Warning: Spoilers
The third season of Stranger Things has finally landed on Netflix, like a gloriously emotional spaceship packed full of 80s nostalgia.
Despite hitting our respective online cornfield mere days ago, fans have already binged through the hotly anticipated new season like a particularly moreish packet of Eggos.
As was the case with the first two seasons, viewers have been thoroughly transported to the Spielberg-esque town of Hawkins, absorbed completely by the thrills, mysteries and romances of the deceptively ordinary Indiana life.
Now Stranger Things has introduced its very first LGBTQ+ character, and she makes for a fantastic addition to the existing Demogorgon fighting gang.
We first meet Robin (Maya Hawke) working alongside Steve Harrington (Joe Keery) at Scoops Ahoy, with their friendship initially appearing to be building towards something more. Particularly when Robin confessed she had been obsessed with him while in high school.
However, the screenwriters took this narrative in a far more interesting direction, refusing to make Robin merely a convenient Nancy replacement for reformed popular boy Steve.
As the season came to a close, Steve admitted to having feelings for Robin, only to realise he had gotten the wrong end of the ice lolly stick entirely.
Rebuffing Steve’s attentions, Robin surprised both viewers and Steve when she explained her high school obsession with him revolved around jealously rather than a simple crush.
Robin then revealed she was actually gay, and was envious of how a girl she liked had been so enamoured by Steve and his famously well-kept hairdo. She wanted to know why her crush fancied Steve so much, and just couldn’t figure it out.
In a cast full of strong characters, Robin has already become a fan favourite, with viewers admiring her intelligence and quick wit.
One Twitter user described her as being ‘one of the coolest characters’ in the series, while another hailed her as being a ‘lesbian queen’.
As a TV show which, at its heart, is about the struggles of growing up and finding your place in the world, this is an excellent narrative choice from the Stranger Things writing room.
Stranger Things Season 3 is currently available to stream on Netflix.
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Jules studied English Literature with Creative Writing at Lancaster University before earning her masters in International Relations at Leiden University in The Netherlands (Hoi!). She then trained as a journalist through News Associates in Manchester. Jules has previously worked as a mental health blogger, copywriter and freelancer for various publications.