Stranger Things 4 is the perfect balance of horror and comedy with a pinch of light-hearted elements that makes the fourth season a satisfying experience or better put, Wholesome! Whether it’s Dustin’s (Gaten Matarazzo) delightful friendship with recent high-school graduate Steve Harrington (Joe Keery), or Argyle (Eduardo Franco), Jonathan’s (Charlie Heaton) new best buddy in California – the newcomers and oldies had some of the best interaction in Stranger Things season 4 that left many viewers gushing for more.

Warning: This article contains major spoilers for Stranger Things season 4 Vol. 1

Chrissy and Eddie – The metalhead freak geek meets Hawkins high school’s famous girl

Let’s be honest, Eddie (Joseph Quinn) alone deserves a spot in this post for his lovable performance as the D&D leader. He’s the epitome of an 80s metal head freak and his charming yet funny personality certainly makes it enjoyable to watch him in action, even after his breakdown from watching Vecna crush Chrissy (Grace Van Dien).

Speaking of which, Chrissy and Eddie together felt like a match made in heaven, literally – their chemistry in Stranger Things season 4 episode 1 clicked within minutes of their interaction. A brief trip down memory lane and voila, Chrissy almost forgot her nightmares and seemed caught up in Eddie’s charm. And clearly, no one was interested in her current basketball captain boyfriend Jason (Mason Dye). Just when the two were closing in on their ‘Happily ever after’ scenario, Vecna’s curse took it all way. (Hopefully, in some universe, Chrissy is watching Eddie and his band play at The Hideout on a Tuesday).

Steve and Eddie bond over Dustin – The love triangle we never asked for but deserve

Let’s face it, Dustin and Steve’s friendship has grown to the point of bromance, and a surprising mix to that was Eddie, who to some degree, takes Steve’s spot as Dustin’s go-to mentor, at least at school and for D&D. While it may or may not have made Steve a tad envious, Dustin’s two grown-up buddies get a wholesome moment to dish out their thoughts on Henderson in Stranger Things season 4 episode 7. And all Steve learns was how Dustin worships him and it gets better when even Eddie gets jealous of what that “little shrimp” thinks.  Additionally, Steve winning Eddie’s respect was the cherry on top. So what more can you ask?

Murray – the gonzo journalist turned black belt karate master

Murray (Brett Gelman) and Joyce’s (Winona Ryder) unlikely alliance to rescue Hopper (David Harbour) may just well be a wholesome arc of its own. But Murray, in particular, has come in the clutch more than once in season 4 while attempting to break into the Russian prison. And not without a few hiccups, like facing Yuri (Nikola Djuricko) and his bad jokes, pretending to be Yuri and beating up Yuri as well as a Russian colonel (That’s a lot of Yuri).

The self-proclaimed karate master goes from being a former investigative journalist to a classic action star from the movies, weirdly swaying viewers with engaging quotes at the unlikeliest moment, “My fingers are like Arrow, my arms, like iron, my feet, like spears. Resist and I will end you.” If that wasn’t enough, his karate chop skills actually come in handy at the prison camp. Murray’s unpredictability in the face of crisis makes his scenes oddly satisfying this season.

Jonathan’s well-deserved best friend, Argyle

Argyle is one of the new additions of Stranger Things 4, as part of the newbies Joyce’s family meets at their new home in California. Jonathan’s new stoner buddy who works at the local pizza shop is a testament of wholesomeness, a friend looking out for Jonathan – “it’s way past due you give that right hand of yours a vacation,” words of wisdom indeed. But jokes asides, well, Argyle’s essence in Stranger Things 4 is a comedic relief altogether.

Also Read: Fans love Stranger Things 4 newcomers Joseph Quinn’s Eddie, Audrey Holcomb’s Eden, Eduardo Franco’s Argyle & more

Even in the most intense moment when the Byers were escaping a shootout, Argyle’s dreamy state of mind, mostly because of his fondness for “smelly plants” makes the scene all too hilarious.  And also, here’s hoping the dude of Stranger Things 4 gets to tag along with Eden in Vol. 2.

