Stranger Things introduced a lot of brilliant and amazing characters onto audience screens, making it easy for them to form connections with the fictional world and the series plot. Dustin Henderson is a warm-hearted and reasonable character who more often than not, is funny, excitable, and a lover of chocolate pudding, although he has his short-tempered moments.
And Lucas Sinclair is sassy, unforgiving in his ways, and strong-willed. The two of them have had some pretty endearing moments, but their friendship leaves much to be desired and leaves the audience wanting to see more of the two together. But are they true friends? These are 10 reasons they need to work on their friendship, and why they might not be friends at all.
Dustin Brought The Upside Down Back Into Their Lives
Yep, it was bound to happen eventually. But it was Dustin's insistence that he had found an amazing new species that put all of the Party ' lives in danger. Dustin's caring and loving nature compelled him to save the creature that was foraging in his trash.
But Dart didn't remain a tiny slimy lizard looking creature for long, and grew at an increasingly rapid pace. Dustin doesn't want to take Dart to Hopper despite the group wanting to, because Hopper will kill him. Dustin stops Mike from whacking Dart and Dart escapes, putting them all in danger.
They Haven't Bonded
Lucas and Dustin haven't been given adequate time to bond during the progression of the series. Theirs is a friendship that leaves much to be desired. Sure, the audience was given some insight into their relationship in season 1 with Mike focused on Eleven and Will missing, and during season 2 when the two of them bonded over their interest in Max, thinking she was awesome and investigating whether she was Max together.
But most of Lucas's time in season 3 is spent with Mike and Max, and Dustin is away with the Scoops Ahoy gang on a separate mission, losing a lot of time for growth.
Lucas Made Fun Of His Singing
When all hope was lost, Dustin had the answer to save the day. It was up to him to Suzie, a person who up until now, his friends had refused to believe had existed. When Suzie finally answered he needed her to tell him a code, but she wouldn't give it to him unless they sang their song from The Neverending Story together.
So in front of everyone they sang, and after that they saved the day. But unfortunately for Dustin, his singing would then become a joke to Max and Lucas.
Dustin Is Kind Of A Loner
Dustin isn't close to any particular member of the Party. He's the funny one. He brings snacks on adventures and knows how comes work. He knows that Lucas and Mike are best friends, even making it a point to tell them to their faces in the junkyard when Lucas and Mike fight about Eleven. Although later on, Mike says that Dustin is his best friend too, it's pretty clear that Dustin is the floater of the group.
They even ditch him at the dance. But one moment that is especially sad for Dustin is the gang's neglect towards him after he comes back from summer camp. Mike and Eleven leave him the first chance they get, and the others soon follow.
Lucas Went Behind Dustin's Back About Max
When Max comes into the picture in season 2, Dustin and Lucas are the two of the Party who take a particular liking to her. The two of them are the ones to discover that she is Max, the player who had beaten Dustin's high score in the Arcade. They find her at her locker and decide to invite her to spend Halloween with the gang.
But as Max continuously feels excluded from the group, it is Lucas that decides to tell her everything, without consulting the group first. At that moment, Lucas went against his friends and bonded with Max without thinking about Dustin's feelings towards her.
Left Dustin On The Hill
Dustin went to science camp and created the Cadillac of ham radios. When Dustin leads the Party up a hill to reach optimum Cerebro connectivity so that he can Suzie, Lucas shows a real interest in finding out about his summer school relationship. Dustin tells him it's all a bit Shakespearean.
After Mike and Eleven ditch because of 4 o'clock curfew, it's up to Lucas, Max and Will to help Dustin put the radio together. But after Dustin's failed attempts to her and a long time waiting, Lucas says that maybe she doesn't exist. He doesn't believe that a genius and someone hotter than Phoebe Cates is real, because no one is that perfect.
Dustin Doesn't Stand Up For Lucas
Because of Dustin's neutral stance in the Party, he doesn't really stand up for anyone in particular. But there are times where he should have. When the Party all decide to dress up in Mike and Lucas are both dressed up as Venkman.
Mike says that everyone decided that Lucas was going to be Winston. While Will outwardly objects that Lucas didn't agree to be Winston and asks why there can't be two Venkman's. Dustin doesn't really say anything except maybe shaking his head when Lucas says that no one wants to be Winston.
Dustin Is Closer To Steve
Out of all the closer relationships on Stranger Things, Dustin and Steve's friendship is one of the most caring and brotherly. Some of their most memorable moments include Steve letting Dustin in on the secret to his bouncy hair and shiny finish with his Farrah Fawcett hairspray, their imaginary lightsaber greeting, conversations surrounding girl advice and Steve giving Dustin a ride to the school dance.
The two have more intimate and one on one interactions than Dustin has with any of the Party. Steve actually puts in the effort to get close to Dustin and the growth that comes from it is a true friendship.
Lucas Doesn't Appreciate The Nerd In Dustin
In season 1, Lucas and Dustin have a little spat over the accuracy of a location in a book. Hopper tells Mike, Dustin, and Lucas that after school they are going to go home immediately, which means no biking around, searching for Will, investigating or nonsense. That they are to have no adventures.
Hopper asks them if they've heard of Mirkwood. Lucas says it's from The Hobbit. Lucas mimics Dustin when Dustin defends himself instead of embracing the nerd within his friend.
Lucas Putting The Blame On Dustin
Lucas has no sense of shyness when it comes to his friends. He will say what he means strong and clear for everyone to hear. When Jonathan comes down to where the Party are playing Dungeons and Dragons in season 1, he asks what the smell is and if they've been playing games all day or just farting.
As soon as this leaves his mouth, Lucas says that it's just Dustin and that he farted. He then proceeds to sing Dustin farted to Dustin's face. Something about Dustin's face shows that he isn't too pleased about this, in fact, he's a little unimpressed. No one likes to be blamed for things they didn't do.