see Jonathan modify the baseball bat. He hammers nails into the head of the bat and it transforms almost to match Nancy. Baseball bats are a blunt object, but by adding the nails, Jonathan has flipped the baseball bat’s identity Upside Down, transforming it into a sharp object. It can be argued it’s both blunt and sharp, and maybe it proves the point I am trying to make further by viewing it that way. Jonathan is meant to wield this weapon once more, but Steve enters the ring and wields it instead (more on that later).

By the finale you’re almost certain that Jancy will happen (if not now then later). Jancy is a heterosexual relationship, but it is not heteronormative. To me, that’s what the bat represents. The bat is conformity, the norm and heterosexuality, but the spikes represent non-comforming and non-heteronormative behavior. In Jancy’s relationship, Nancy typically takes the lead and continues to be the one who wields a gun. Jonathan remains the more sensitive of the two and the one who wields no weapons (you could argue the axe in Season 3, but even then Lucas takes control of that). The behavior of Jonathan and Nancy in their relationship as stated prior, is not conforming to the norms of the time despite being a heterosexual relationship.

Now, what happens to the bat after the events of Season 1? Steve continues to be the one who wields it, which is very important to his character development. He’s becoming nonconformist as well, especially with his blossoming friendship with the kids and his new role as “babysitter,” a job that is considered feminine. During his time holding the bat, I would also like to mention he most certainly became more accepting of people different from him and even befriends them. He went from calling Jonathan Byers a queer derogatorily in Season 1 to being supportive and accepting of Robin’s sexuality in Season 3. He learns that popularity is not important despite what societal pressures and expectations exist. It’s almost like the bat being in his possession helped to facilitate his growth.

After Season 2 we have yet to see the bat again, but an honorable mention would also be Max, a nonconformist tomboy, wielding the bat. She does this to defend her nerdy, outcast friends and her love interest: Lucas. Max and Lucas are another heterosexual relationship, except they also defy norms for being an interracial relationship in a time period where it was still not as acceptable.

TL;DR: the spiked baseball bat is a symbol of nonconformity/norms of the time being flipped Upside Down/on their heads as opposed to baseball in general representing conformity. It transformed in Season 1 with Jancy to become this symbol and in Season 2 facilitated growth/was wielded by characters who didn’t conform.

Hope you guys enjoyed this post please don’t let it flop 😭

[heartthingsstuff]

Eddie: Hey Robin , wanna third wheel on my date with Steve tomorrow?

Robin : Sure.

Eddie: Nancy ! Wanna third wheel on my date with Steve tomorrow?

Eddie: Great! I've always wanted to go on a double date!

Robin & Nancy : ...

Steve : Eddie...

[whereintheworldisspencerreid]

“i’m so normal about them” i say as i vibrate out of my skin thinking about it

[bylerpining]

BEGGING ON MY KNEES THEY'RE SO FINE

[freckledjoes]

Steve's trying to focus, Eddie is making sure he can't, Nancy is already regretting agreeing to this roadtrip and Robin pretends to be asleep so Steve can't ask her for backup cause she cba.

Spoiler: They have a blast I started this once upon a time in April 2023, then ended up abandoning it over and over, mainly cause I was constantly experimenting with styles and this one just didn't add up whenever I tried.

BUT decided to wing the last things so have a steddie + ronance roadtrip I guessssss

[carolperkinsexgirlfriend]

Nancy Wheeler, post her best friend's death, stuck in a slump of trying to feel fucking ANYTHING else.

She tries to fall into her relationship with Steve, doesn't feel anything at all, tries to have dinner with Barb's parents, and just stares at herself in the bathroom mirror and doesn't see anything at all staring back. She fucks Jonathan, exposes the lab, shoots Vecna, gets revenge, and it's all just is hollow as her eyes were in the mirror.

Because Barb's still gone, and all she's got is fucking grief, all the way down. I guess what I'm saying, is I would KILL for Nancy to do a Villanelle from Killing Eve-esque monologue:

"I just, try to find ways of making myself feel something. More, and more, and more, but, it doesn't make any difference. No matter what I do, I don't feel anything. I--I hurt myself, it doesn't hurt. I buy what I want, I don't want it. I do what I like, I don't, I don't like it. I'm just so bored. "

That's her season five breaking up with Jonathan before going off to college to "have the time of her life." btw. If you even care.

[jonathanbyersphd]

Peak Romance

[retrokittytakeover]

"Mike can't say I love you because of his family!!"

Karen Wheeler, who has always asked and encouraged Mike to open up to her and always reminds him that she is there for him?

Ted Wheeler who despite not having much screentime does love and care for his family? Like did we not watch him take Karen and Holly to the fair in season 3? Did he not offer to comfort Mike in season one after wills "death"?

