Stranger Things: 10 Reasons Why Steve And Robin Aren’t Real Friends

Steve Harrington strikes up an unlikely friendship with his former classmate and current co-worker Robin Buckley in Season 3 of Netflix’s Stranger Things. The two are joined by Dustin and Erica as they infiltrate a secret Russian base hidden underneath Starcourt Mall. Robin later tells Steve about her sexuality in a touching and heartfelt scene, and the two remain friends after the Mind Flayer destroys the mall.

Steve’s friendship with Robin was one of the highlights of the popular sci-fi show’s third season. However, these two were far from friends during their time together at high school. Maybe they aren’t real friends after all…

10 Steve Has A Crush On Her

Steve Harrington doesn’t have much luck when it comes to love in Stranger Things. The former King of Hawkins High turns his back on his friends, Tommy and Carol, and chooses his relationship with Nancy over his popularity. Despite his love for her, Nancy breaks up with Steve in Season 2, and finally acts on her feelings for Jonathan.

In Season 3, Steve declares his romantic feelings for her Robin. She swiftly rejects him, however, and informs her friend that she is gay.

9 They Bully Each Other At Work

Steve and Robin’s work relationship is mostly friendly teasing, but at times the Scoops Ahoy workers veer into bully territory towards each other. Robin mocks Steve’s attempts to flirt with girls and repeatedly insults him. Steve tells Dustin that Robin isn’t his type and makes similar comments about her.

The co-workers gradually grow closer as they infiltrate a secret Russian base hidden underneath Starcourt Mall together. However, their relationship was initially hostile.

8 Robin’s Score Board Is Pretty Mean

Robin has reason to dislike Steve initially. The former jock was inconsiderate at school, and Robin relishes the opportunity to tease him at work. She keeps a scoreboard of Steve’s failed attempts to flirt with customers and delights in his embarrassment.

Steve was oblivious to Robin during their years together at Hawkins High. Regardless, Robin’s scoreboard is pretty mean, and further insults Steve as he despairs about leaving school with no college prospects.

7 Steve Looked Down On Robin For Her High School Hobbies

Dustin talks about Robin with Steve in Season 3, telling his friend that he is working with the perfect girl and urging him to ask her out. Steve responds by firmly stating he has nothing in common with Robin, and makes disparaging comments about her high school activities.

Steve can be a bit of a snob at times, and this shows in his relationship with Robin. The former King of Hawkins High still struggles to relinquish his former views of popularity and subconsciously clings to his glory days.

6 They Weren’t Friends In High School

Robin doesn’t appear in Stranger Things until Season 3. She is introduced as Steve’s new co-worker at Starcourt Mall’s ice-cream attraction, Scoops Ahoy. Robin and Steve attended school together but were never friends and didn’t talk to each other until after graduation.

Robin tells Steve that the former jock was oblivious to her, despite her obsession with him. Steve allowed his popular status to prevent him from making genuine friends before his relationship with Nancy.

5 Steve Was Mean To Robin

Fans first meet Steve Harrington in Season 1 of Stranger Things as the popular and arrogant King of Hawkins High. Steve values his status and, despite being a good person, displays bullying tendencies, especially when flanked by his friends.

Robin tells Steve that he wasn’t nice towards her in high school. She later persuades Keith, who confirms that Steve was a bully, to employ them both at the video store following the destruction of the mall.

4 They Don’t Have A Lot In Common

Steve and Robin bond through their time together at work, but outside of Scoops Ahoy, they are both different people with separate hobbies and interests. They share few similarities and arguably have nearly nothing in common.

Steve enjoys sports and sometimes values appearance over substance throughout the series. Robin is more reserved and quirky, with a wide variety of hobbies and a keen ear for languages. Despite this, both characters share a sarcastic sense of humor that is a highlight of Season 3.

3 Steve Made Homophobic Comments In Season 1

Robin tells Steve that she is gay in Season 3  of Stranger Things, and Steve embraces his friend’s identity. However, during an earlier encounter with Jonathan Byers in Season 1, Steve made a homophobic remark that contradicts his personality later.

Steve repeats a slur during his fight with Jonathan. While Steve matures throughout the series and becomes a better person, this news would likely hurt his friendship with Robin.

2 Steve Didn’t Want To Include Her In The Group Initially

Dustin returns from Camp Know Where and enlists Steve’s help in solving a secret Russian code. Robin offers to help, though Steve is reluctant to include her in the group. Steve and Dustin eventually relent when Robin reveals her linguistic proficiency, and she later cracks the code and helps them infiltrate the Russian base.

Robin was a valuable member of the Scoops Troop, and the group would have been lost without her. Luckily, Steve swayed on his initial decision and invited her to help them solve the latest mystery in Hawkins.

1 They’re Bound To Drift Apart

Stranger Things features several heartfelt and close-knit friendships, but it also focuses on friends drifting apart. The Party has gradually grown more distant throughout the series. Dustin spent the majority of Season 3 with the Scoops Troop, and Eleven leaves Hawkins with the Byers in the season finale.

Steve and Robin’s friendship could see the same treatment. Both characters may inevitably leave Hawkins and drift apart for good. Hopefully, Steve and Robin’s friendship remains strong, and fans can see more of their adventures in Stranger Things 4.

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