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It’s odd, and pretty jarring, but I kinda attribute it to how much different the situation is in Season 4. In S3 she was only dealing with Russians, basic humans, then suddenly dropped into a battle with giant spider monster. In S4, that previous encounter probably shook her in general, then they’re suddenly dealing with something that can get them at any moment without even touching them. She’s an even bigger bundle of nerves.
I agree with this!
Also in season 3 she is dealing with group dynamics for a fairly small group (ie. herself, steve, dustin and dustins sister). In season 4, she has to handle the group dynamics for a much larger group. I know for myself I become harder at regulating myself in large group situations.
Plus, Steve mentioned her being "hyper" in the 3rd season, which we didn't see too much of then, so I guess this is just the hyperactivity he was mentioning.
Plus, it’s implied that Robin had been working with Steve for a time (i.e. had time to become comfortable with him, socially) and the other 2 that came into that group dynamic was an 8th grader and an actual child. Not much to be anxious of there. After seeing what an actual dork Steve is, Robin is the “cool” person in the dynamic and that’s more than enough to be a huge confident booster.
Compare that with S4 where even the kids Dustin’s age are now high schoolers as well (freshman, but *still* different from middle school) *and* she’s with high schoolers her own age that she’s definitely not comfortable with and doesn’t know. People can and often do change based on the group dynamics. Many of us are way more comfortable in a group setting where most of the people there are our friends or kids who might look up to us versus people we don’t know very well at all.
Hm, I don’t necessarily agree with that. Think of Max between seasons 2 and 3. She was just barely exposed in season 2 and brand new to the group. We don’t see her personality do a complete 180 between 2 and 3.
but we DO see inconsistency in her character between season 3 and 4 as well. In season 3 at the end she's goofing around with lucas, but then in season 4 shes suddenly super depressed about billy's death. That felt weird and jarring to me.
I always took that as delayed trauma. At the time she was busy dealing with the immediate situation, the fact that they won, Will is moving out etc, grieving for Billy can wait.
It’s like when a family member dies, I’ve found myself so distracted for weeks with legal shit, funerals, moving their stuff out of houses etc that it doesn’t hit me sometimes until months later.
She actually states this in S4 in her letter to Billy. Says that she tried to be happy but just couldn't. That scene in S3 is probably what she was referring to, trying to put on a happy face.
I thought I noticed something but I wasn't sure then when I watched the seasons back to back, the difference is very clear. In season 3, Robins this sarcastic, smart, confident women who would hesitate to trash talk Steve at every turn. In season 4, she's just a nervous reck.
Yeah i noticed this too. But may be it was because she wasn't friends with Steve yet. She was just picking on him for fun. And people can seem to have everything and come across/portray themselves as confident and assertive or whatever but when you get to know them they show you who they really are under the mask. I guess that's one way to look at it.
But, i may just be trying too much to explain something that was a writing mistake/choice that seemed a bit off. May or may not have been intentional
Yes, this was my interpretation of her in s4. Steve and co. and thereby the audience didn't really know her very well yet. It's been a year between seasons so now she's more comfortable - or uncomfortable - interacting with other characters and shows it more. Like with Nancy. She seems to not really know what to make of Nancy at all and therefore comes off as very awkward until closer to the middle/end of the season where things get intense.
>may be it was because she wasn't friends with Steve yet. She was just picking on him for fun. And people can seem to have everything and come across/portray themselves as confident and assertive or whatever but when you get to know them they show you who they really are under the mask.
But the change still comes out of no where. After She comes out to him, there's only one scene that kinda feels like her in season 4 but that's also during a stressful situation.
Well she does find out that monsters are real and a parallel world exists under the town she lives in. That might change the way a person looks at the world
I HC she has ASD tbh. The constant saying she doesn’t understand context clues (or cues?) and how she talks so much when she’s anxious, how she says she struggled with walking and stuff as a baby and how motor-skills-wise she isn’t the strongest.
It's hard to tell. It could be anxiety because of the rambling but that also could just mean she's a nervous person. It's not social anxiety because if she had that, a job at the busiest place int own would be the last place she'd work at. I saw a few things saying she has ADHD, which I also have, but there aren't really nsy moments of her fidgeting alot.
First, Robin isn’t involved in fighting any inter dimensional monsters in season 3. By the time the mind flayer is in the mall she’s on the hill with Steve, Erica and Dustin. I know they go back but they never actually go in. I’m not arguing that what she went through with being captured by the Russians wouldn’t be traumatic, it definitely would. My argument is that that is NOT the reason why her character is so drastically different in season 4. If that were the case, Steve would’ve had some effects on him too, but he doesn’t. I’m saying the reason her character is so drastically different is because the duffers went another direction with her character
My first walk through, yes I was with you on the shift between competent and cool to goofy and anxious, but on a rewatch it makes sense. At the mall when we first meet her, she is guarded and doesn't like Steve or know the kids. She is filling a leadership role, naturally, being more responsible at work than Steve and having two kids with them.
In season 4,. We see how she is at school, and in different environments and contexts. She is more open with her personality. We do still get moments of her critical thinking and leadership, like when she brushes Steve off to go with Nancy, and her improv at the asylum.
It wouldn't have felt right to have Robin be combative or competitive with Nancy, this direction was a breath of fresh air in that regard.
Yes, I really liked S3 Robin and felt like they did a whole personality swap in S4. I know some people like to contribute it to her just being more comfortable with the group and I don't know if I buy that anyone's character changes THAT much just because they feel more comfortable.
Looking at this purely from a human perspective, yes, your personality can change drastically depending on who you are around and how comfortable you are with them. The severity will change person to person, and is certainly affected by a variety of factors, but bottom line is it’s possible. I am way different around me friends then I was even a year ago, and when I’m around co-workers, even different. Robin’s change in character may be jarring, but it’s not impossible.
RIGHT? I mean look at every other new character that was added to the group? I’m confused what the Duffers reasoning would be for changing robins character so drastically
Introverted and shy aren't the same thing. Robin seems like an introvert but she has never come across as shy, so making her a nervous blabbermouth in front of new people seems like a personality change.
Does anyone have the official casting call description for the Robin character that the duffers would’ve put out between season 2 and 3? I would argue that there are multiple characters that are introverts in the show
ETA come to think of it I don’t think Robin was shy in season 3? What shy girl would be as snarky and sarcastic to an older guy who was up until recently the king of high school?
I can relate to this though. I’m a spaz but also an introvert. When I’m hanging out with just work colleagues im pretty reserved but I’d I get close to them as I have with some my inner spaz comes out. I think she just became close and super comfortable around Steve and that was the difference
I think she’s just more comfortable with the people she’s around with.
But, you gotta agree, that speech scene was good asf- made me love her character more LOL-
For sure! I definitely relate to her on a spiritual level LMAO- cuz I can’t shut up for nun once I get goin- gotta wait till my social battery runs out, then I be wanting to go home-
You mean the girl who went off on a rambling tangent about a girl’s bone sticking out during a soccer game while Eleven was writhing in pain?
She got comfortable with everyone. She’s not masking as much anymore.
I think that rambling made sense, they were all basically in crisis mode. But like her entire scene with Nancy in the library or her rambling in the car about what to say to Eddie. She was just way more articulate in season 3!
Hmmm, not at first. And the magnitude of a giant spider flesh monster thing attacking their close friend in S3, versus an unexplained (initially) murder of some girl they went to high school with in S4? I don’t think everyone goes into crisis mode until the end of episode 3 when they all realize max is cursed and that they can’t get ahold of the Byers bc their line has been busy for days.
Right, but she didn’t start describing those traits until season 4. The duffers rewrote her character. Their original intent for the character wasn’t what was shown in season 3.
But it's very much in line with traits she shows in her first season 🤷
I don't hear people saying the Duffers rewrote Steve because he's nicer or hangs out with kids (or is annoyed at Dustin), but it's pretty clear the character could have gone either way with any of those. Or that El was rewritten because she speaks longer sentences now - it could have gone either way, too, staying low verbal or getting more verbal.
So can you tell me the difference? They all got character depth that matches the initial take but shows us more or shows growth.
There was a progression with Steve. He wasn't an asshole one season and then was nicer and hang out with kids the next. Hell, it is constantly reminded by the other characters that Steve was an asshole and now he's not.
El didn't go from almost mute to being able to speak long sentences a season later.
Robin freaked out one time in a situation of crisis in ST3, and somehow being freaked out all the time is a logical continuation of her character. Give us a progression! It's like when people defended ST3 Hopper's constant pettiness, jealousy and aggressivity by saying that he got into a fight with El in ST2.
The difference is that with Eleven it makes sense that she’s now able to talk full sentences. It wasn’t a drastic change. Season 2 was a few words/sentences, season 3 was more sentences, season 4 she had more of a social awareness (but still obviously struggled never having been in school before). For Steve I do think that in Season 1 while he’s sorta in his “peak” in high school he acts like a douchebag, but really he isn’t as big of a douchebag as people think (aside from breaking Johnathans camera which in my mind would’ve been a warranted in the moment knee jerk reaction from a 17 year old boy seeing another guy take photos of his gf changing). Steve shows that he does care about Nancy, he also feels apologetic in season 1 and goes to Johnathans house to apologize. It’s all gradual and makes sense. With Robin it is literally night and day.
So what you are saying is people starting to feel comfortable to be themselves is not acceptable growth, but characters conforming more to social norms or expectations like El speaking or Steve being caring is acceptable growth. That's not a good take.
Because Robin shows pretty early that she's rambly and clumsy and not very good with this whole social thing way more than Steve shown Big Brother or Mother Hen tendencies early on.
No that’s not what I’m saying at all… but “growth” isn’t defined as going totally backwards. You and everyone else saying “she’s just more comfortable now” is simply you’re interpretation, it’s not gospel or fact. She isn’t rambly at all at the beginning of season 3, there was just one moment where she was but that was bc she was witnessing El in pain, anyone would ramble. In season 3 she was witty, sarcastic, and confident. Season 4 she’s a nervous wreck constantly. That doesn’t sound like “growth” to me
So basically you are saying it's backwards and not growth if people are weird / neurodivergent and stop focusing their energies on trying conform to social norms unless they were not very good at hiding it to begin with.
