Warning: Anti-Jonathan/Anti-Jancy/pro-Stancy ramble
I will never get over the fact that Jonathan witnessed his gf being humiliated by a bunch of men, and it didn't make him angry???? She told him about it, clearly being upset, and he? DEFENDED them??? Tried to shush her????????
Like, Steve trying to shush Nancy about Barb's death and the government/supernatural stuff in s2 was shitty, but he was scared for both of their lives, he was traumatised too, and this was his way of trying to deal with it (trying to go back to normal). He didn't listen to her and that was wrong.
But this is an entirely different thing. Jonathan didn't even empathise with her. He couldn't hear her truth, because that would mean accepting that he's working for abusive assholes, and he can't lose the job. I am poor myself and understand how it puts you into a survival state, but it's not an excuse for siding with abusive people and not siding with a victim, and then that victim is someone you supposedly love? Hell, Jonathan cared more for a job than for Nancy, and him being poor and having to support his family doesn't make it any better.
He didn't want to hear her complaining about being treated like garbage! What kind of partner or friend is that? He also didn't want to hear her thoughts about an exciting story. And he never apologised for not siding with her.
But then again, this shouldn't come as a surprise, because he committed voyeurism and went to develop those photos of Nancy. Who else is not surprised that he's a shitty boyfriend?
He's also not had any major character development. I'm not even sure how he serves the plot, other than to support Will emotionally. I feel like that defines his role in the show, and it's really disappointing, because they could have done so much more with him, obviously. But the only change apart from coming together with Nancy was him getting a stoner friend and starting to smoke weed. Like, seriously? I'm not sure the writers even care about him tbh.
I mean, imagine how Steve would have reacted to Nancy telling him about those assholes at the Hawkins Post. Just remember how he reacted to seeing her bandaged hand in s1.