All The Complaints About Robin In Stranger Things 4 Are Absurd

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Stranger Things season 4

Viewers of Stranger Things season 4 criticized the new season for supposedly changing Robin's entire character, but these criticisms were absurd. After being introduced in Stranger Things season 3 as Steve's quick-on-her-feet co-worker, Robin quickly became a member of the Stranger Things gang and joined Steve, Dustin and Erica on their side of the fight against the mind-flayer. The character proved to be infinitely useful to the group, helping to decode intercepted Russian messages and thinking fast after being captured by Russian soldiers.

Robin's character was also widely praised for being a character that accurately represented the LGBTQ+ community. The character was undefined by her sexuality, with a personality and life in her own right, but the writers still ensured that the true trials of being gay in the 80s could be discussed in full. Maya Hawke's powerful portrayal of the character only added to this, and consequently, the character quickly became an iconic fan favorite.

Many viewers were then disappointed when, in Stranger Things season 4, Robin seemingly became far more scatter-brained. It seemed to some as though the writers had removed her quick wits in favor of bumbling comedy, stumbling upon successful investigation rather than instigating it. However, while it's true there were some changes to her character, any criticism levied against Robin for this was unsubstantiated. Robin changed no more than any of the other characters in the fourth season, and any changes in the way she interacted with the other cast members could be easily attributed to character development or the addition of comedy to her character.

Stranger things season 4 will hurts its perfect robin story

Audiences first saw Robin in Stranger Things season 4 as she rambled chaotically to Steve about the romance in her life, and it immediately seemed as though she had become far less level-headed than in the previous season. This chaos never really subsided, leading many to criticize the character's sudden change. Yet, in many ways, this increase in chaos made complete sense. Between seasons, Robin had gotten to know Steve and the others as a much closer group of friends. She is likely to have had a guard up with them during the third season, particularly considering the disdain she felt for Steve when they were younger. She had simply let this guard down and therefore displayed more of her true colors to the group in conversation by Stranger Things season 4. Perhaps, then, Robin always had a scatter-brained side to her that we didn't get to see in season 3 and this change was merely a matter of character development. After all, Robin always had underlying chaotic moments right from her introduction, such as when she created a board to count Steve's failures with women at Scoops Ahoy instead of actually doing her work.

What's more, Robin never truly lost her quick wit in Stranger Things season 4, it was merely shrouded by Maya Hawke's incredible comic timing throughout the fourth season. It was Robin who made the dramatic speech to gain access to Pennhurst Mental Hospital during Nancy and Robin's team-up. She was also the first to find a way into the Creel household by throwing a brick through the door. The only difference between these quick-witted moments and those in the third season is that the later ones were used for comic relief. This did not take away from her intelligence, or from her place in the zeitgeist as an LGBTQ+ icon. The changes were therefore all superficial and in no way different from the changes we saw in other characters such as Lucas, who went from being a loyal nerd to a popular basketball player with very little explanation.

In the end, it would be hard to argue that Robin's character in Stranger Things season 4 changed beyond a surface level. These changes could be put down to a development in her relationship with the other equally brilliant characters from the show. It could also be down to the Duffer Brothers' need to create a good story; tiny nuances of her character were sacrificed to compliment the huge interweaving plotlines. Either way, it cannot be denied that Robin is still a fan-favorite character. Any criticism levied against her perceived change is simply absurd.

Next: Stranger Things 4 Revealed Its Best Spinoff (& It's Not What You Expect)

Stranger Things season 4 is now available on Netflix

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