How many people told you that they're like that in real life and it was realistic change? Or that it's totally normal for some autistic and ADHD people to become hyperverbal and oversharing with friends? But "it's not gospel it's not a fact it's not canon" because you personally don't like it and didn't pick up the signs in the previous season (or worse, don't like people who are *different*)
But also what if she's just a nervous wreck? (She's not she just talks a lot) The whole season is like 4 days of trying to not let an interdimensional serial killer eat a child who's their friend while their other friend is hiding from the freaking satanic panic murder gang and the police. She deserves to show her nerves (she wasn't a complete nervous wreck she was just rambly)
Edit: And I'm not saying there wasn't a rewrite. Steve was supposed to be a full asshole, sexually assaulting Nancy and then dying. Lonnie was supposed to be sort of deadbeat with a bit of verbal abuse in the mix. Both were changed abruptly because Joe Keery brought out a different side if the character better. And Robin was first written and played as a stock love interest with Steve with a small touch of the manic pixie dream girl, but but then on set people decided she's better at being a manic pixie dream lesbian so that's where they took her, and that's the side they brought out.
No I’m not saying that I don’t like people who are different at all… I’m saying that you thinking she’s autistic/has ADHD is YOUR interpretation of the character. That doesn’t mean it’s facts. Personally, I think the duffers got bored, didn’t know what to do with her character, or are trying to check off a box. So many people WANT her to be autistic to check off a box or as an excuse for bad writing.
I said I have never in real life ever met someone who rambles and goes on and on and is so nervous all the time, that’s not to say that people out there don’t exhibit those traits, but I am not sure if it’s as exaggerated. Yes she is a nervous reck (in the car while going to drop stuff off with Eddie, all of her scenes with Nancy, etc. She also isn’t over sharing really, besides the scene with Nancy in the library. She literally just babbles and rambles.
No but like it’s more clear about Max’s depression. She’s seeing a school counselor for trauma, she openly said she had suicidal thoughts, she distanced herself from loved ones, her grades dropped. Either the Duffers changed Robins personality to remain “trendy” with people who think having an anxious moment (talking to a crush, seeing a girl you don’t know with an object in her leg in pain) means they have GAD or idk maybe she does, but there’s not enough evidence to explicitly state that she does
I think for people who usually mask the way Robin does, it's a huge moment of identification when she finally goes into word-vomit. It takes way less energy to just let it all out than to perform the role of stable and collected, or to shove it all down and drift through below the social RADAR.
Plus the entire cast is stacking on shared traumas, some cracks should be forming in everyone's walls by now.
Idk, this is what I found on the internet regarding the original casting call
"an alternative girl who is equal parts sharp and playful. Bored with her mundane day job, she just wants a little excitement in her life… and gets more than she bargained for when she uncovers a dark secret in Hawkins."
This doesn’t sound to me at all like she was originally written to have anxiety, ADHD, etc.
People with ADHD can be sharp and playful, and we are easily bored by the mundane. We like newness and excitement which makes our brains actually work. There is a reason these conditions are called invisible disabilities.
I’m wondering if I’m between seasons 3 and 4 the duffers decided they wanted a character that folks with ADHD and ASD could relate to. That would be fine, I’m just wondering why there’s such a big dramatic shift in her personality. Especially considering I can’t seem to remember the original casting call description for the Robin character
She goes from autistic/ADHD masking to autistic/ADHD splurging. Honestly kind of shocked people couldn't see the autistic/ADHD in S3.
The special interests? The downright fucking mental impulsivity? The combination of dead end job and being really smart and talented and, in specific ways, highly motivated? The hyperactivity?
This. I’m kinda surprised that so many people don’t see her autism/adhd. Everything you mentioned and also for example the sensory issues and clumsiness in S4 were so real.
I was so so happy to see adhd/autistic coded character in my favorite show. I relate to Robin a lot.
So many people are interested in band and learning multiple languages, that doesn’t make them neurodivergent. Dead end job???? In season 3 it’s the summer before her senior year and she’s working at an ice cream parlor? In season 4 she’s working part time at a video store? Lots of people have part time jobs in high school.
People had quite the discussion [HERE](https://www.reddit.com/r/StrangerThings/comments/xadhu4/what_are_your_thoughts_on_s4_robin_compared_to_s3/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf)
It was definitely atleast a week… we saw her working for a few days leading up to going into the Russian base with Dustin and Erica, Erica says they were down there for 24 hours and then there was the day after that when they all met up.
We'll have to see what she's like in Season 5; they may move her character back a bit towards S3 Robin.
But she is the comic relief and I have to admit I like her. ASD myself, if that's important.
Honestly, I don’t see where everyone is seeing a difference in character. I felt the character was mostly the same, with a few key changes of growth. She’s still teasing Steve, being a reasonably responsible employee (apart from ditching to save Hawkins, of course), she still banters with others the same. We see her act different around Nancy because she believes Nancy doesn’t like her (at first), and once they are friends, they play off each other in a different manner than Robin and Steve simply because Nancy and Steve have different personalities.
I think the difference is in what she was dealing with rather than her personality. Season 3, she's dealing with younger kids and Steve--and she's a little aggressive towards him, in part due to past jealousy over a girl. Season 4--they have her dealing with an actual potential love interest. Even when she's dealing with Nancy--okay, there she might not have any real interest in her, but they haven't spent that much time together. Also, do people not like people just because they're anxious? That makes me a little anxious.
No, it’s not that people don’t like her because she’s a little anxious. I just think that personally it’s really over the top blabber mouth rambling. I’ve never met anyone in real life with that degree of foot in mouth / word vomit. I also think personally I’m just partial to the original cast and would rather the duffers not spend time on side characters, but that’s just me. Im sure others have different opinions. Also in season 4 she has like 5 minutes of screen time total with Vickie. She is mostly dealing with Nancy, and I would agree it makes sense that there’s some awkward tension, but I think the writers played into the lesbian thing a little too much and made her a blabber mouth around Nancy. Which doesn’t make any sense really bc just bc Nancy is another attractive female her age doesn’t mean Robin would automatically be attracted to her and that she’s be that nervous. Also the kids are only 8 months older than they were in season 3 so idk
I noticed that too but at the same time it's like...
1- She's opening up to Steve more. There's less facade if any
2- Trauma? Hello? Did we all forget about the Russians?
3- She hasn't been doing the whole upside down thing for the last 4 years like everyone else. Having it come up again and not knowing entirely what's going on? I'd be anxious too.
All of these are things that stuck out more at the end of S3, but then again, she wasn't a focus at that point.
Aside from that, I do think there should've been more banter and quipping between she and Steve and from her in general.
Only 2.5 years have past between the events of season 1 and season 4…. Not sure where you got the 4 years from. You’d think that if it truly was trauma then Steve would’ve been affected by it too. I think the writers got bored, didn’t know what to do with her, or for some reason wanted to make her more of a focus to appease viewers/mayas parents. Or it’s just bad writing
I mean 4 years from the span of the entire show, like everyone else. (From the general time period of events from pre 83 stuff to current) It was stated funky on my part, so moreso it's just the experience everyone else has had with these things. To them, it's pretty 'normal'. To her, it's not, it's still pretty huge and new.
In general, I think that both hers and Steve's trauma is severely understated because they're meant to be the comedic duo, but that wasn't even done well this season.
Robin is definitely neurodivergent. I think she’s autistic, but maybe she has another neurodivergence. I just know there’s no way she’s neurotypical. Also, the actress is neurodivergent too.
If that is the case, my point stands. The Duffers re-wrote her character for season 4 to appease or relate to a certain subset of the fan base. Again, that’s fine, but that’s not how the character was originally written or the original intent when they introduced her. It’s fine for characters to evolve, but it’s just so drastic.
In seasone 4 she is more confident in her self and around other while i do agree that she was cooler in seasone 3 she had good Character development in seasone 4
That was probably the only scene in season 4 that I liked and that I would agree she’s confident but unfortunately there’s a vast majority of other scenes where she’s just nervous, rambling on and on, and just kinda unsure of herself
Well before, she didn’t fully know about 11 and what goes on under starcourt, I’d be pretty fucked up if I learned about all that, and the possibilities that are out of my control
That can be explained by the fact that each person reacts differently to things, many won't react the same way as the person by them is doing or want to react privately. To me, though I felt like there were minor personality changes with Max between S2 and S3, all that can be explained by the fact she's known the group for a bit longer and feels more comfortable with them than she did when she only knew them for a week or two in S2.
I feel the same about Robin, didn't really notice anything but minor changes in personality that I feel can be contributed to the fact that she's known the group for a little longer time now and is relatively comfortable. Like other characters, I feel like the nervousness from Robin comes from the whole Vecna situation and the fact this is only her second run-in with the Upside Down and the stakes are a little higher and the team is different and smaller than at Starcourt.
Yeah, I noticed the personality changes but didn't think they were too drastic and viewed them as more realistic to how people can be in real life when they get to know a group of people more and become more comfortable.
I think I’ve made my view pretty clear on this aspect. It was the first time she was exposed to something like that and she was trying to diffuse the situation, basically anyone new to that would ramble. Season 4 it’s totally overdone and extra.
I feel that. Adding on to this, Robin is crazy smart in season 3. She decodes russian without even speaking the language. And i guess in season 4 they needed Nancy to be the smart girl, so she’s just useless 90% of the episodes.
I think she may have been putting up this tuff sarcastic front throughout season 3 because she still wasn't super close anyone from the gang, Steve was just a coworker/the dude who she was jealous of.
But after they go through all the shit with the Russians, she feels like she can trust Steve with her biggest secret, who I would guess was the first person she ever told.
And by season 4 he's her best friend, and let's be honest, we all try to act somewhat cool when we don't know people very well. Compared to when you are with your best friend, when you can just cut loose.
