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nonanimestuff · 2 years ago

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S1 Steve was not a bully

Just got into Stranger Things and people have told me they don't like Steve because he was a bully, but it didn't really seem like he was (to me at least)?

My understanding is that the Duffers initially intended for him to be that stereotypical 80s jock bully that was going to be killed off, but then Joe Keery was Joe Keery so they changed course.

From what I saw, yes he did some not-so-great things but they didn't seem so bad that they could constitute him being called a bully or warrant such hate. The main criticisms being:

a) He got Nancy drunk and SAed her:

But, um, she drank that beer of her own volition? If there was anything remotely close to resembling peer pressure for drinking it might be when Nancy was trying to get Barb to drink too. Not sure where the idea that Steve slept with Nancy against her will came from, I guess from the old script before they changed his storyline? Don't know why that's still being taken into account. In the actual show Nancy was willing and I would go so far to say that she's the one who initiated. And not in the gross way where it's like "well look at what she's wearing she was asking for it" but in the way where she made the conscious decision to start undressing and ask Steve look at while she does. I feel like there's evidence to imply this was her intention from the start because why else would she have sent Barb home first? It's my impression that in S2 a lot of the guilt she felt about Barb was not just because she happened to be sleeping with Steve while Barb died but that she specifically sent her friend to her eventual death (unknowingly) so she could sleep with him.

b) He broke Jonathan's camera:

Well, was it the best way to handle it? Meh maybe not, I suppose he could have turned in the evidence to the police though that would've led to far dire consequences for Jonathan if he had :/ Certainly wouldn't call it bullying though. Breaking something that was used as an instrument in a crime against you is way different then, say, breaking something (or someone) because you were disobeyed. He didn't even look happy after having done the deed. Feel like if he was a bully he would've done some gloating or laughed (i.e. like Tommy)

c) Allowing Tommy to spray paint the sign:

Okay, so he didn't do it himself but he did let it happen and that's almost just as bad. Sure he was hurting, but it's not a justifiable excuse for his (non)action. But even saying that, it was the act of a boyfriend who thought he was betrayed, and not a bully. The distinction being that this seemed to be a one off thing. That he was lashing out at someone who hurt him and this was not part of a pattern of behaviors where he seeks to harm some one perceived as weaker than himself. Bullies are also not known for apologizing and while we don't see him apologize to Nancy for this the show establishes he is willing to see his faults and apologize for them (once in the Wheeler garage and again at the Byers house) so it feels safe to assume he did for this too. Nancy probably wouldn't have taken him back otherwise. And the whole saving their lives thing probably made up for it (should say this is only applicable in cases where the offense is minor. Someone can't just go "oh hey I saved your life so you can totally forgive and forget about my history of ab*sing children and attempted murder now" )

d) What he says to Jonathan:

There's really no arguing what he said was bad. It was super bad (which he does recognize and was going to apologize for). This is probably the closest to a what could be called bully!Steve that the show ever gets to. But again while it was inexcusable bad behavior it doesn't quite reach the "Steve is and has always been a bully" threshold. Again this is action of a guy who thought his girlfriend had cheated on him with the guy he was saying vicious things to. Kind of like with the spray painting, Steve is lashing out at someone he thought hurt him first. Not sure if he wanted to goad Jonathan into a fight but when it happens Steve even keeps the fight clean, pushing Tommy away when he tries to join the fight. Overall just doesn't scream bully to me.

These main arguments for Steve being a bully aren't particularly convincing. His other scenes also don't convey it either, at most he's a jerk/asshole at times. There's just a general lack of bully behavior.

a) We never see him verbally bully anyone (aside from what he said in the alley but again I don't think it was said as a bully but as an asshole), in fact he even stops Tommy and Carol from doing so behind Jonathan's back. The spray painting is more of an example that he didn't stop verbal bullying rather than participating in it. That whole thing really just seemed like is was Tommy's idea.

b) We never see him physically bully anyone on screen either. He loses the fight against Jonathan and Tommy says that Steve would lose against him (though maybe it could be because he's already injured, personally I think Tommy just meant in general) which indicates he's not much into fighting. He could've very well punched Jonathan or pushed him down and started beating him up while his back was turned walking away, but he just shoved him while insulting him. Someone made a great post I liked that analyzed the alley fight scene explaining that Steve does know how to fight and let himself get beat up, but even if that's the case the show still makes no indication that he puts those skills into practice regularly. If anything it seems that him getting into a physical fight is pretty ooc in-universe for him as both Carol and Nicole immediately try to get him to stop fighting and Carol tells Tommy to join the fight worried that Steve is going to hurt himself.

In later seasons it's mainly mentioned that Steve was an jerk not a bully. And even then Robin's idea of him being "a prick to [her]" is eating bagels messily in class and not being aware of Tammy's crush on him. Eddie seems not to have had any prior interaction with Steve and just expresses surprise that popular jock Steve is a good guy. Then there's Keith who says that Steve was a douche but he also wanted Mike to "prostitute his sister" so I'm not sure I want to take his statement at face value

So I just don't get why people say Steve was a bully when it was more he hung around two of them. And even though Tommy and Carol were bullies at least they stuck to picking on people their own size, and did seem to genuinely care for Steve before he dropped them. So still not great people, but not the worst.

#stranger things #steve harrington

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