Stranger Things centers on a bunch of kids confronting terrifying supernatural forces in a small town, yet the romantic relationships in the series are equally significant to its fans. From the tender, heartfelt connection between Mike and Eleven to the complex and evolving bond between Nancy and Jonathan, the sci-fi series shows that romance is as integral to the story as the battles with the Upside Down.
However, there's one couple in Stranger Things who doesn't get much attention. It's Dustin Henderson and Suzie Bingham (Gaten Matarazzo and Gabriella Pizzolo). In fact, we never actually get to see them together on screen. Their interactions are mostly shown through radio/phone calls in the third and fourth seasons. Yet even in these brief moments, their relationship left a lasting impression on fans.
Remember their iconic duet over the ham radio of the theme song for The NeverEnding Story in season 3? That was hilarious, sweet, and unexpectedly heartwarming, perfectly capturing the quirky charm of their bond. Suzie even helps out Dustin's friends later in the fourth season when the group needs to contact a mysterious computer and trace its location.
But you know what sucks? Suzie doesn’t appear at all in Stranger Things 5, not even in the series finale. After all the clever, funny, and touching moments that made fans fall in love with her quirky, supportive personality, Suzie is completely absent from the fifth and final season. There wasn't even a mention of her, which is weird since she and Dustin were still together at the end of the fourth season.
Honestly, Suzie was very much needed in Stranger Things 5 too. Dustin starts off the fifth season still in the dumps over Eddie's death. There's even a point in the season where he and his close friend Steve aren't on the best of terms. Suzie could have been that much-needed emotional anchor for Dustin. Even if she couldn't be with him in person, she still could have reached out over the radio or through messages, offering support, encouragement, and a bit of her trademark humor to lift his spirits.
Spoilers are ahead from the Stranger Things series finale.
Stranger Things 5 had the perfect opportunity to finally bring Dustin and Suzie together on screen, but that moment never happened. In fact, it seems that Dustin and Suzie may have broken up off-screen, as implied in the series finale. At the end, Dustin, Mike, Lucas, and Will are invited to Stacey's graduation party. Stacey appears to be flirting with Dustin during this conversation, and he doesn’t turn her down. This basically hinted that his relationship with Suzie is no longer in the picture.
Later, in a flash-forward after high school graduation, Dustin is even shown attending college with no sign of Suzie. So, it's pretty clear that their relationship ended off-screen. Why? That's something the sci-fi series never explains, and truthfully, it's frustrating for fans who had been invested in their relationship.
Stranger Things 5 is now streaming on Netflix.