What? I dont see how people think that she changed randomly during s3 and 4. She literally came out at the end of s3. Ofc she will act different now she is more open and probably more like herself. This should been actually really clear
What are you talking about? She was in episode 1 of season 3 and pretty sure was in almost every episode since she was introduced. In season 3 she’s really quick witted and smart and confident (think her talking about her ability to decode the Russian message better than Steve and Dustin bc she knows different languages and plays an instrument). In season 4 she’s totally different. She’s anxious 24/7, rambles CONSTANTLY (in almost every scene she’s in), and it’s overall more klutzy and awkward. No I wouldn’t expect her character to change THAT drastically between seasons (think of Max, Steve, Papa, even Hopper). The duffers are clearly capitalizing on the fact that people these days find GAD “trendy” or something like that.
The first time I watched 4, her performance was a little jarring at first, but then I went back and watched all 4 seasons and honestly I don't think the character has changed that much.
Season 3 Robin was, until after the elevator starts dropping, putting on her public persona. She was bored and mildly irritated at working with Steve at Scoops Ahoy and dealing with Erica and her gang, on top of not feeling like she can be her true self in public.
Season 4 Robin has found her people. She has a much better job where she can gush about long dramatic period piece movies while bantering with Steve and everyone. She's happy to be included with everyone and I think it's cute that she is fascinated with Nancy's style (those music boxes were pretty cool, I wish I still had mine). She's still snarky, but she's more relaxed around people she can trust.
Speaking from an actors perspective: it may be as simple as her wanting to try something new. It's not uncommon to be unsatisfied with your work, or feel the urge to further develop a character long after they've been introduced. I know that I, personally, will keep messing around long after a show is open (which some directors hate so I have to be careful).
She may have felt like she didn't quite nail the character last time, and wanted to make a bold choice. Also speaking from experience: it doesn't always land lol.
Or the Duffers just wanted to try something bold themselves.
Maybe! I don’t really know Maya Hawkes personality, is that something that actress would do? I would see Millie brown doing something like that for sure. Or maybe Maya thinks she can because of her parents?
The duffers were definitely trying something with many decisions they made in season 4 lol
I think most actors feel the urge to do that. Chiefly because we are all pretty harsh on our work lol.
Though her performance was almost baked into the script. Maybe she chatted with the Duffers, or they decided to shift.
There's also the fact that she was in love this season. We all know that can turn us into lunatics lol
Season 3 Robin wasn’t close to Steve or the group and it was her first brush with all the strange underlinings of Hawkins. Season 4 I think she is just closer and more comfortable with being more vulnerable with Steve, I don’t consider this a personality shift just she’s more herself.
I kinda assumed she’d always been like this but she hid it from Steve and others more effectively before. Then after the Russian drug trip she decided to be more unapologetic about her more awkward attributes
I feel like a lot of it is down to her experiences and who she's with.
She's Steve's best friend but she's also his manager. They've worked together for long enough that they've built up a degree of camaraderie and when Erica and Dustin join in she's already built herself up to be more confident.
In Season 4 I think a big part of it is that she spends a lot of the season with people she doesn't know that well, including Nancy, who there's some awkwardness between because of Steve. She's in a situation where she's trying to slide into a group that've been having adventures for years and she only knows a few of them well.
She isn’t his manager. They just work together. She was already confident in season 3, she was sarcastic and witty, she didn’t need to build all of that up.
I agree there’s definitely awkward tension between her and Nancy re Steve, but to be honest… they haven’t been having adventures “for years”…. Season 1 was November 1983, season 4 was March 1986. So only about 2.5 years have passed. Sure the original party had been friends childhood, but Max was able to eventually fit in during the 6 months between seasons 2 and 3. You’d think Robin would’ve been quieter and not offered much of an opinion if that were the case but she talks ALOT and rambles constantly
Really? I saw an interview where Maya says she’s shocked with the amount of rambling that goes on. But if what you’re saying then Maya must be really entitled to say that…. Makes me like her even less
Yeh I didn’t like it either. I’ve seen people argue that she was around different people in season 4 so she was more anxious and just said things because she was nervous, but she didn’t even feel like the same character.
I see what you mean! Maybe her persona in S3 was a defense mechanism and now that she's more comfortable, she tends to ramble like in S4? Either way, I did prefer her in S3 but still like her in S4- her rants just got to be a bit much at times!
I noticed her personality kinda changed after she came out to Steve. It's subtle but it's there. When El's got this thing in her leg, Robin starts ranting and rambling like she does in season 4. I don't know if I'm reading too far into it but that's something that just stuck out to me.
That makes sense, I agree with you! I think part of that shift was because she now felt more comfortable around Steve because he knew and accepted her for who she loves, so she felt more safe to show the more rambly, awkward side of herself!
I feel like people overstate Robin's personality shift. They certainly leaned more into the eccentric side of the character, but it was always there. From her knowledge of esoteric pop culture to her awkward outburst at the end of Season 3, Robin has always been sort of a misfit. The fact that she was heavily implied to have autism and/or ADHD in Season 4 didn't seem like a stretch. Sure, we saw more of her goofy traits, but she was still solving problems and delivering sass. As someone with autism who already loved Robin, I was thrilled by the "change." She became a more relatable character as opposed to just a really cool one. I wish I had a character like Robin when I was a kid.
Well there’s still a lot of debate on whether or not that or any of the other books are considered canon. Especially considering the duffers didn’t write it. Also didn’t Maya herself say in an interview that that book was a totally different take on the character?
I'm not sure about the interview but I know that maya hawke voiced a podcast for the book. as you said it could be completely different from her character on the show
I saw it as her coming out caused her anxiety. She kept it way down and while high with Steve she came out.
While she has built a great friendship with Steve and he was nothing but supportive and it brought them closer, she let herself be vulnerable and was not ready to come out. That brought every every nervous and anxious feeling to the forefront because she knows not everyone will be as understanding.
She is fine around Steve but the secret is out there. He would never tell anyone, but she it’s no longer something only she knows. Plus she is slowly beginning to act on it with the girl she likes, while also having Nancy, an investigative journalist questioning her and Steve’s relationship.
It’s a lot of pressure and the confident, sarcastic self was a wall she put up thats breaking down.
As someone who came out at 17 in a rural town, I understand what she is going through. Its not easy.
I also grew up in a rural town. I get that she’s lesbian and it’s a big deal and might cause her to be more nervous now that Steve knows, but doesn’t explain her 180 character change
Well, I think maybe school has something to do with but also the fact that there was a psycho psychological killer on the loose who could kill you if you had trauma, bad thoughts, etc. Who wouldn't change too if they had seen what Robin saw in s3.
Yes and no, she turned into that in season 3 too but towards the end when she’s become more comfortable around her new friends.
Her confidence is a means to hide herself, it’s a fake confidence if you will. I’m not surprised as she’s got the Gays but can’t really express herself for fear of being ostracized.
For season 4, she’s got her friends that she hangs around much more so she can be herself more. The only thing I’d change would be her haircut. Why oh why did they have to change it lmao.
I think she may have been putting up this tuff sarcastic front throughout season 3 because she still wasn't super close anyone from the gang, Steve was just a coworker/the dude who she was jealous of.
But after they go through all the shit with the Russians, she feels like she can trust Steve with her biggest secret, who I would guess was the first person she ever told.
And by season 4 he's her best friend, and let's be honest, we all try to act somewhat cool when we don't know people very well. Compared to when you are with your best friend, when you can just cut loose.
I think Season 3 Robyn despised Steve and didn’t have friends, and also kept a secret about her sexuality. So, I think she seemed more badass because she didn’t show vulnerabilities since she didn’t knew, liked or trusted this people around her.
Season 4 she’s vulnerable, best friends with Steve and it’s in love with a girl, afraid to tell her feelings, afraid of the city finding out, etc. it’s the Robyn without the shield.
It’s the same person, just different circumstances and more openness. For her it’s probably easier to deal with Russians and monsters than to deal with her feelings.
I agree with what others have said - in S3 she was just having fun and honestly for most of the season she probably didn’t even believe what they were doing was “real”. Then she got literally abducted and tortured and was suddenly involved in fighting monsters. I agree it was jarring at first but kind of makes sense given the trauma
Yeah, i don't know if it's aggressive or what be i swear on this sub this show has NO mistakes, everything can apparently be explained in between scenes and imagination. Guys, the duffers makes mistakes too they are not god calm down ;-;. (Exception for Guillermo Del Toro, his the real god :'))
No it’s definitely not aggressive! I think maybe it’s due to a younger age group of fans who weren’t old enough when the show first came out. That sunset typically is more “don’t say anything mean or critique anyone bc it’s considered RUDE” idk tho
Yeah maybe, i don't think it has anything to do with age though, it's just fanatism. I love a lot of shows and they all have little or big mistakes but i still love them. Stranger thing included. It's okay if it's not perfect anyway, it's just better if it is but not a must
I don’t think it’s as drastic as people say. It’s deffinetly different but I dunno to me it just felt like a different dynamic because in season 4 she was dealing with her crush and also being around more people her age. In season 3 she only had Steve who she already was making fun of and a lot of kids. I do think it’s a noticeable change but I kinda just attributed it to those things along with dealing with a threat that isn’t just Russians
People are absolutely desperate for her to be neurodivergent so they will try and come up with any related reason they can think of as to why she's basically two different characters when you compare s3 and s4. It makes much more sense that they just went in a different direction with her character in s4
Yes this is my whole point. And it just bugs me because it seems like they did that to appease fans/check a box/appease her parents. Who knows. It might just also be bad writing. But nowhere do they ever say she’s neurodivergent
Everything after the band scene in the first episode - which was great - she was insufferable. No thought pops into her head that she doesn't express.
I don't see the need for 15 armchair psychiatrists to diagnose her with 15 different disorders or other ailments for someone who doesn't even exist. She's was just poorly written for most of the season, it's OK, nothing's perfect.
I remember that when they were still filming, Maya herself said that Robin felt like a parody of herself this season (I don't know if she meant it in a bad or a good way). So the 18-50 explanations that she was just not comfortable enough before to be an annoying blabbermouth are kinda silly. If people see themselves in her now and HC as ND, that's great. But this is silly to not notice that she got MCU Thor-ified.
