Stranger Things Season 1 had a love triangle between Nancy, Steven, and Jonathan that seemed to be resolved, but Season 4 brings that into question.
During Stranger Things Season 1 there is a consistent love-triangle between Nancy, Steve and Jonathan which ultimately ends with Nancy and Jonathan being together. That seemed to be the end of it, but Season 4 brings this love-triangle back as Nancy and Steve start to rekindle an interest in each other as her long distance relationship with Jonathan slowly falls apart. It doesn’t come out of nowhere — Season 4 makes it clear from the start that not all is well with Jonathan and Nancy’s relationship as the two struggle to communicate their true feelings to one another, so it is highly possible that their romantic relationship will end by the finale in order for her to reunite with Steve.
The first couple of episodes reveal that Jonathan was supposed to go to Hawkins for spring break to spend time with Nancy, but for he backs out of going to see her. The two are also quite apprehensive to talk about their relationship when they are each questioned by various friends, and they resort to waving concerns off by saying everything is fine between them. It is pretty obvious to most of their friends that something is off with the couple and the two are consistently advised to break-up with each other since it is apparent neither of them are happy in the relationship.
This leads Jonathan to finally admit to Argyle that he doesn’t want to go to Emerson with Nancy and wants a different life from what she has planned. He wants to stay near his family and support them, but avidly fears that Nancy will give up her dreams for him if he expresses how he feels. After this revelation Argyle doubles down on advising Jonathan to break-up with her stating “What are you going to do? Slowly break-up with her?” As for Nancy, she begins to have feelings for Steve again and Robin is quick to sense the rekindling attraction.
Robin makes sure to tell Nancy that there is nothing romantic between her and Steve, stating that they are Platonic friends with a “capital P.” This is later restated by Steve when the trio are exploring the Creel house and Robin doubles down on her sentiment. At that moment, Nancy and Steve share awkward glances and dialogue before parting to different rooms which is one of the first signs of their renewed romantic tension. The attraction is further solidified when Nancy cannot keep her eyes off Steve as he takes off his shirt before diving into Lover’s Lake to find the “Watergate.”
After Steve is dragged down into the lake and through the gate into the Upside Down, Nancy is the first to dive into the water and swim into the Upside Down to save him. Eddie makes sure to bring this to Steve’s attention after they save him, and he says to Steve “But Wheeler right there, she didn’t waste a second. Not one second.” He goes on to highly encourage Steve to get her back because there is obviously still attraction between the two of them. It definitely makes sense for the two characters given their history and Steve’s character transformation over the past three seasons. He is a much more mature person and Nancy can see how much he has grown.
It seems very likely at this point that Stranger Things is building up to Steve and Nancy falling in love again, but there are still two episodes left and fans will have to wait for Volume 2 to see where things fall. Episode 7 ends with Nancy in Vecna’s trance, so it is anyone’s guess if she will actually survive the encounter. The Hawkins gang will most likely find a way to save her and, hopefully, her and Steve can work out their feelings for each other before leading into Season 5.
Stranger Things Season 4 is now streaming on Netflix.