The end of Stranger Things Season 3 sees the gangs split up, with some (supposed) deaths, relocations, and trauma-induced isolation separating all three generations of characters. Although the Gates have allegedly been closed and the threat to Hawkins subsequently locked away, bizarre deaths are occurring once again, and those who have been exposed to the impact of The Upside Down are well aware that the supposed Satanistic cult is not to blame.
If things aren't disjointed enough at the beginning of Stranger Things Season 4, the gang is divided even further as chaos begins to rain from all sides. One group takes a road trip to Nevada, while others visit Russia, and even those left in Hawkins seem to all be out on their own missions. New relationship dynamics are formed as Eleven and her friends desperately try to regroup in time to destroy Vecna before he takes over the world.
11 Hopper and Dmitri
Many fans are elated by Jim Hopper's return to the land of the living after he was assumed dead at the end of Season 3, although "alive" is used in a very broad sense, seeing that the poor man has been beaten and tortured on a seemingly regular basis. Thankfully for the Hawkins Hero, he has a Russian double-agent on his side, sacrificing everything to save the American (and make a quick buck in the process.)
As to be expected, things don't go according to plan and both men end up behind bars, alongside a Demogorgon. Once Hopper and Dmitri are free from prison, they continue to fight side-by-side instead of going their separate ways, even though there is little financial gain for the Russian. Dmitri risks his life once again for the sake of his new friendship (oh, and potentially saving the world), never once considering escaping peril with the double-crossing Yuri.
10 Steve and Nancy
The 'will they, won't they' question is on everyone's lips during Stranger Things Season 4, as the sexual tension between Nancy and Steve is undeniable, however, Nancy claims to still be head-over-heels for Jonathan. Steve is clearly still crushing hard on his ex, and his new-and-improved personality appears to tick a lot of Nancy's boxes, making this pair much more compatible than in Season 1.
Regardless of their relationship status (or lack thereof), Nancy does not hesitate for a moment when Steve suddenly disappears underwater and is dragged into The Upside Down. Even his best friend, Robin, took a second to weigh up the pros and cons before taking the leap, but Nancy's selfless heroism proves that there is still a spark between these two potential lovebirds.
9 Lucas and Erica
In all the years of Stranger Things, fans surprisingly haven't seen that much interaction between the Sinclair siblings, who both seem to have better relationships with Dustin and Eddie than with each other. When Jason goes on a Hellfire rampage, however, all that changes as Lucas and Erica team up to do everything in their power to save poor Max.
The siblings clearly bond over their mutual near-death experiences in Season 4 episode 9, as they narrowly survive the deranged attacks of Jason and his gang. There is barely a dry eye around when Lucas calls out to Erica in a desperate plea for help, while she fights tooth and nail to return to his side.
8 Joyce and Murray
When Joyce gets a mysterious package from Russia, who better to take along on an adventure than her bilingual buddy, Murray. Not only is he reliable (in his own way), but Joyce can expect constant entertainment on her travels (well, the viewers can, anyway!) There is simply no chill when it comes to these two, who always take the most dramatic approach to everything and only seem to work each other up into an (unexpectedly successful) frenzy.
Joyce and Murray attempting to overpower Yuri on the plane to Russia is one of the funniest moments from Season 4. When the investigative journalist's karate skills are put on full display, the humor in the contrast between Murray's pride and Joyce's horror is only surpassed by their feeble attempts to intimidate Yuri later on. Altogether, a job well done!
7 Robin and Nancy
With a mostly male-dominated cast, viewers rarely get to see the girls team up, especially since Max and Eleven are now living worlds apart. Robin Buckley and Nancy Wheeler might have gone to the same school, but they clearly did not spend much time together, stemming from different social groups and all. Connected by their mutual friendship with Steve, these two pair off to investigate Victor Creel but their relationship dynamic gets off to a rocky start.
It's quite entertaining to see the stark distinctions between these two personalities as they explore the library archives or go undercover at the Pennhurst Mental Hospital. Their awkward interactions appear to take a turn when Nancy realizes that Robin is no competition in the Steve race, and the girls form a seemingly lasting bond in their death-defying adventures in Season 4.