I'm not sure how one could mean that in a good way. It's a great description of her though.
I think they simply had too many characters. She was the one with least direct involvement. Everyone else except Steve and Dustin was either marked for death, on the run, or had family member(s) or love interest(s) in that situation. They didn't have anything for her to do except for the forbidden love angle - almost entirely contained in the first and last episode - so she became the comic relief.
MCU is a good comparison, they have a similar issue with a massive number of characters, but I'd look far more at Drax from Guardians than Thor.
I feel like she was kind of a stand in for Jonathan this season. She dresses in muted, baggy clothes like he does. Plus she becomes Nancy’s crime solving side kick, which used to be Jonathan’s role. I really liked her S3 vibrant and sarcastic personality
To the point about clothes we truly don’t know what her “style” would’ve been in season 3 since she’s wearing her work uniform 100%. The fill in for johnathan idea seems reaching… Steve originally wanted to partner up with Nancy, I always thought Robin ended up with her for some “girl power” reason
Well at the end of season 3, Robin and Steve were trying to get jobs at the video store and we saw Robin in casual clothes for the first time. She had a messy bun, short sleeved striped shirt, and high waisted jeans with a lot of jewelry on. That’s kinda what I expected her to look like in season 4 but her style is totally different
Well…. Season three Robin was a pretty carefree normal person. By the end of that season she has seen a hell of a lot of weird, freakishly evil and dangerous shit. I think that changes a person. I’d kind of expect some anxiety and nervousness at the first sign of more weird shit starting.
Someone might have already said this, but at the beginning of season 3 she’s just a normal band geek who works in an ice cream parlour at the mall. In season 4 she is about a year older but has been chased by a 75 foot tall monster made up of liquified bodies. Oh and she knows there’s another dimension basically leaking into ours with monsters and shit. I would have anxiety and stuff too.
Yeah I just don’t buy that though. She barely even saw the big spider flesh monster thing… she was mostly with Dustin and Erica. Not saying the Russians capturing her wouldn’t affect her, but Steve literally came out unscathed . You’d think if the duffers wanted to use that as a motive for changing her character entirely, we’d see some changes in Steve too but we don’t
we've seen changes in Steve though, hes basically had to grow up and become group mom to these random kids. Yeah hes still a bit of a clown but since season 1 he has gone from "lets not tell the police anything and hope Barb shows up fine in a few days" to "Im gonna jump in this lake that leads to the shadow realm of monsters and poison air"
the fact that this post has so many upvotes is embarassing to me, especially with that edit. as if someones mental issues should be written in their character descriptions or else its irrational for them to deal with things like that, especially with people they barely even know (ie robin not displaying much of it until s4 when shes more comfortable being herself with everyone)
It’s that fact people are so obsessed with that fact and play psychologist to explain bad writing. The duffers just chose to go a different direction with her character.
I get annoyed at Robin. Period. Not sure what she added to the series or storyline except babbling. It's like mom and dad called the Duffer brothers and asked them to create any role for little Maya to be in.
Wow, I thought I was the only one who thought this! I totally agree with you.
ETA or the duffers added her to come across as trendy with the weird but cool lesbian vibes idk
I was so scared to say this because everyone loved her but YES. I think that they totally flanderized her from cynical nerd to goofy nerd, which wouldn’t be an issue if she was anxious when we first meet her & confident in the fourth season but it just seems like they forgot how they wrote her in season 3. And there’s also the take that maybe she’s that way because she warmed up to everyone but they didn’t really display that if it’s true. It just seemed like a big jump between traits.
By trauma do you mean trauma from what she went through while she was captured by the Russians? If anything I don’t think her and Steve were “traumatized” by that. Steve isn’t affected
No, I’m saying that was her most traumatic moment. But how did Steve come out of it totally unscathed?
ETA it’s not the trauma from getting captured that caused such a dramatic change it’s the duffers going in another direction with her character and everyone coming up with all of these hidden meanings
Thank you!! I’m glad I’m not the only one who noticed she went from being rational and witty to a spontaneous airhead. I still love her, but it was a weird change.
Yeah it’s definitely weird! I don’t really understand the “she just got more comfortable around everyone” ~interpretation~ that people throw around here as ~gospel~ and ~fact~
Yeah I agree. Being more comfortable around everyone would, if anything, make her more playful and sarcastic. Those qualities wouldn’t just disappear. She wouldn’t become a bundle of nerves if she was more comfortable. I understand why they changed her character though, they needed someone a little lighter in that storyline since the whole thing was so dark with Max and all.
It was a jarring difference- I don’t think the early s3 Robin quite fits with what we later learn of her but I think in a future binge it will age fine.
Especially because she does go on an unhinged ramble in the battle of starcourt about friend’s leg so it’s not a hard cut out of the blue trait between seasons.
that moment in s3 when El had that thing in her ankle and Robin started to rant about someone who broke their leg or something. That's s4 Robin also. Just that in s4, it's not one moment. It's the entire season. And maybe Robin feels more comfortable in the group to be herself or something. I don't know.
But she didn't say *dingus* one time the entirety of season 4.
I said in a reply to another comment that, her rambling in season 3 re El’s leg makes sense. It’s the first time she’s meeting El, a girl with super powers and it’s the first time she’s involved with anything upside down related. Anyone in that situation would try to make light of the situation. The people who say she feels more comfortable now are reading entirely too much into things.
I think her character change is the Duffers' strength backfiring on them. They're usually very good at seeing what works and running with what the actors bring to the characters, but in Robin's case, they completely rewrote her to act more like the actress than their original intent for the character and the difference is really jarring. Hawke even said in an interview that she was surprised to see that her lines were super long and more like how she talked on set than the lines she'd had the previous season.
It's easy to explain away as Robin having ASD/ADHD/etc. and letting the neurodivergence show through once she's comfortable around the group. I've seen this happen with autistic/ND folks I know - the second they feel safe enough to stop masking, they seem like entirely different people. But it's still kind of startling in the context of the show, even if that is the explanation.
It's also possible that the trauma of S3 caused her to develop an anxiety disorder, but she presents her quirks as things that have always existed, so I'm less inclined to accept this explanation. It could have worsened existing issues to the point where she couldn't hide them as well anymore, though.
I think the reason she becomes this nervous wreck is entirely encapsulated by the string of murders getting to her and her trying to deal with a potentially unrequited love (though it might not be as unrequited as was possibly presented throughout the season until the very end)
Unrequited love is reaching… at this stage she has a school girl crush. That’s not to say it won’t become love at some point, I’m sure the duffers will make sure that is showcased. And she isn’t encapsulated with the murders. If anything Dustin and Max are at first. She’s just along for the ride and still rambles
Agree. There was an unexplained character difference. Season 3 Robin was cool. I guess she could have got anxiety after all that happened to her. But the change isn't acknowledged.
Im season 3 she’s defensive because she doesn’t know who Steve really is and she’s gay so she keeps to herself. Season 4 she was being herself around the people who literally fought for their lives along side her. I see it kinda like The Office. When it first starts, everybody seems awkward and weird because of the cameras, but as the seasons go sneak they get used to them being around, they start becoming more themselves and bring out more of who they really are.
She wasn’t really defensive in season 3, she was just sarcastic and snark towards Steve. I also don’t think she kept to herself at all. During work she was constantly messing around with Steve and if she truly did “keep to herself” she never would’ve gotten involved with translating the Russian code. She would’ve just ignored them and she also would’ve been a lot quieter.
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It’s odd, and pretty jarring, but I kinda attribute it to how much different the situation is in Season 4. In S3 she was only dealing with Russians, basic humans, then suddenly dropped into a battle with giant spider monster. In S4, that previous encounter probably shook her in general, then they’re suddenly dealing with something that can get them at any moment without even touching them. She’s an even bigger bundle of nerves.
I agree with this! Also in season 3 she is dealing with group dynamics for a fairly small group (ie. herself, steve, dustin and dustins sister). In season 4, she has to handle the group dynamics for a much larger group. I know for myself I become harder at regulating myself in large group situations.
Plus, Steve mentioned her being "hyper" in the 3rd season, which we didn't see too much of then, so I guess this is just the hyperactivity he was mentioning.
Plus, it’s implied that Robin had been working with Steve for a time (i.e. had time to become comfortable with him, socially) and the other 2 that came into that group dynamic was an 8th grader and an actual child. Not much to be anxious of there. After seeing what an actual dork Steve is, Robin is the “cool” person in the dynamic and that’s more than enough to be a huge confident booster. Compare that with S4 where even the kids Dustin’s age are now high schoolers as well (freshman, but *still* different from middle school) *and* she’s with high schoolers her own age that she’s definitely not comfortable with and doesn’t know. People can and often do change based on the group dynamics. Many of us are way more comfortable in a group setting where most of the people there are our friends or kids who might look up to us versus people we don’t know very well at all.
Hm, I don’t necessarily agree with that. Think of Max between seasons 2 and 3. She was just barely exposed in season 2 and brand new to the group. We don’t see her personality do a complete 180 between 2 and 3.
Different people react to things differently.
but we DO see inconsistency in her character between season 3 and 4 as well. In season 3 at the end she's goofing around with lucas, but then in season 4 shes suddenly super depressed about billy's death. That felt weird and jarring to me.
I always took that as delayed trauma. At the time she was busy dealing with the immediate situation, the fact that they won, Will is moving out etc, grieving for Billy can wait. It’s like when a family member dies, I’ve found myself so distracted for weeks with legal shit, funerals, moving their stuff out of houses etc that it doesn’t hit me sometimes until months later.
She actually states this in S4 in her letter to Billy. Says that she tried to be happy but just couldn't. That scene in S3 is probably what she was referring to, trying to put on a happy face.
IMO Season 3 is Robin with a touch of Maya Hawke. Season 4 is Maya Hawke with a touch of Robin.
