Stranger Things 5 Volume 2: Nancy, Jonathan BREAK-UP, 'Un-Proposal' EXPLAINED - Does She Accept Steve?

Stranger Things 5 Volume 2 on Netflix gave a major moment to Nancy Wheeler and Jonathan Byers, played by actors Natalia Dyer and Charlie Heaton respectively. The new bunch of episodes catered more on themes like relationships, identity and friendships. As the group in Hawkins prepares for its ultimate showdown against Vecna, the characters addressed their long-standing secrets, fears and dilemmas too. Nancy and Jonathan also finally get their share scenes where they aren't for once exploring the Upside Down, rather addressing issues between them. But this wasn't like anything we expected. In Chapter Six: Escape from Camazotz, Nancy and Jonathan's future gets decided, whether or not they are together anymore, or does Nancy land up with Steve.**SPOILERS**

What happens in the episode?

Nancy, Jonathan, Steve and Dustin arrive at Doctor Brenner's Hawkins Lab in the Upside Down looking to understand, what they call the Wall. They split. After Dustin and Steve's brawl over past misunderstandings, Dustin finds Dr Brenner's journal and gets to finally know what exactly is the Upside Down. He realises that the alternate dimension is nothing but a cover of an exotic matter connecting to the other world. He tries to warn Nancy and Steve against doing anything that would disturb the system there. But Nancy ends up shooting a gun at the exotic matter leading to a massive explosion that reacts violenty with the unstable energy leaving the entire building melting. The massive energy throws the couple deep into a melting room with no door to escape.

Nancy and Jonathan's conversation

After realising there's no way out, and believing it is time to die, Nancy and Jonathan begin a heart-to-heart conversation about difficult times they've been facing for past two seasons in their relationship. In the midst of the flooding room, they shed all the walls they've been holding between each other and get honest. Nancy begins with "I hate The Clash," setting off confessions, confrontations and secrets.As the moments gets vulnerable and tearful, Jonathan reaches out to his pocket and takes out the cassette holding the ring, handing it to Nancy. But just when we believe it is the purest proposal, he blurts, "I figure that I have screwed up enough with you that it'd be nice to get something right for once, in the end. Nancy Wheeler, will you not marry me?"

Jonathan's "un-proposal"

Jonathan explains how he initially believed a proposal would fix their relationship. But he opts for an "un‑proposal." He says, "I tried to convince myself that this would somehow fix everything, but it was just going to make things worse… So what do you say? Do you accept my un‑proposal?" In tears, Nancy replies, "I accept your un‑proposal."

What does the break-up imply?

Nancy and Jonathan end the conversation with an emotional "I love you" but this doesn't leave them engaged or with a hope for future. It instead is a nod to how maturly they handled their break-up, accepting that love will always exist between them, even if their relationship fails. As the ring falls on the now-hardened matter, they let go of each other and a future together.

Does Nancy end up with Steve?

No, not yet! Even though she does tell Jonathan during the conversation that she likes Steve, finds him funny, and admires his surity about knowing what he demands from future unlike her, she claims they are just friends. Though Nancy and the audience knows Steve's weakness and care towards her, she has still not accepted his love. Whether or not they end up together will be seen in the final episode, that premiers on December 31, 2025 (January 1, 2026 in India).