Milevens find any excuse other than the truth. He doesn't feel secure in the relationship because it's loveless. he's trying to be the "Perfect Boyfriend" (TM) but the relationship is not built on a real structure and he feels like a nobody next to her (as said in the van scene).

Literally what about that is healthy?

Let's not even bring up the fact that it's the opposite with will and he genuinely believes he is equal to will and that they are a TEAM and should stick by each other's sides forever.

[mossheadmandy]

Things to remember and other unpopular opinions about Jonathan Byers:

1. He bites his nails when he's anxious.

2. He decides against wearing neckties because he doesn't know how to tie them. Lonnie was never around to teach him.

3. He was probably an accident.

4. He's too empathetic and patient to make objective decisions.

5. He's thought as a freak not in the same way Eddie is. He's calm, quiet and remains outcasted by choice because, like he told Nancy, he dislikes most people. Eddie, on the other hand, is outcasted against his will, but he likes to be surrounded by friends, he takes care of his sheep because he knows what it's like; he's whimsical and loud, while Jonathan prefers to keep a low profile.

6. Remember when Jonathan beat the shit out of Steve? He knows what people say about him and he doesn't care, but the very moment Steve started to mess with his family, that's when Jonathan reacted and beat his ass. What happened with the Nancy graffiti was probably part of it, but let's remember that he wanted to simply take her out of there peacefully until Steve started to poke at his nerves.

7. During the first season, that one scene where Eleven is in the improvised tank trying to locate Barb and Will, as soon as the lights start to blink, everyone looks up at the lights, but Jonathan keeps an eye on Eleven.

8. He had to become 'the man of the house' at a very young age with Lonnie's absence, and he had to parent both Will and Joyce, in a way.

9. Joyce mentioned that Jonathan was always independent and knew how to take care of himself. Eldest siblings, we know what this means, and please tell me that very statement doesn't break your heart.

10. Jonathan had to deal with a lot at the ripe age of sixteen. Not only did he witness the crumbling of his parents marriage, but also take care of his little brother not as a brother but as a father figure, work to help Joyce make ends meet, deal with the guilt of Will's disappearance because the very night he disappeared, he was out at work, deal with a funeral for his little brother and choose a coffin, and then hunt monsters and witness very gory things, and be constantly on edge due to the government keeping an eye on him and his family plus not knowing when the monsters and any other evils of the Upside-down would be back.

11. I'm sorry but Jonathan Byers is what Steve Harrington fans think Steve is.

12. He's very observant.

13. The OG mixtape maker.

14. He's very family-oriented and his priorities are clear.

15. He's always in disadvantage because of his socio-economic situation, so he has to work extra hard to demonstrate that he's worthy. Probably also, in a way, he felt like he had to clean the last name of the Byers while he was in Hawkins.

16. He's very genuine because he had never felt like he had to impress anybody. Quite the contrary, in fact, given that he dislikes most people, the least thing that he wanted was to have people approaching him.

17. Had not Jonathan seen Steve storming off the bathroom, he would probable have had a new friend. Or potentially a girlfriend. A goth girlfriend.

Remember Samantha, at Tina's party? Jonathan made her laugh. He wasn't used to talk to people, nor did he know how to keep a conversation going, but Samantha looked comfortable, probably found his awkwardness endearing, and they could have kept talking, but then Steve came out of the bathroom, visibly upset and Jonathan knew something was up, and went looking for Nancy.

18. Jonathan took Nancy home because it was the safe thing to do, and also because he likes her. But if you'd really understood the character, you'd know Jonathan would have taken Nancy home even if there was nothing between them because he had always taken care of other people. Jonathan takes care of Nancy because he's an older brother, and Steve never learned about taking other people's feelings into account nor to take care of other people because he's an only child, and didn't learn it from anyone else because in his own words, his father is a major a-hole, so he had no good examples on how to be a decent human being since he was a kid.

20. Jonathan probably lied for Steve's sake. The day after Tina's party, Nancy talked to him and asked him if Steve had asked Jonathan to take her home and he said yes. Then proceeded to reassure her that Steve was only being like that because he cared about her.

Steve didn't ask him to take Nancy home because for starters he was NOT OKAY with him taking her home. He was beyond pissed.

You see, Jonathan knows yet denies himself his own feelings for Nancy because he knows he can't have her, but also because he thinks she's happy with Steve, and her feelings are more important to him than acknowledge his own.

20. Jonathan is just quiet, asocial and introverted, and that's a personality too.

I'm tired of people thinking he's bland just because his personality isn't loud like Eddie's or Steve's, quirky like Robin's, or strong like Nancy's. He isn't that physically strong but he's always willing to fight and aid, and the fact that his support goes unnoticed because it's usually silent upsets me to no end.