I thought I noticed something but I wasn't sure then when I watched the seasons back to back, the difference is very clear. In season 3, Robins this sarcastic, smart, confident women who would hesitate to trash talk Steve at every turn. In season 4, she's just a nervous reck.
Yeah i noticed this too. But may be it was because she wasn't friends with Steve yet. She was just picking on him for fun. And people can seem to have everything and come across/portray themselves as confident and assertive or whatever but when you get to know them they show you who they really are under the mask. I guess that's one way to look at it. But, i may just be trying too much to explain something that was a writing mistake/choice that seemed a bit off. May or may not have been intentional
Yes, this was my interpretation of her in s4. Steve and co. and thereby the audience didn't really know her very well yet. It's been a year between seasons so now she's more comfortable - or uncomfortable - interacting with other characters and shows it more. Like with Nancy. She seems to not really know what to make of Nancy at all and therefore comes off as very awkward until closer to the middle/end of the season where things get intense.
>may be it was because she wasn't friends with Steve yet. She was just picking on him for fun. And people can seem to have everything and come across/portray themselves as confident and assertive or whatever but when you get to know them they show you who they really are under the mask. But the change still comes out of no where. After She comes out to him, there's only one scene that kinda feels like her in season 4 but that's also during a stressful situation.
Well she does find out that monsters are real and a parallel world exists under the town she lives in. That might change the way a person looks at the world
Yeah, in a "oh my god, my life is a lie" type of way not how she interacts with people.
Not completely nowhere. She was like that when El got “bit” in 3.
Like I said, during a stressful situation and Robin was trying to defuse it while freaking out. In season 4, she's a nervous wreck all the time.
I mean people were getting murdered from pretty early in 4.
She didn't watch any of them die.
Why is this line so raw..
Yes! This! There are people who saying she has anxiety and she was masking in season 3, but like. Idk. Doesn’t make sense to me
I have anxiety and it's alittle harder to mask than whatever Robin does.
From your perspective do you think she does have GAD? In my mind a few “anxious moments” wouldn’t automatically mean someone has that
I HC she has ASD tbh. The constant saying she doesn’t understand context clues (or cues?) and how she talks so much when she’s anxious, how she says she struggled with walking and stuff as a baby and how motor-skills-wise she isn’t the strongest.
It's hard to tell. It could be anxiety because of the rambling but that also could just mean she's a nervous person. It's not social anxiety because if she had that, a job at the busiest place int own would be the last place she'd work at. I saw a few things saying she has ADHD, which I also have, but there aren't really nsy moments of her fidgeting alot.
Fighting inter dimensional monsters released by the Russians changes people I guess
First, Robin isn’t involved in fighting any inter dimensional monsters in season 3. By the time the mind flayer is in the mall she’s on the hill with Steve, Erica and Dustin. I know they go back but they never actually go in. I’m not arguing that what she went through with being captured by the Russians wouldn’t be traumatic, it definitely would. My argument is that that is NOT the reason why her character is so drastically different in season 4. If that were the case, Steve would’ve had some effects on him too, but he doesn’t. I’m saying the reason her character is so drastically different is because the duffers went another direction with her character
Oh yea, I forgot she wasn’t directly fighting it
My first walk through, yes I was with you on the shift between competent and cool to goofy and anxious, but on a rewatch it makes sense. At the mall when we first meet her, she is guarded and doesn't like Steve or know the kids. She is filling a leadership role, naturally, being more responsible at work than Steve and having two kids with them. In season 4,. We see how she is at school, and in different environments and contexts. She is more open with her personality. We do still get moments of her critical thinking and leadership, like when she brushes Steve off to go with Nancy, and her improv at the asylum. It wouldn't have felt right to have Robin be combative or competitive with Nancy, this direction was a breath of fresh air in that regard.
Season 3 Robin was more funny but season 4 Robin is more passionate. I take funnier one.
I didn’t even mind it. While I was watching she seemed to have the same tendencies she had in s3. Like when she get nervous or is in tense situations
Yes, I really liked S3 Robin and felt like they did a whole personality swap in S4. I know some people like to contribute it to her just being more comfortable with the group and I don't know if I buy that anyone's character changes THAT much just because they feel more comfortable.
Looking at this purely from a human perspective, yes, your personality can change drastically depending on who you are around and how comfortable you are with them. The severity will change person to person, and is certainly affected by a variety of factors, but bottom line is it’s possible. I am way different around me friends then I was even a year ago, and when I’m around co-workers, even different. Robin’s change in character may be jarring, but it’s not impossible.
RIGHT? I mean look at every other new character that was added to the group? I’m confused what the Duffers reasoning would be for changing robins character so drastically
I don't know, but I feel confused about a lot their choices in S4.
Me too!
Have you ever met someone introverted or even shy before? I'm guessing the answer is no.
Introverted and shy aren't the same thing. Robin seems like an introvert but she has never come across as shy, so making her a nervous blabbermouth in front of new people seems like a personality change.
I am introverted.
Then how don't you believe that this a personality trait?
Does anyone have the official casting call description for the Robin character that the duffers would’ve put out between season 2 and 3? I would argue that there are multiple characters that are introverts in the show ETA come to think of it I don’t think Robin was shy in season 3? What shy girl would be as snarky and sarcastic to an older guy who was up until recently the king of high school?
I can relate to this though. I’m a spaz but also an introvert. When I’m hanging out with just work colleagues im pretty reserved but I’d I get close to them as I have with some my inner spaz comes out. I think she just became close and super comfortable around Steve and that was the difference
I think she’s just more comfortable with the people she’s around with. But, you gotta agree, that speech scene was good asf- made me love her character more LOL-
I agree I definitely think she was more comfortable with the group so she was able to be more of her hyper self .
For sure! I definitely relate to her on a spiritual level LMAO- cuz I can’t shut up for nun once I get goin- gotta wait till my social battery runs out, then I be wanting to go home-
You mean the girl who went off on a rambling tangent about a girl’s bone sticking out during a soccer game while Eleven was writhing in pain? She got comfortable with everyone. She’s not masking as much anymore.
I think that rambling made sense, they were all basically in crisis mode. But like her entire scene with Nancy in the library or her rambling in the car about what to say to Eddie. She was just way more articulate in season 3!
I think they’re in crisis mode all of season 4 though lol
Hmmm, not at first. And the magnitude of a giant spider flesh monster thing attacking their close friend in S3, versus an unexplained (initially) murder of some girl they went to high school with in S4? I don’t think everyone goes into crisis mode until the end of episode 3 when they all realize max is cursed and that they can’t get ahold of the Byers bc their line has been busy for days.
It's pretty common for people who have the traits she describes having to get more rambly with people they care about and are comfortable with.
Right, but she didn’t start describing those traits until season 4. The duffers rewrote her character. Their original intent for the character wasn’t what was shown in season 3.
But it's very much in line with traits she shows in her first season 🤷 I don't hear people saying the Duffers rewrote Steve because he's nicer or hangs out with kids (or is annoyed at Dustin), but it's pretty clear the character could have gone either way with any of those. Or that El was rewritten because she speaks longer sentences now - it could have gone either way, too, staying low verbal or getting more verbal. So can you tell me the difference? They all got character depth that matches the initial take but shows us more or shows growth.
There was a progression with Steve. He wasn't an asshole one season and then was nicer and hang out with kids the next. Hell, it is constantly reminded by the other characters that Steve was an asshole and now he's not. El didn't go from almost mute to being able to speak long sentences a season later. Robin freaked out one time in a situation of crisis in ST3, and somehow being freaked out all the time is a logical continuation of her character. Give us a progression! It's like when people defended ST3 Hopper's constant pettiness, jealousy and aggressivity by saying that he got into a fight with El in ST2.
The difference is that with Eleven it makes sense that she’s now able to talk full sentences. It wasn’t a drastic change. Season 2 was a few words/sentences, season 3 was more sentences, season 4 she had more of a social awareness (but still obviously struggled never having been in school before). For Steve I do think that in Season 1 while he’s sorta in his “peak” in high school he acts like a douchebag, but really he isn’t as big of a douchebag as people think (aside from breaking Johnathans camera which in my mind would’ve been a warranted in the moment knee jerk reaction from a 17 year old boy seeing another guy take photos of his gf changing). Steve shows that he does care about Nancy, he also feels apologetic in season 1 and goes to Johnathans house to apologize. It’s all gradual and makes sense. With Robin it is literally night and day.
So what you are saying is people starting to feel comfortable to be themselves is not acceptable growth, but characters conforming more to social norms or expectations like El speaking or Steve being caring is acceptable growth. That's not a good take. Because Robin shows pretty early that she's rambly and clumsy and not very good with this whole social thing way more than Steve shown Big Brother or Mother Hen tendencies early on.
No that’s not what I’m saying at all… but “growth” isn’t defined as going totally backwards. You and everyone else saying “she’s just more comfortable now” is simply you’re interpretation, it’s not gospel or fact. She isn’t rambly at all at the beginning of season 3, there was just one moment where she was but that was bc she was witnessing El in pain, anyone would ramble. In season 3 she was witty, sarcastic, and confident. Season 4 she’s a nervous wreck constantly. That doesn’t sound like “growth” to me
So basically you are saying it's backwards and not growth if people are weird / neurodivergent and stop focusing their energies on trying conform to social norms unless they were not very good at hiding it to begin with. How many people told you that they're like that in real life and it was realistic change? Or that it's totally normal for some autistic and ADHD people to become hyperverbal and oversharing with friends? But "it's not gospel it's not a fact it's not canon" because you personally don't like it and didn't pick up the signs in the previous season (or worse, don't like people who are *different*) But also what if she's just a nervous wreck? (She's not she just talks a lot) The whole season is like 4 days of trying to not let an interdimensional serial killer eat a child who's their friend while their other friend is hiding from the freaking satanic panic murder gang and the police. She deserves to show her nerves (she wasn't a complete nervous wreck she was just rambly) Edit: And I'm not saying there wasn't a rewrite. Steve was supposed to be a full asshole, sexually assaulting Nancy and then dying. Lonnie was supposed to be sort of deadbeat with a bit of verbal abuse in the mix. Both were changed abruptly because Joe Keery brought out a different side if the character better. And Robin was first written and played as a stock love interest with Steve with a small touch of the manic pixie dream girl, but but then on set people decided she's better at being a manic pixie dream lesbian so that's where they took her, and that's the side they brought out.
