MovieChat Forums > Stranger Things (2016) Discussion > Stranger Things keeps wasting Lucas, the...

Stranger Things keeps wasting Lucas, the show's most interesting character

posted 3 years ago by TMC-4 (20494)
6 replies | jump to latest

https://slate.com/culture/2022/06/stranger-things-4-netflix-most-interesting-character-lucas.html

Consistently, Caleb McLaughlin's Lucas "is the character of the main group who experiences the most change, who is set apart from the group in a major way but finds his way back by overcoming something big (his own fear, his friends’ narrow-mindedness, etc.)," says Nadira Goffe. "But the potential is entirely wasted, as it always is with Lucas. We don’t see him grapple with being wrong about Eleven in the first season, or how it changes his perception of trust or the supernatural. Even the gravity of the choice this season (Basketball or Hellfire) is cheapened when the show turns the basketball team from a group that welcomes Lucas as their teammate and real friend, to a bloodthirsty murderous mob of young vigilante teens? He had an actual believable conflict, trying to evolve while feeling seen in multiple communities—not to mention, his short stint on the basketball team showcases him talking to another Black kid that he’s not related to for what may be the first time—but the show even erases the validity of that choice (and also the other Black kid dies a gruesome death)."

[–] whynotwriteme (7817) 3 years ago

Could it be... RACISM!?!

We used to have "The Church Lady" ringing alarms about Satanic influences in entertainment, and now we have "The Woke Lady" doing the same thing about racism.

I'm not calling you yourself "The Woke Lady" as I don't know your pronouns, but this general mindset of finding racism everywhere will be looked at by future generations in the same way we look at 80s "Satanic Panic" today.

And no, the article does not specifically blame racism, but you know that's the subtext.

[–] emori (3681) 3 years ago

Yep. Well said. Its so hilarious how those woke White Saviors cant see what a cartoon and clishe they become.

In every thread about a show and movie there will always be a post from purple haired white woke college educated woman that will scream: "Would someone think of poor oppressed people of color? You are all racists! I’m gonna protect those poor things from all of you. Because I am a good smart white person and uts my duty to do so" ))))

[–] emori (3681) 3 years ago

Instead they wasted so much time on that stupid boring Russian prison and Hopper....

Its not that only Lucas sidelined. Will is the most sidelined character in this series.

They never give poor Will time to properly hang with his friends and experience adventure. He is always either lost or is suffering alone. And even now he was just hanging out in the background, given few lines there and there. Instead Dustin, Steve, Max, Nancy get so much time each season. Then they introduce Billy, Eddie, Robin who get soo much time.

But its interesting that this season Mike was sidelined also. Its like they dumped him to that "search for Eleven" side plot and he was just there along with Will and Jonathan. While he was always like a main character each season.

Cast is just too bloated now. They cant give enough time to each of their like 20 main cast members.

[–] Wint3rFir3 (7386) 3 years ago

I do think he's having the most change on the side, but I don't see that as a bad thing. If anything, Lucas is the most well-rounded, unproblematic character. He's shown growing up and growing apart from his friends in a pretty normal way. When needed, he rejoins them and helps them out in a life or death situation, but he's no longer seeking to be part of the Upside Down drama anymore, which is honestly sensible.

Last season showed how helpless all of them were (excepting Eleven) against the Upside Down, so him trying to have a normal life and not try and only getting involved when he absolutely had to is great. But a natural result of this change is him being a less focal character. I'd much prefer that than what we got last season, with him just randomly spouting nonsense about coke so he could be in a scene, or incidentally stumbling upon fireworks to show he had relevance to the season. At least this season his scenes are much more interesting and feel more naturally occurring. That's what we're getting with Will and Mike this season, and it sucks.

[–] emori (3681) 3 years ago

Yep. Lucas was always the most realistic character. This is how a real person would react. And they actually make him doubt things and walking away instead of cliche to just hang around and accept everything.

And him leaving his friends with all their problems and moving to adult chapter of his life with new interests was realistic. Lucas never liked that Upside World but always had to be involved because his friends were always in trouble. And when you think of it - Lucas was never a true friend to them. He was just hanging out with them. But as we see - when he will grow up - he will leave and never think of them again. Meeting them once in a while and awkwardly say "Hi, how are you" then move on.

While Dustin, Mike and Will actually do seem like childhood friends that will stay in touch when adults.

And I never liked Max actually. They brought her in and forced upon us as new cast member. But she is so boring and has very little personality. And now they gave her this big tragic storyline and now everyone feels sorry for her. Because everyone were worrying she would die. But after her Vecna plot ended - she become boring again.

There is a reason why her romance with Lucas never really took off. Because they are the most boring characters with very little charisma and personality.

[–] Wint3rFir3 (7386) 3 years ago

I wouldn't say he was never really their friend; if anything, season 1 was all about how Lucas couldn't stand that he and Mike could ever have anyone come between them and the natural jealousy that happens when your friends mature faster than you. But yes, he has now matured and is outgrowing them in some ways, or just going down a different path. I think they'll always be connected by what they've faced, but they're also not really friends anymore. Kind of like the kids of Stephen King's It. Lucas makes me think of Ben as an adult - super successful, with no desire to look back at his past, where he was bullied and which he has overcome.

And your point about Max is fair. While I like her now, I did think her entry into the series wasn't a natural fit, and felt like it was just a way to make Billy's story more relevant to the kid group. And now that they have dealt with Max's trauma, I don't know what her role will be except to be El's mall buddy.