6 Jonathan and Argyle
Whether it be for the comic relief, the need for wheels, or simply the magnificent hair; fans are unsure why Argyle was added to the Stranger Things cast, but there are certainly no complaints, that's for sure! As Jonathan's newest buddy, Argyle has made quite an impact in his supporting role and, besides providing a good laugh, has the important task of transporting the group (across America it seems) while consistently providing a mellow ambiance in the process.
Jonathan and Argyle's "deep and meaningful" conversations give off some serious Cheech & Chong vibes, as they have clearly bonded over their mutual love for greenery. Regardless of the circumstances, it is comforting to see that the loner from Hawkins has finally found some companionship!
5 Chrissy and Eddie
The most surprising partnership in Season 4 is between Chrissy Cunningham and Eddie Munson, who are from opposite ends of the social spectrum and just happen to discover they have more in common than previously assumed. While practically everyone is rooting for these two to just kiss already, Vecna, unfortunately, has other plans in mind and becomes the ultimate crotch Nazi in the process.
The Duffer Brothers admit to regretting killing off Chrissy's character in Stranger Things due to the intensely intriguing chemistry that she shared with co-star Joseph Quinn, aka Eddie. Unfortunately, the scene that won over everyone's hearts in Season 4 episode 1 was the last to be shot with Chrissy, and her death was already cast in stone.
4 Steve and Robin
One of the most beloved partnerships from Season 3 makes a comeback in the fourth installment, but this time around, Robin and Steve are working for a video store (something the young fans know nothing about!) Their friendship seems to have only grown stronger over time and, as far as viewers can tell, Steve is still the only one aware of her LGBTQ+ status.
Steve constantly does his best to boost Robin's self-esteem and encourages her to take a leap in the romance department, while Robin does her best to butter Nancy up for Steve as the best wingman he could ever ask for. While Steve may give Nancy all the credit for his changed behavior (when she dumped him back in Season 1), many fans believe that Robin has been a significant positive influence in shaping Steve into the responsible young man he is today.
3 Max and Lucas
Although this is by no means a new partnership, most fans enjoyed watching these two rekindle their romance after a surprising break-up following Season 3's disaster. The details of Max and Lucas' split are unconfirmed, however, Max's intense grief and guilt coupled with Lucas' drastic change in social status are the likely culprits.
Lucas is the only one who knew that Kate Bush would save Max from Vecna's grasp, and he put his life on the line in an attempt to protect Max from Jason, getting beat to a pulp in the process. Interestingly enough, while Eleven did feature in many of Max's cheerful flashbacks, Lucas is the highlight of her memory reel, emphasizing the depth of their affections. While Max is hospitalized and unconscious, Lucas spends his time reading to her, as a constant reminder that she has a reason to live.
2 Hopper and Joyce
Another Stranger Things love story that had fans swooning is between Hopper and Joyce, which has steadily been building up since Season 1, with seemingly no fruition. These pair are so dedicated to one another that it would be easy to mistake them as a happily married couple, however, they have yet to go out on their first date (which, if they are lucky, will only happen in Season 5!)
The sexual tension between these two is clearly at a bursting point in Season 4 episode 8, however, one of the biggest moments for Hopper and Joyce was unscripted, as the kissing scene was entirely improvised. A bold great decision on the actors' part, as these two characters are clearly made for each other!
1 Dustin and Eddie
Although everyone from Hellfire rallied behind their leader, none are more loyal than sweet Dustin, who had his mentor's back up until the very end. Probably the most amusing part of this new, strong friendship is Steve's apparent jealousy, having been Dustin's first friendly father figure and now seemingly with some competition.
Fans shed even more tears when Eddie reminds Dustin to embrace his weirdness and never change as the pair bond during their Upside Down battle preparations in Season 4 Vol 2. Dustin and Eddie team up to distract the Deombats in The Upside Down while they put on the most metal performance ever, honoring Metallica's "Master of Puppets" in the process. Eddie ensures that his buddy returns safely to Hawkins before heroically taking another shot at the Demobats; willing to risk his own life, but refusing to allow Dustin to come into harm's way. If only the rest of Hawkins knew the truth!
Source: Forbes