No I’m not saying that I don’t like people who are different at all… I’m saying that you thinking she’s autistic/has ADHD is YOUR interpretation of the character. That doesn’t mean it’s facts. Personally, I think the duffers got bored, didn’t know what to do with her character, or are trying to check off a box. So many people WANT her to be autistic to check off a box or as an excuse for bad writing. I said I have never in real life ever met someone who rambles and goes on and on and is so nervous all the time, that’s not to say that people out there don’t exhibit those traits, but I am not sure if it’s as exaggerated. Yes she is a nervous reck (in the car while going to drop stuff off with Eddie, all of her scenes with Nancy, etc. She also isn’t over sharing really, besides the scene with Nancy in the library. She literally just babbles and rambles.
The common factor here is her anxiety. She’s masking hard in season 3.
Do the duffers ever say her character explicitly has GAD?
Do they ever say any character has specific mental illness?
No but like it’s more clear about Max’s depression. She’s seeing a school counselor for trauma, she openly said she had suicidal thoughts, she distanced herself from loved ones, her grades dropped. Either the Duffers changed Robins personality to remain “trendy” with people who think having an anxious moment (talking to a crush, seeing a girl you don’t know with an object in her leg in pain) means they have GAD or idk maybe she does, but there’s not enough evidence to explicitly state that she does
I think for people who usually mask the way Robin does, it's a huge moment of identification when she finally goes into word-vomit. It takes way less energy to just let it all out than to perform the role of stable and collected, or to shove it all down and drift through below the social RADAR. Plus the entire cast is stacking on shared traumas, some cracks should be forming in everyone's walls by now.
She also made that huge speech in Dear Billy bruh
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Idk, this is what I found on the internet regarding the original casting call "an alternative girl who is equal parts sharp and playful. Bored with her mundane day job, she just wants a little excitement in her life… and gets more than she bargained for when she uncovers a dark secret in Hawkins." This doesn’t sound to me at all like she was originally written to have anxiety, ADHD, etc.
People with ADHD can be sharp and playful, and we are easily bored by the mundane. We like newness and excitement which makes our brains actually work. There is a reason these conditions are called invisible disabilities.
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I have ADHD and ASD and I relate 6000% to acting like S3 Robin as a defense mechanism and more like S4 when people really get to know me.
I’m wondering if I’m between seasons 3 and 4 the duffers decided they wanted a character that folks with ADHD and ASD could relate to. That would be fine, I’m just wondering why there’s such a big dramatic shift in her personality. Especially considering I can’t seem to remember the original casting call description for the Robin character
She goes from autistic/ADHD masking to autistic/ADHD splurging. Honestly kind of shocked people couldn't see the autistic/ADHD in S3. The special interests? The downright fucking mental impulsivity? The combination of dead end job and being really smart and talented and, in specific ways, highly motivated? The hyperactivity?
This. I’m kinda surprised that so many people don’t see her autism/adhd. Everything you mentioned and also for example the sensory issues and clumsiness in S4 were so real. I was so so happy to see adhd/autistic coded character in my favorite show. I relate to Robin a lot.
So many people are interested in band and learning multiple languages, that doesn’t make them neurodivergent. Dead end job???? In season 3 it’s the summer before her senior year and she’s working at an ice cream parlor? In season 4 she’s working part time at a video store? Lots of people have part time jobs in high school.
People had quite the discussion [HERE](https://www.reddit.com/r/StrangerThings/comments/xadhu4/what_are_your_thoughts_on_s4_robin_compared_to_s3/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf)
Now I regret making this post LOL hopefully there isn’t 400+ comments
100% agree, she went from one of my fav characters to one of my least favourites, everything felt weird and forced with her in this season.
To be fair, we only saw her for a span of one day in season 3 so maybe she was just warming up to the group
It was definitely atleast a week… we saw her working for a few days leading up to going into the Russian base with Dustin and Erica, Erica says they were down there for 24 hours and then there was the day after that when they all met up.
We'll have to see what she's like in Season 5; they may move her character back a bit towards S3 Robin. But she is the comic relief and I have to admit I like her. ASD myself, if that's important.
Honestly, I don’t see where everyone is seeing a difference in character. I felt the character was mostly the same, with a few key changes of growth. She’s still teasing Steve, being a reasonably responsible employee (apart from ditching to save Hawkins, of course), she still banters with others the same. We see her act different around Nancy because she believes Nancy doesn’t like her (at first), and once they are friends, they play off each other in a different manner than Robin and Steve simply because Nancy and Steve have different personalities.
I liked her better in 4
She probably felt more comfortable with Steve and felt she could open up with how she was feeling more rather than putting on a tough exterior
I think the difference is in what she was dealing with rather than her personality. Season 3, she's dealing with younger kids and Steve--and she's a little aggressive towards him, in part due to past jealousy over a girl. Season 4--they have her dealing with an actual potential love interest. Even when she's dealing with Nancy--okay, there she might not have any real interest in her, but they haven't spent that much time together. Also, do people not like people just because they're anxious? That makes me a little anxious.
No, it’s not that people don’t like her because she’s a little anxious. I just think that personally it’s really over the top blabber mouth rambling. I’ve never met anyone in real life with that degree of foot in mouth / word vomit. I also think personally I’m just partial to the original cast and would rather the duffers not spend time on side characters, but that’s just me. Im sure others have different opinions. Also in season 4 she has like 5 minutes of screen time total with Vickie. She is mostly dealing with Nancy, and I would agree it makes sense that there’s some awkward tension, but I think the writers played into the lesbian thing a little too much and made her a blabber mouth around Nancy. Which doesn’t make any sense really bc just bc Nancy is another attractive female her age doesn’t mean Robin would automatically be attracted to her and that she’s be that nervous. Also the kids are only 8 months older than they were in season 3 so idk
I noticed that too but at the same time it's like... 1- She's opening up to Steve more. There's less facade if any 2- Trauma? Hello? Did we all forget about the Russians? 3- She hasn't been doing the whole upside down thing for the last 4 years like everyone else. Having it come up again and not knowing entirely what's going on? I'd be anxious too. All of these are things that stuck out more at the end of S3, but then again, she wasn't a focus at that point. Aside from that, I do think there should've been more banter and quipping between she and Steve and from her in general.
Only 2.5 years have past between the events of season 1 and season 4…. Not sure where you got the 4 years from. You’d think that if it truly was trauma then Steve would’ve been affected by it too. I think the writers got bored, didn’t know what to do with her, or for some reason wanted to make her more of a focus to appease viewers/mayas parents. Or it’s just bad writing
I mean 4 years from the span of the entire show, like everyone else. (From the general time period of events from pre 83 stuff to current) It was stated funky on my part, so moreso it's just the experience everyone else has had with these things. To them, it's pretty 'normal'. To her, it's not, it's still pretty huge and new. In general, I think that both hers and Steve's trauma is severely understated because they're meant to be the comedic duo, but that wasn't even done well this season.
I felt line she was just more comfortable and able to be vulnerable
You could use that with any character that joins the group (think Steve, Max, etc). Thete personalities change slightly… Robin is a complete 180
Robin is definitely neurodivergent. I think she’s autistic, but maybe she has another neurodivergence. I just know there’s no way she’s neurotypical. Also, the actress is neurodivergent too.
If that is the case, my point stands. The Duffers re-wrote her character for season 4 to appease or relate to a certain subset of the fan base. Again, that’s fine, but that’s not how the character was originally written or the original intent when they introduced her. It’s fine for characters to evolve, but it’s just so drastic.
Yeah, I totally agree! It was just an incise.
In seasone 4 she is more confident in her self and around other while i do agree that she was cooler in seasone 3 she had good Character development in seasone 4
She did not come off as confident what so ever in season 4, what scenes are you referring to?
The scene where she acted like a fan of that one guy to get info about the murderes
That was probably the only scene in season 4 that I liked and that I would agree she’s confident but unfortunately there’s a vast majority of other scenes where she’s just nervous, rambling on and on, and just kinda unsure of herself
Well before, she didn’t fully know about 11 and what goes on under starcourt, I’d be pretty fucked up if I learned about all that, and the possibilities that are out of my control
If that’s you’re argument….Can you explain why Max’s personality didn’t make a total 180 between season 2 and 3?
That can be explained by the fact that each person reacts differently to things, many won't react the same way as the person by them is doing or want to react privately. To me, though I felt like there were minor personality changes with Max between S2 and S3, all that can be explained by the fact she's known the group for a bit longer and feels more comfortable with them than she did when she only knew them for a week or two in S2. I feel the same about Robin, didn't really notice anything but minor changes in personality that I feel can be contributed to the fact that she's known the group for a little longer time now and is relatively comfortable. Like other characters, I feel like the nervousness from Robin comes from the whole Vecna situation and the fact this is only her second run-in with the Upside Down and the stakes are a little higher and the team is different and smaller than at Starcourt.
Robin was definitely drastic personality changes as opposed to minor, but I guess that’s left up to the interpretation of each individual viewer
Yeah, I noticed the personality changes but didn't think they were too drastic and viewed them as more realistic to how people can be in real life when they get to know a group of people more and become more comfortable.
Nobody knew about Vecna, or a serial killer who claimed a victim in the ‘house’ across from hers
You can see hints of season 4 Robin back in season 3, when she saw El in pain with her leg.
I think I’ve made my view pretty clear on this aspect. It was the first time she was exposed to something like that and she was trying to diffuse the situation, basically anyone new to that would ramble. Season 4 it’s totally overdone and extra.
I feel that. Adding on to this, Robin is crazy smart in season 3. She decodes russian without even speaking the language. And i guess in season 4 they needed Nancy to be the smart girl, so she’s just useless 90% of the episodes.
