The final season of Netflix's global phenomenon, Stranger Things, has delivered its share of emotional gut-punches, but one pivotal moment between two original characters left fans deeply confused. Now, the show's creators have stepped in to provide a definitive answer on the fate of Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer) and Jonathan Byers (Charlie Heaton).
A Confusing "Un-Proposal" in the Upside Down
The release of Stranger Things season 5, volume 2 on Netflix presented audiences with three new episodes, setting the stage for the grand finale arriving on New Year’s Day for viewers in the UK and Ireland. Amidst the climactic battles, a key scene unfolded between the long-term couple. Trapped in the disintegrating Hawkins Lab within the Upside Down, facing imminent death, Jonathan chose that moment of brutal honesty to reveal an engagement ring.
In a poignant twist, he didn't propose. Instead, he told Nancy, "I tried to convince myself that this would somehow fix everything. But it was just going to make things worse." He concluded with an "un-proposal," asking, "Nancy Wheeler, will you not marry me?" Nancy accepted, and they declared their love, yet the status of their relationship remained frustratingly ambiguous to viewers.
The Creators' Definitive Verdict on the Romance
The ambiguity has now been decisively cleared up by the show's makers. In an interview with People magazine, Matt Duffer stated plainly, "That's a breakup. They are broken up." He and his twin brother, Ross Duffer, explained that the decision to separate the pair had been developing "for a while" within the writers' room.
The core reasoning, according to the creators, was that Nancy needed to end up on her own. They felt her character required independence and "an opportunity to find herself," a sentiment echoed in the season when she expressed uncertainty about her future after Steve Harrington's confession about wanting a large family. Ross Duffer described their bond as a "trauma bond" forged in high school amidst the horrors of Hawkins, suggesting they had simply outgrown each other as they changed.
Behind the Scenes of an Emotional Farewell
The actors themselves have shed light on filming this climactic moment for their characters. Charlie Heaton revealed in a Netflix behind-the-scenes feature that it was the last scene they shot together as Jonathan and Nancy. He explained that they rehearsed meticulously for a month to ensure they could focus solely on the raw emotion when the cameras rolled.
"It was about me and Natalia just kind of focusing on each other and trying to block everything out and just try and be as honest as we could be with the scene and the emotion of it," Heaton said. Co-star Natalia Dyer added that after a season spent apart, having such a significant, intimate scene to conclude their characters' journey together felt fitting.
While Jonathan and Nancy's story has reached its conclusion on screen, the actors portraying them remain a couple off-screen, having dated since meeting on the Stranger Things set in 2017. Fans can witness the final chapter of the entire saga when Stranger Things season 5, volume 3 (the series finale) premieres on Netflix UK & Ireland at 1am on New Year’s Day.
