Nancy Wheeler and Robin Buckley

Nancy Wheeler, portrayed by Natalia Dyer, is a main character in Stranger Things. She is also the protagonist of the novel Stranger Things: One Way or Another. Nancy is an aspiring journalist, and an ally to "the Party". She is the older sister of Mike and Holly Wheeler and the ex-girlfriend of both Jonathan Byers and Steve Harrington.

Nancy is hyper-intelligent and studious, having a high GPA and studying vigorously for tests. However, after entering a relationship with Steve she became more rebellious, lying and participating in activities she most likely wouldn't have done otherwise. While her actions were being influenced by her new "friends", she still remained kind, sympathetic, and studious. Her genius-level of intellect led to finding the truth behind Barb’s disappearance even though she still felt guilty.

She was also shown to have a tremendous amount of bravery, resolve, and conviction, going to great lengths for those she cared for. When she was looking for the missing Barb, she boldly entered a portal to another dimension in an attempt to save her friend. Later, determined to kill the Monster, she willingly used her and Jonathan's blood to lure it out.

When Nancy started working at The Hawkins Post, she strove to work hard and do her best. However, surrounded by misogynistic co-workers, Nancy was belittled and mocked despite her treating her co-workers kindly. Because of the ridicule she received from her co-workers, Nancy was determined to receive the approval and recognition from her co-workers by going through such lengths to be treated equally and respectfully. Nancy's determination to gain her co-workers' respect led her to making decisions without thinking thoroughly; this, in turn, resulted in her and Jonathan getting fired and their relationship becoming strained. After a talk with her mother, Nancy overcame the cruelty that she endured from the journalists at the Hawkins Post and reconciled with Jonathan.

In 1986, Nancy continued pursuing journalism by working for her school's newspaper. However, she struggled with inner frustration over her relationship with Jonathan as he had moved away to California and barely kept in touch with her where neither of them decided to visit each other during spring break. Nancy even showed annoyance when someone spoke about her relationship with Jonathan and insisted everything was fine between the two of them. When she reunited with Jonathan, Nancy was happy to see him, but denied that there were problems in their relationship. Once fellow student Chrissy Cunningham was mysteriously murdered, Nancy sought to investigate and unlike her former co-workers from the Hawkins Post, she approached individuals kindly and sought only to write truthful stories, instead of gossip. As Nancy investigated and searched for Vecna with the Party, her guilt and trauma over Barb's death began to resurface which Vecna used to torment Nancy when he enthralled her under a curse. Yet, despite being traumatized by her encounter with Vecna who also showed her visions of her family dying, Nancy's will did not break as she grew determined to kill Vecna.

Robin Buckley, portrayed by Maya Hawke, is a main character in Stranger Things, being introduced in the third season; she is also the protagonist of the novel Stranger Things: Rebel Robin. She is the co-worker and best friend of Steve Harrington.

In the summer of 1985, Robin began working at the newly-built Starcourt Mall's ice cream parlor, Scoops Ahoy, with her former classmate, Steve Harrington. Robin often poked fun at Steve's fleeting popularity and failure to woo over female customers. When Steve and his friend Dustin Henderson attempted to decipher an intercepted Russian code, Robin helped them translate, and figured out that Russians were using the mall's food chains and businesses to smuggle supplies into Hawkins. Eventually, the three discovered that the Soviets had carried out an elaborate scheme; Starcourt Mall was merely a front to conceal the construction of an underground Soviet base. With the assistance of Erica Sinclair, the group snuck into the base, where they discovered the Soviets had developed a means to travel to another dimension. Upon their return to the surface, Robin, Steve, Dustin and Erica got involved with the fight against the Mind Flayer and the possessed Billy Hargrove. After Starcourt burned down, Robin and Steve would get jobs three months later, at the local Family Video.

Robin is a lesbian, making her the first confirmed LGBTQ+ character on the show. Robin was originally intended to date Steve. However, during the filming of "The Sauna Test" and "The Flayed", Maya Hawke, Joe Keery, the Duffer Brothers, and Shawn Levy agreed that Robin should be a lesbian instead. Maya Hawke is queer, like her character.

Robin mentions in "The Massacre at Hawkins Lab" that rabies is her number one fear. Robin may possibly be either an atheist or agnostic, as she mentions in "The Piggyback" that she doesn't believe in a higher power or divine intervention.

Nancy Wheeler and Robin Buckley, often nicknamed "Ronance" by fans, form an unlikely, close friendship in Stranger Things Season 4, bridging Nancy’s serious investigative nature with Robin’s energetic, awkward charm. Starting from initial awkwardness, they bond while investigating Victor Creel, turning into a trusted team that aids the fight against Vecna, often providing a rare female confidante dynamic for both characters.

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