The most annoying thing is that people who are too stubborn and too... idk infuriating. Those who are told but don't want to understand and end up ignoring it and end up on the loop.
The way some of you hear “catalyst” and immediately translate it to “prize” says more about you than us.
A catalyst in storytelling means a turning point, not a trophy. Nancy isn’t reduced by acknowledging that her relationship with Steve pushed him to grow.
Characters can impact each other without one being diminished. That’s literally how character development works.
Steve and Nancy weren’t about rewards. They were about growth.
Their relationship was messy, real, and formative. It changed him. That doesn’t make her a prize — it makes their connection meaningful.
You don’t have to ship them, but pretending their impact on each other didn’t matter is just ignoring the narrative.