This is why I just don't like Jonathan. If Nancy's investigation had actually led nowhere, he would never have realized he had been wrong. (And he would have been wrong even if Nance hadn't been right about the story.) Because the thing is, that wasn't the problem--he had known, when he followed Nancy, what the risks were. (And also knew that she had different priorities than him.) There was no guarantee it would pay off… That's why one investigates, because you don't know for sure. And of course, Nancy believed she was right (and she was, but she also really wanted to be, which is a tricky situation, and not really the point right now.), but he could have just given the keys to Nancy, and let her go on her own--except, of course, he couldn't: it's too dangerous. What kind of man lets his girlfriend go alone?, I imagine was his thought process, idk. So, what did he want, really? He wanted her to give up. To quit. (Or, well, be right?)
And don't get me wrong, Nance has an exceptional instinct, and is very smart, but I think she should be allowed the leeway to be wrong, at least when picking a lead to follow--because noone is infallible, and being wrong about a hunch is very different that following it all the way to the wrong answer. So what if it had actually been just a stupid story?
This is why I find it so frustrating when people act like he would be such a supportive lifelong partner to Nance, like there was such a thing as a more logical choice, and that was him. I really don't care if people love him, everyone has their blorbos and their ships, and it's great, but he's... not objectively amazing when it comes to her ambitions. I haven't read the latest book, but from what I've seen this very attitude of his even put Nancy in actual danger, there.
She's a risk-taker, and I don't want to take away from what Jonathan HAS done, but he's just not, and he has limits with the risks he is willing to take. (Let's be honest, if it had been up to him, Will would still be flyed.) I don't even think it's a gender thing, he did basically the same thing to Steve after they crashed into the was, as if he hadn't been screaming "we did it!". (Also I find it significant how, in response to Steve's suggestion, he immediately goes: "you probably shouldn't be making the calls", because that's not what Steve had ever done? Not even with the peanut bopper gate situation? He had only shared his opinion with the group. But apparently to him that's "making the calls" to Jon?)
Actually, there might be a bit of a gender thing there; because he clearly feels some obligation to follow nancy in her investigations, for whatever reason, and then lashes out when things go sideways because he didn't really want to go in the first place. I don't know if he would feel the same obligation with, say, Argyle; but the point is Nancy never actually forced him, he is the one who didn't want her to go alone. Which, ok, nice, but if you make the choice to go, however reluctantly, then commit, dammit! Otherwise it's just going to be stressful for Nancy, and holding her back. (Imagine having to do an investigation with a guy you know will blow up if the lead doesn't pay off?)
In conclusion, idk. I don't think he has zero good qualities, but this aspect of his character is something that I find exhausting irl, and I don't wish it upon Nancy.