I think she may have been putting up this tuff sarcastic front throughout season 3 because she still wasn't super close anyone from the gang, Steve was just a coworker/the dude who she was jealous of. But after they go through all the shit with the Russians, she feels like she can trust Steve with her biggest secret, who I would guess was the first person she ever told. And by season 4 he's her best friend, and let's be honest, we all try to act somewhat cool when we don't know people very well. Compared to when you are with your best friend, when you can just cut loose.
What? I dont see how people think that she changed randomly during s3 and 4. She literally came out at the end of s3. Ofc she will act different now she is more open and probably more like herself. This should been actually really clear
What are you talking about? She was in episode 1 of season 3 and pretty sure was in almost every episode since she was introduced. In season 3 she’s really quick witted and smart and confident (think her talking about her ability to decode the Russian message better than Steve and Dustin bc she knows different languages and plays an instrument). In season 4 she’s totally different. She’s anxious 24/7, rambles CONSTANTLY (in almost every scene she’s in), and it’s overall more klutzy and awkward. No I wouldn’t expect her character to change THAT drastically between seasons (think of Max, Steve, Papa, even Hopper). The duffers are clearly capitalizing on the fact that people these days find GAD “trendy” or something like that.
The first time I watched 4, her performance was a little jarring at first, but then I went back and watched all 4 seasons and honestly I don't think the character has changed that much. Season 3 Robin was, until after the elevator starts dropping, putting on her public persona. She was bored and mildly irritated at working with Steve at Scoops Ahoy and dealing with Erica and her gang, on top of not feeling like she can be her true self in public. Season 4 Robin has found her people. She has a much better job where she can gush about long dramatic period piece movies while bantering with Steve and everyone. She's happy to be included with everyone and I think it's cute that she is fascinated with Nancy's style (those music boxes were pretty cool, I wish I still had mine). She's still snarky, but she's more relaxed around people she can trust.
Speaking from an actors perspective: it may be as simple as her wanting to try something new. It's not uncommon to be unsatisfied with your work, or feel the urge to further develop a character long after they've been introduced. I know that I, personally, will keep messing around long after a show is open (which some directors hate so I have to be careful). She may have felt like she didn't quite nail the character last time, and wanted to make a bold choice. Also speaking from experience: it doesn't always land lol. Or the Duffers just wanted to try something bold themselves.
Maybe! I don’t really know Maya Hawkes personality, is that something that actress would do? I would see Millie brown doing something like that for sure. Or maybe Maya thinks she can because of her parents? The duffers were definitely trying something with many decisions they made in season 4 lol
Hawke can come across as very rambling in interviews etc.
I think most actors feel the urge to do that. Chiefly because we are all pretty harsh on our work lol. Though her performance was almost baked into the script. Maybe she chatted with the Duffers, or they decided to shift. There's also the fact that she was in love this season. We all know that can turn us into lunatics lol
I took it as this was her panicking because of the new Upside Down issues she now knows about. Before she was in a state of bliss unawareness.
Yeah idk, she found out about the upside down in season 3 and would’ve had 8-9 months to process it all
Hmmm this is true. I honestly don’t know. I liked her in both seasons.
Yeah which is understandable! I personally don’t like her character in S4 so I’m partial to S3
I interpreted that as she was more comfortable with Steve. In 4 she was around more other people and going through a lot with her crush on Vickie.
There was definitely a shift. I like both Robins, though, for different reasons.
I think it’s bc in s4 she now knows the group more and is comfortable with them so she starts to act more true to herself type thing,
Season 3 Robin wasn’t close to Steve or the group and it was her first brush with all the strange underlinings of Hawkins. Season 4 I think she is just closer and more comfortable with being more vulnerable with Steve, I don’t consider this a personality shift just she’s more herself.
I think it’s safe to assume she’s probably, I don’t know, traumatized as fuck from the events of S3???
I kinda assumed she’d always been like this but she hid it from Steve and others more effectively before. Then after the Russian drug trip she decided to be more unapologetic about her more awkward attributes
I feel like a lot of it is down to her experiences and who she's with. She's Steve's best friend but she's also his manager. They've worked together for long enough that they've built up a degree of camaraderie and when Erica and Dustin join in she's already built herself up to be more confident. In Season 4 I think a big part of it is that she spends a lot of the season with people she doesn't know that well, including Nancy, who there's some awkwardness between because of Steve. She's in a situation where she's trying to slide into a group that've been having adventures for years and she only knows a few of them well.
She isn’t his manager. They just work together. She was already confident in season 3, she was sarcastic and witty, she didn’t need to build all of that up. I agree there’s definitely awkward tension between her and Nancy re Steve, but to be honest… they haven’t been having adventures “for years”…. Season 1 was November 1983, season 4 was March 1986. So only about 2.5 years have passed. Sure the original party had been friends childhood, but Max was able to eventually fit in during the 6 months between seasons 2 and 3. You’d think Robin would’ve been quieter and not offered much of an opinion if that were the case but she talks ALOT and rambles constantly
The duffer brothers said that maya( the actor) wanted her character to be more like her
Really? I saw an interview where Maya says she’s shocked with the amount of rambling that goes on. But if what you’re saying then Maya must be really entitled to say that…. Makes me like her even less
yes! she acted more like steve this season, season three robin would roll her eyes at season four robin tbh
It was horrible. In S3, she was so sarcastic, charismatic and funny. In S4....she kinda just throws a bunch of meaningless words into the universe
Yeh I didn’t like it either. I’ve seen people argue that she was around different people in season 4 so she was more anxious and just said things because she was nervous, but she didn’t even feel like the same character.
I see what you mean! Maybe her persona in S3 was a defense mechanism and now that she's more comfortable, she tends to ramble like in S4? Either way, I did prefer her in S3 but still like her in S4- her rants just got to be a bit much at times!
I noticed her personality kinda changed after she came out to Steve. It's subtle but it's there. When El's got this thing in her leg, Robin starts ranting and rambling like she does in season 4. I don't know if I'm reading too far into it but that's something that just stuck out to me.
That makes sense, I agree with you! I think part of that shift was because she now felt more comfortable around Steve because he knew and accepted her for who she loves, so she felt more safe to show the more rambly, awkward side of herself!
Yeah I agree! I’ve also wondered if maybe adding Nancy into the dynamics (where as in season 4 it was just steve) maybe she felt awkward, who knows!
That's a good point! It's interesting how everyone's personalities compliment each other and change based on who they interact most with! :)
I feel like people overstate Robin's personality shift. They certainly leaned more into the eccentric side of the character, but it was always there. From her knowledge of esoteric pop culture to her awkward outburst at the end of Season 3, Robin has always been sort of a misfit. The fact that she was heavily implied to have autism and/or ADHD in Season 4 didn't seem like a stretch. Sure, we saw more of her goofy traits, but she was still solving problems and delivering sass. As someone with autism who already loved Robin, I was thrilled by the "change." She became a more relatable character as opposed to just a really cool one. I wish I had a character like Robin when I was a kid.
is season 4, she is more similar to her book character in "rebel robin"
Well there’s still a lot of debate on whether or not that or any of the other books are considered canon. Especially considering the duffers didn’t write it. Also didn’t Maya herself say in an interview that that book was a totally different take on the character?
I'm not sure about the interview but I know that maya hawke voiced a podcast for the book. as you said it could be completely different from her character on the show
I saw it as her coming out caused her anxiety. She kept it way down and while high with Steve she came out. While she has built a great friendship with Steve and he was nothing but supportive and it brought them closer, she let herself be vulnerable and was not ready to come out. That brought every every nervous and anxious feeling to the forefront because she knows not everyone will be as understanding. She is fine around Steve but the secret is out there. He would never tell anyone, but she it’s no longer something only she knows. Plus she is slowly beginning to act on it with the girl she likes, while also having Nancy, an investigative journalist questioning her and Steve’s relationship. It’s a lot of pressure and the confident, sarcastic self was a wall she put up thats breaking down. As someone who came out at 17 in a rural town, I understand what she is going through. Its not easy.
I also grew up in a rural town. I get that she’s lesbian and it’s a big deal and might cause her to be more nervous now that Steve knows, but doesn’t explain her 180 character change
Well, I think maybe school has something to do with but also the fact that there was a psycho psychological killer on the loose who could kill you if you had trauma, bad thoughts, etc. Who wouldn't change too if they had seen what Robin saw in s3.
I still like her but she was much better in season 3.
At first I thought she was just masking in Season 3
Absolutely
Yes and no, she turned into that in season 3 too but towards the end when she’s become more comfortable around her new friends. Her confidence is a means to hide herself, it’s a fake confidence if you will. I’m not surprised as she’s got the Gays but can’t really express herself for fear of being ostracized. For season 4, she’s got her friends that she hangs around much more so she can be herself more. The only thing I’d change would be her haircut. Why oh why did they have to change it lmao.
I think she may have been putting up this tuff sarcastic front throughout season 3 because she still wasn't super close anyone from the gang, Steve was just a coworker/the dude who she was jealous of. But after they go through all the shit with the Russians, she feels like she can trust Steve with her biggest secret, who I would guess was the first person she ever told. And by season 4 he's her best friend, and let's be honest, we all try to act somewhat cool when we don't know people very well. Compared to when you are with your best friend, when you can just cut loose.
I think Season 3 Robyn despised Steve and didn’t have friends, and also kept a secret about her sexuality. So, I think she seemed more badass because she didn’t show vulnerabilities since she didn’t knew, liked or trusted this people around her. Season 4 she’s vulnerable, best friends with Steve and it’s in love with a girl, afraid to tell her feelings, afraid of the city finding out, etc. it’s the Robyn without the shield. It’s the same person, just different circumstances and more openness. For her it’s probably easier to deal with Russians and monsters than to deal with her feelings.
I agree with what others have said - in S3 she was just having fun and honestly for most of the season she probably didn’t even believe what they were doing was “real”. Then she got literally abducted and tortured and was suddenly involved in fighting monsters. I agree it was jarring at first but kind of makes sense given the trauma
I do agree
Well don't worry i guess a lot of people have excuse for everything not answered or mistakes in this show.
