Though I agree with the overall premise of this article (Nancy wound up with the right person, and Steve was actually a pretty good kid, considering), I disagree with the reasoning on 2 points: 1) that Steve is a better choice than Jonathon, or 2) that Nancy's choice being right had even a single thing to do with either of the teenage male leads.
I'm a little abhorred with the tone of the article toward Jonathan. Yes, he was a creeper. Yes he has some real issues to work out. But I got the sense the author showed a real bias in regard to her analysis of the nature of the world's that the two teenage male leads grew up in as it related to their actions throughout the season. In a nutshell, the author seems to be arguing that because Steve is a normal, well-adjusted upper middle class teen, that he shows any decency makes him good. But Jonathan's NOT a normal, well-adjusted upper middle class teen, so despite the fact that he shows any decency he's bad.
Like I said, I agree with the premise, and Nancy's story arc is a refreshing twist on the sixteen candles teen girl coming-of-age narrative (every action she takes is definitively her own choice, and every challenge placed before her gets dealt with on her terms). However, I think she misses the mark on why Nancy wound up with the right guy. It's not because Steve is a nice normal boy at the end of the day, but because Nancy decided she wanted to be with him. It's because she exercised agency in choosing to have (or not have) a boyfriend, not because Steve > Jonathon.
And just to tie a bow on that first paragraph, I reject the author's skin-deep analysis of the two male teens for one reason: it over values the idea of normalcy. Neither Steve nor Jonathon is better than the other based on their actions toward Nancy. Jonathon's are "weirder" because voyeurism isn't seen as an acceptable hobby, but Steve also violates Nancy's space by climbing to her room uninvited, fully intending to make a pass at her. And both -- eventually -- grow to respect her boundaries. Jonathon actually has a less problematic moralizing moment, as he questions her sexual explorations privately to her face, while Steve is a party to her public shaming. Long story short, Steve and Jonathon have an equal amount of teenage boy awfulness. Steve's is just more.... socially accepted.
Ok, I'm done for now, but "Stranger Things" is one of those shows that will require a part 2. So, you know. Stay tuned...