Erica, Mike and Dustin’s D&D savior

We don’t get a lot of Erica (Priah Ferguson) in Stranger Things 4 Vol. 1 but when she appears, she slays with epic line delivery as usual. This time, Erica’s best screen presence was when Mike (Finn Wolfhard) and Dustin recruit her for Lucas’s (Caleb McLaughlin) spot to play D&D. Though Eddie and his misfits aren’t convinced Sinclair’s infamous sister packs the punch to play with them, though that is until Lady Applejack schools Eddie, “I’m a chaotic good half-elf rogue, level 14. I will sneak behind any monster you throw my way and stab them in the back with my poison-soaked kukri. And I’ll smile as I watch them die a slow, agonizing death. So, we gonna do this, or we gonna keep chitchatting like this is your mommy’s book club?” If Sinclair’s sister could leave Eddie speechless than its time fans believe in Erica’s supremacy.

Nancy and Robin – Hawkin’s very own Daphine and Velma

Nancy (Natalie Dyer) and Robin’s (Maya Hawke) chemistry is the perfect example of opposites attracting each other. Robin’s untethered babbling and Nancy’s imperturbable personality work like a charm and watching Robin worry if she’s annoying Nancy during their investigation of Victor Creel (Robert Englund) just felt heartwarming to watch. But the duo’s chemistry shines bright when they go undercover as college students at Pennhurst Mental Hospital. And we thought Robin and Steve felt like a match made in heaven. Time for the fan-fics to write a rom-com for Nancy and Robin.

Steve, always the babysitter

From surviving a beat-down during a Russian interrogation to fighting a band of demodogs, facing the Mind Flayer and even Billy, Steve has done it all while being stuck as the babysitter. And that doesn’t change in Stranger Things 4 episode 3 with Steve continuing to be the fan’s favorite babysitter, and his line, “Always the babysitter. Always the God DAMN BABYSITTER!” is so wholesome it struck a chord, falling in line to the list of Harrington babysitter memes.

Hopper and Dimitri Enzo – the unlikely alliance

Tom Wlaschiha’s Dimitri is a surprising addition to Hopper’s Prison Escape arc. Dimitri appears as the Prison guard trying to make a big buck from helping Hopper escape. But their rapport gets better after their failed attempt results in both of them being imprisoned together. Hopper comes close to losing hope and considers his existence a threat to others like Joyce. His heart-to-heart talk with Dimitri highlights the significance of two men trying to do what’s best for their family even in the face of adversity. It was certainly a relief to see the two escape death while fighting Demogorgon. But will Dimitri make it out in one peace? We’ll have to wait till July to find out.

Max escaping Vecna’s curse

If you weren’t bawling out tears during Max’s (Sadie Sink) memory flashback, especially when she began making the run with ‘Kate Bush – Running Up That Hill’ playing in the background, are you really a Stranger Things fan? Max’s tussle with Vecna is a phenomenal piece of writing, the perfect metaphor for fighting against depression and not letting it consume you. The sequence drew much acclaim for Sink’s performance as well as for the Duffer Brothers and Netflix for producing a beautiful cinematic experience. If that wasn’t wholesome then what is?

El standing up to Angela

It’s arguably a controversial take, but it’s still not stopping fans wishing to see Angela bite the dust from Vecna’s curse. In fact, many hoped Chrissy’s death could have been swapped with the bully. But watching Eleven/Jane (Millie Bobby Brown) being tormented by Angela and her friends at Rink-O-Mania was the boiling point for not just El but even viewers. So did Angela deserve the bloody broken nose? Up for debate, but was it wholesome to see the bully down for the count? Totally!

What did you think of the choice for this Stranger Things list? Let us know in the comments below or reach out to our writer @RAKarthikPrasad to discuss all things Upside Down and more.