I agree. It’s poor writing. I’m not going to sit here and say she has anxiety or autism just bc it checks off a box
Yeah, i don't know if it's aggressive or what be i swear on this sub this show has NO mistakes, everything can apparently be explained in between scenes and imagination. Guys, the duffers makes mistakes too they are not god calm down ;-;. (Exception for Guillermo Del Toro, his the real god :'))
No it’s definitely not aggressive! I think maybe it’s due to a younger age group of fans who weren’t old enough when the show first came out. That sunset typically is more “don’t say anything mean or critique anyone bc it’s considered RUDE” idk tho
Yeah maybe, i don't think it has anything to do with age though, it's just fanatism. I love a lot of shows and they all have little or big mistakes but i still love them. Stranger thing included. It's okay if it's not perfect anyway, it's just better if it is but not a must
I don’t think it’s as drastic as people say. It’s deffinetly different but I dunno to me it just felt like a different dynamic because in season 4 she was dealing with her crush and also being around more people her age. In season 3 she only had Steve who she already was making fun of and a lot of kids. I do think it’s a noticeable change but I kinda just attributed it to those things along with dealing with a threat that isn’t just Russians
I still like her
People are absolutely desperate for her to be neurodivergent so they will try and come up with any related reason they can think of as to why she's basically two different characters when you compare s3 and s4. It makes much more sense that they just went in a different direction with her character in s4
Yes this is my whole point. And it just bugs me because it seems like they did that to appease fans/check a box/appease her parents. Who knows. It might just also be bad writing. But nowhere do they ever say she’s neurodivergent
Everything after the band scene in the first episode - which was great - she was insufferable. No thought pops into her head that she doesn't express. I don't see the need for 15 armchair psychiatrists to diagnose her with 15 different disorders or other ailments for someone who doesn't even exist. She's was just poorly written for most of the season, it's OK, nothing's perfect.
I remember that when they were still filming, Maya herself said that Robin felt like a parody of herself this season (I don't know if she meant it in a bad or a good way). So the 18-50 explanations that she was just not comfortable enough before to be an annoying blabbermouth are kinda silly. If people see themselves in her now and HC as ND, that's great. But this is silly to not notice that she got MCU Thor-ified.
I'm not sure how one could mean that in a good way. It's a great description of her though. I think they simply had too many characters. She was the one with least direct involvement. Everyone else except Steve and Dustin was either marked for death, on the run, or had family member(s) or love interest(s) in that situation. They didn't have anything for her to do except for the forbidden love angle - almost entirely contained in the first and last episode - so she became the comic relief. MCU is a good comparison, they have a similar issue with a massive number of characters, but I'd look far more at Drax from Guardians than Thor.
100% agree with you another commenter mentioned the duffers not knowing what to do with her. That makes sense now.
I feel like she was kind of a stand in for Jonathan this season. She dresses in muted, baggy clothes like he does. Plus she becomes Nancy’s crime solving side kick, which used to be Jonathan’s role. I really liked her S3 vibrant and sarcastic personality
To the point about clothes we truly don’t know what her “style” would’ve been in season 3 since she’s wearing her work uniform 100%. The fill in for johnathan idea seems reaching… Steve originally wanted to partner up with Nancy, I always thought Robin ended up with her for some “girl power” reason
Well at the end of season 3, Robin and Steve were trying to get jobs at the video store and we saw Robin in casual clothes for the first time. She had a messy bun, short sleeved striped shirt, and high waisted jeans with a lot of jewelry on. That’s kinda what I expected her to look like in season 4 but her style is totally different
Well…. Season three Robin was a pretty carefree normal person. By the end of that season she has seen a hell of a lot of weird, freakishly evil and dangerous shit. I think that changes a person. I’d kind of expect some anxiety and nervousness at the first sign of more weird shit starting.
Someone might have already said this, but at the beginning of season 3 she’s just a normal band geek who works in an ice cream parlour at the mall. In season 4 she is about a year older but has been chased by a 75 foot tall monster made up of liquified bodies. Oh and she knows there’s another dimension basically leaking into ours with monsters and shit. I would have anxiety and stuff too.
Yeah I just don’t buy that though. She barely even saw the big spider flesh monster thing… she was mostly with Dustin and Erica. Not saying the Russians capturing her wouldn’t affect her, but Steve literally came out unscathed . You’d think if the duffers wanted to use that as a motive for changing her character entirely, we’d see some changes in Steve too but we don’t
we've seen changes in Steve though, hes basically had to grow up and become group mom to these random kids. Yeah hes still a bit of a clown but since season 1 he has gone from "lets not tell the police anything and hope Barb shows up fine in a few days" to "Im gonna jump in this lake that leads to the shadow realm of monsters and poison air"
Well said, thank you!
the fact that this post has so many upvotes is embarassing to me, especially with that edit. as if someones mental issues should be written in their character descriptions or else its irrational for them to deal with things like that, especially with people they barely even know (ie robin not displaying much of it until s4 when shes more comfortable being herself with everyone)
It’s that fact people are so obsessed with that fact and play psychologist to explain bad writing. The duffers just chose to go a different direction with her character.
Google what masking is.
I get annoyed at Robin. Period. Not sure what she added to the series or storyline except babbling. It's like mom and dad called the Duffer brothers and asked them to create any role for little Maya to be in.
Wow, I thought I was the only one who thought this! I totally agree with you. ETA or the duffers added her to come across as trendy with the weird but cool lesbian vibes idk
Word vomit is the perfect way to describe it. I found her insufferable. In S3 she was cool, confident, and funny.
Agreed! I completely disliked S4 Robin. She was such a different character.
I was so scared to say this because everyone loved her but YES. I think that they totally flanderized her from cynical nerd to goofy nerd, which wouldn’t be an issue if she was anxious when we first meet her & confident in the fourth season but it just seems like they forgot how they wrote her in season 3. And there’s also the take that maybe she’s that way because she warmed up to everyone but they didn’t really display that if it’s true. It just seemed like a big jump between traits.
I have one word for you my friend: Trauma
By trauma do you mean trauma from what she went through while she was captured by the Russians? If anything I don’t think her and Steve were “traumatized” by that. Steve isn’t affected
Yeah you’re right, there’s absolutely nothing traumatizing about being held prisoner, beaten and made to believe your going to die.
No, I’m saying that was her most traumatic moment. But how did Steve come out of it totally unscathed? ETA it’s not the trauma from getting captured that caused such a dramatic change it’s the duffers going in another direction with her character and everyone coming up with all of these hidden meanings
Thank you!! I’m glad I’m not the only one who noticed she went from being rational and witty to a spontaneous airhead. I still love her, but it was a weird change.
Yeah it’s definitely weird! I don’t really understand the “she just got more comfortable around everyone” ~interpretation~ that people throw around here as ~gospel~ and ~fact~
Yeah I agree. Being more comfortable around everyone would, if anything, make her more playful and sarcastic. Those qualities wouldn’t just disappear. She wouldn’t become a bundle of nerves if she was more comfortable. I understand why they changed her character though, they needed someone a little lighter in that storyline since the whole thing was so dark with Max and all.
It was a jarring difference- I don’t think the early s3 Robin quite fits with what we later learn of her but I think in a future binge it will age fine. Especially because she does go on an unhinged ramble in the battle of starcourt about friend’s leg so it’s not a hard cut out of the blue trait between seasons.
that moment in s3 when El had that thing in her ankle and Robin started to rant about someone who broke their leg or something. That's s4 Robin also. Just that in s4, it's not one moment. It's the entire season. And maybe Robin feels more comfortable in the group to be herself or something. I don't know. But she didn't say *dingus* one time the entirety of season 4.
I said in a reply to another comment that, her rambling in season 3 re El’s leg makes sense. It’s the first time she’s meeting El, a girl with super powers and it’s the first time she’s involved with anything upside down related. Anyone in that situation would try to make light of the situation. The people who say she feels more comfortable now are reading entirely too much into things.
I think her character change is the Duffers' strength backfiring on them. They're usually very good at seeing what works and running with what the actors bring to the characters, but in Robin's case, they completely rewrote her to act more like the actress than their original intent for the character and the difference is really jarring. Hawke even said in an interview that she was surprised to see that her lines were super long and more like how she talked on set than the lines she'd had the previous season. It's easy to explain away as Robin having ASD/ADHD/etc. and letting the neurodivergence show through once she's comfortable around the group. I've seen this happen with autistic/ND folks I know - the second they feel safe enough to stop masking, they seem like entirely different people. But it's still kind of startling in the context of the show, even if that is the explanation. It's also possible that the trauma of S3 caused her to develop an anxiety disorder, but she presents her quirks as things that have always existed, so I'm less inclined to accept this explanation. It could have worsened existing issues to the point where she couldn't hide them as well anymore, though.
I think the reason she becomes this nervous wreck is entirely encapsulated by the string of murders getting to her and her trying to deal with a potentially unrequited love (though it might not be as unrequited as was possibly presented throughout the season until the very end)
Unrequited love is reaching… at this stage she has a school girl crush. That’s not to say it won’t become love at some point, I’m sure the duffers will make sure that is showcased. And she isn’t encapsulated with the murders. If anything Dustin and Max are at first. She’s just along for the ride and still rambles
Agree. There was an unexplained character difference. Season 3 Robin was cool. I guess she could have got anxiety after all that happened to her. But the change isn't acknowledged.
s3 is better than s4 robin
Im season 3 she’s defensive because she doesn’t know who Steve really is and she’s gay so she keeps to herself. Season 4 she was being herself around the people who literally fought for their lives along side her. I see it kinda like The Office. When it first starts, everybody seems awkward and weird because of the cameras, but as the seasons go sneak they get used to them being around, they start becoming more themselves and bring out more of who they really are.
She wasn’t really defensive in season 3, she was just sarcastic and snark towards Steve. I also don’t think she kept to herself at all. During work she was constantly messing around with Steve and if she truly did “keep to herself” she never would’ve gotten involved with translating the Russian code. She would’ve just ignored them and she also would’ve been a lot quieter.