Sorry if this has already been discussed but its so interesting to me how lucas is seen and portrayed through the lense of the fandom. It feels like in a lot of fandom works he either has to be the antagonist or the "perfect" one and he isn't allowed to be complex, fleshed out or built upon like other characters. In some works he's either the one who's homophobic, says something wrong/hurtful or he's antagonized for his plotline and wanting to conform (for good reason) in s4. In others he's max's "perfect boyfriend", a supporting character for mike who's just there to give advice, or just a character who's there to comfort and build up others in general. These choices definitely reflect the duffers writing of lucas but it's interesting that in so many fanworks that can build upon what's given in canon and expand on existing characters he's left so flat and is either the person who does something wrong or the person that can do no wrong ever and in both cases it's usually used to uplift a different character in some way.
Despite the sub-fandom's loud proclamations of all encompassing love for Stranger Things, analyses and fanfiction highlight this love's true limit. The limit being characterization outside of facilitating or validating the desired plot point. These characters frequently end up being depicted as shallow tools for individual fantasies.
Bylr, mainly Mike, is the center of many of these fantasies. You see this in how people write Max as Mike's therapist, treating her as an expository device for Mike's trauma. You see this in how people write Will as Mike's doormat, demurely soiled by Mike's foul behavior and happy to serve again. And, you see this in how people write Lucas as the malleable everyman.
On the one hand, this behavior is a reflection of the Duffers writing. Lucas is usually kept in the periphery, supporting but not centered. The writers focus on Lucas as an individual more during his S4 conformity plot line. The issue is that his character development is due to external force rather than introspection. Instead of fleshing out Lucas' understanding of the world, the writers reiterate what we already know about Lucas. Outside of basketball, there's no new information presented about his life, his interests, his family, or himself.
What we do get is a one liner with the subtlety of a sledgehammer, a reaffirmation of his love for Max, and a violently temporary resolution to the multi-functional Jason v. Hellfire conflict. Rather than address race, the Duffers prioritize geekdom. While it maintains the show's "sensibilities," the Duffers' cowardice proves their unwillingness to challenge the status quo, whether that be creating uncomfortable situations amongst the ensemble or compelling the audience to question their own assumptions about Lucas. Of which, they have many.
On the other hand, it's not like Lucas himself is uninteresting. He's a meta-textual underdog, once reviled by the audience for being skeptical of the suspicious little white girl. Lucas was known as the "aggressive" one, despite his character's S1 motivations being laid out clearly, not breaking limbs or making eyes bleed, or getting into more than one physical fight. When people reappraised the show after S4, Lucas (especially Caleb) garnered greater appreciation. How much of that being genuine is another topic, relating to performance in fandom and online spaces.
Outside of his valuable contributions to the group, Lucas has numerous qualities that make him an excellent brother, friend, and boyfriend. He's got a keen mind, always prepared with a retort (but less so than Erica). He's skeptical, balancing out the idealists, theorists, and dreamers in his friend group. He's pragmatic, providing common sense solutions for average to larger than life problems. He's bold, willing to pursue independent action despite the danger. He's got grit, an unwavering determination in himself and his judgment. He's stubborn to the core, making him a fierce protector. He's self aware, graciously accepting his mistakes and take immediate action to do better.
It's not just those personality traits that make him endearing but his perfectly imperfect contradictions. He's one verbal blunder away from a permanent break-up with Max, however he charms his way into her good graces time and time again. He's the Hawkins High's MVP, shooting a championship winning basket during his freshman year. Meanwhile, just a year ago, he used to get a thrill through karate kicking his way through Hawkins Middle classroom doors (then getting caught). No matter how "cool" he gets, Lucas Charles Sinclair is, and will always be, a dork.
It's difficult for people to parse out these aspects of Lucas, when their primary understanding of a character is derived from said character's relationships. It's one reason why shippers struggle with grasping a character's identity and motivations. They can't see the forest for the trees.
The sub-fandom's fixation on romance is a given but, per their self-appointed high level of "media literacy," it's worth noting for hypocrisy alone. "Media literacy" apparently only applies to a single, white queer lens, of interpretation. When you have a character like Lucas, who doesn't adhere to this limited scope of skill and interest, people will either disregard him or make him conform to the their expectations.
Look at how bloggers analyzed Lucas on the Line, when they weren't making it about Mike. People had a fundamental issues understanding Lucas' relationship with his Black peer mentor, Jermaine. What they thought was sexual attraction was actually admiration. He's in awe of Jermaine, who is a cool and confident Black upperclassman in a predominantly white community. That is why he becomes Lucas' role model, giving Lucas something to aspire towards.
This isn't me saying these bloggers are racist. This is me pointing out that race wasn't even a factor on their identity issue radar. To be frank, it isn't on the Duffers' radar either.
Ultimately, fandoms are places of habit. If people can't utilize Lucas as a means to resolve Mike's issues, such as his fandom-minted trauma or romantic angst, then Lucas is relegated as set dressing. The type of set dressing includes but isn't exclusive to: a plug-and-play dynamic with Max, the queer ally relationship counselor/therapist, or the scapegoat for an intra-party conflict.
While the first two are dull but harmless, the latter leads to some insidious scenarios, such as Lucas being cast as the homophobic party member. Lucas being homophobic is founded on assumption, not text! If you need to look for a homophobe-in-training, please look at repressed Mike Wheeler.
Lucas can't even catch a break when he's not being depicted as a homophobe. In an effort to minimize the collateral of Mike and El's break-up, as well as appease El stans, shippers paired up Max and El. Ironically, Lucas becomes a form of collateral himself. The only difference is that, unlike a single El, shippers can live with the fallout of him third wheeling his throuple or rationalizing Max's "amicable" break up with Lucas after the events of S4 and S5.
As I said in another post, it's never about Lucas. It's about what he can do for you.
chloe price... a free spirit... the one that lost three separate people within the game yet held onto them for so long because of her severe attachment issues.... THAT chloe price...
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