Every ‘Stranger Things 3’ Viewer Has The Same Favorite Character Pairing

NETFLIX

[extremely light spoilers for Stranger Things 3]

How long did it take before you realized the actress who plays Robin, one of the many new, non-Jake Busey characters in Netflix’s Stranger Things 3, is Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke’s daughter For me, it was around episode four. It probably should have been sooner — she’s a fantastic addition, even when doing something as sedentary as watching Back to the Future — but I was too busy being distracted / delighted by the antics of Steve and Dustin.

The most unlikely of character pairings, Steve and Dustin’s friendship was arguably the best thing about season two, and it continued into season three, which premiered on July 4.

“When we went and pitched the season to Netflix, that was never part of it. It’s just something you discover along the way,” co-creator Matt Duffer said about the pair last season. “Steve was kind of getting sidelined because Nancy dropped him for Jonathan, and he didn’t have a lot to do… At the same time, Dustin was really abandoned by his friends, and [Steve] could help. Then we just fell in love with the idea of the pairing, because they were both dealing with heartbreak.”

Neither character dealt with heartbreak in season three, not as overtly at least, but they bonded over, among other things, Robin, stopping the no-good Russians, and killing each other with lightsabers.

— Myles McNutt (@Memles) July 4, 2019

We’ll have much more on Stranger Things 3 following the holiday weekend, but for now, let’s take a moment to appreciate Steve “The Hair” Harrington and Dustin Henderson, my favorite “father” and “son,” and Robin. (I almost included Erica, too, but she would call me a nerd, and I’d never be able to recover.)

— ONLY SEEN EPS 1 AND 2 (@dxrthvaders) June 30, 2019

Be my Dustin, I’ll be your Steve.

They are the perfect example of friendship.#StrangersThings3 pic.twitter.com/pL7HH8nvAl

— ⚽️Raees Happu-God Of Thunder⚽️ (@HappuDroga3) July 4, 2019

Robin, Steve, Dustin and Erica are the best squad #StrangerThings3 pic.twitter.com/EdYsJV4GM8

— moo (@gyllenfrey) July 4, 2019

this was the most precious scene of the whole show, steve and dustin are an iconic duo and have my entire heart thank you for coming to my ted talk #StrangerThings pic.twitter.com/OeWmkgvw8X

— aisha. (@ecstacynights) July 5, 2019

I love the friendship between Dustin and Steve. It’s so pure. #StrangerThings pic.twitter.com/tbfg5gRlIe

— Carmen (@_ThestraI) July 4, 2019

steve dustin and robin knowing they’re the best trio on stranger things pic.twitter.com/DZk8DXszEp

— milly | ST SPOILERS (@gcznadia) July 4, 2019

dustin steve robin and erica working as a team >>>> #StrangerThings3 pic.twitter.com/QXzpMG0pNI

— :^]yas~★!! (@seokjinsmagic) July 4, 2019

if anything happens to steve or dustin I will stop watching it pic.twitter.com/lVcDUx5coJ

— vanessa! (@mmithvane) July 4, 2019

steve harrington: "HENDERSON!! He's back!!"

dustin: "you got the job!"

steve: "I got the job!"

me: pic.twitter.com/rn7Fbmbd86

— sunny sis (@lizz_sarinana) July 4, 2019

If our friendship is not like Steve & Dustin, we can't be friends #StrangerThings3 @Stranger_Things pic.twitter.com/QFK1gpodDR

— ĹẸẸ ŴẸŜŤŴĮČЌ (@LeeWestwick) July 4, 2019

Erica, Steve, Robin and Dustin being a bomb ass squad #StrangerThings #strangerthingsseason3 pic.twitter.com/dE9VsbHzb0

— T (@twirlyxgurly) July 4, 2019

Steve, Robin and Dustin are the real stars of season 3 of Stranger Things, what a trio pic.twitter.com/vxxbreorD3

— Thea (@theawillsmore) July 4, 2019