21. He could probably see an escape to his old life in Hawkins as soon as he got to Lenora Hills because his last name had no reputation.

22. I coud never say his character got ruined by turning into a stoner because, even if though I'm not celebrating his consumption of weed, I don't condemn it. After everything he's gone through, finding a way to forget about it for a moment is the least thing Jonathan deserves. Which is also the reason I don't understand the Argyle hate. He's the first friend Jonathan has made because he sees him for who he is, and Argyle is wise, gives him good advice and he's always ready to lend a hand.

Jonathan Byers is an extremely underrated character and I'm sick of it.

[ronanceautistic]

ONCE AGAIN I AM POSTING MY FAVOURITE EDIT I'VE EVER MADE

but this time im yapping, too. Firstly - the way the woman says "it's been one thing after another", but from Nancy's pov it's "nothing's new". Nothing feels new or real with Barb :C

Secondly - the chaoticness of the way it's edit adding to the feel of everything passing by and melding and merging into a weird numbness. The clips are all representative of meaningless everyday life, none of the actually important stuff Nancy went through is shown here, but rather implied. The text is not on beat with the clips making it feel more out of rhythm than it really is. Also, the font keeps changing. Everything keeps changing but nothing is new.

Third - (I forgot this initially) The clips are slowly but steadily getting darker, Nancy is spiralling deeper into her mind before-

Fourth - the hard cut off of the song, removing the filters, drawing us back into reality. The eery silence as Fred is the only thing you can hear. Nothing is new. Nothing is happening. No background, no chaos, no music. Just Nancy being forced back into the numb yet tense present.

WOO

[dollsanddandy]

OH MY GOD I JUST THOUGHT OF ANOTHER JANCY-BYLER PARALLEL:

It kind of is the same thing as the car talk scene, but something I don’t think I’ve seen people talk about in that scene is that Jonathan lies to Nancy saying Steve told him to take her home that night. He lies in an attempt to save their relationship. When Nancy sees Steve the next day she mistakes this act to be his and Steve is quick to correct her that Jonathan was the one that took her home even before Jonathan lies to her.

An act being lied about to be perceived as the work of someone else hmm? Where else have we seen this?

And if Steve set the record straight about Jonathan’s lie, then Eleven is definitely about to set the record straight about Will’s painting. Either that, or just like Steve revealing the truth about a lie before it’s told, Eleven already told Mike about Will’s painting being for a crush.

[invinciblewarrior1305]

[lorax-devito]

potential mike wheeler lines;a study-

“i’m gay”

“i fancy your brother,no not jonathan,will”

“please buzz your hair again it makes it so much easier to pretend to be straight”

“thanks for the painting” “what painting”

“i swear to fucking god vecnussy if you touch my boyfri- FRIEND WERE FRIENDS *cough cough* ever again i’ll get my SUPER AWESOME SUPERMA-WOMAN LIKE GIRLFRIEND TO BEAT YOUR ASS”

“why is jonathan looking at me like he wants to kill me” “he’s probably stoned” (said by will,he’s still salty about that)

“nancy i’m NOT gay.”

“STOP SAYING I LIKE WILL”

*gay pining*

“nancy i don’t like Will”

“I DONT”

“hopper is it normal to want to rip my almost decade long bff’s shirt off every time he does anything remotely hot and or sexy”

*lip stares*

“William Byers”

yes,i do have a lot of these,i will be probably be making more bc why not

[dwobbitfromtheshire]

Eddie couldn't decide on many things, so he created dice to help him make decisions. It was particularly helpful when he was invited over to Steve’s. He rolled the dice onto Steve’s coffee table.

Steve: It says. . .we're having sex.

Eddie: I guess we have to listen to it.

Steve: *grinning* How terrible.

Robin: That's great, but what are the rest of us going to do?

They turned to look at her. Robin, Nancy, Jonathan, Argyle, Chrissy, and Vickie were all looking at them. Argyle picked up the dice and rolled it.

Argyle: Sight seeing. . .I think we're supposed to watch.

Robin sighed and grabbed it.

Eddie: *grinning* You only get one more roll.

She rolled it onto the coffee table.

Robin: Rob a bank. . .oh, thank God.

Nancy: Eddie, what kind of dice is this?

Eddie responded only with a cackle.

[sapphicstoria]

I already made a post about this, but I still can’t believe someone would say Nancy being with JONATHAN would be “forced conformity.” Nancy, the rich/smart girl being with the struggling/loner boy is DEFINITELY the definition of “forced conformity” you’re soooo right. 🙃