• Robin (Maya Hawke) and Vickie (Amybeth McNulty) are shown as a couple in Stranger Things season 5, volume 2.
  • Their hospital meeting in “Chapter Six: Escape from Camazotz” highlights a recurring problem: Hawkins locals largely ignore obvious supernatural threats.
  • Vickie initially assumes Robin is on drugs but later accepts the Upside Down explanation.

Spoiler warning

This article contains spoilers for Stranger Things season 5, episode 6 — “Chapter Six: Escape from Camazotz.”

Robin’s new romance in a changed Hawkins

In Season 5, Robin Buckley (Maya Hawke) has a quieter victory: she lands her dream job as the DJ at WSQK and begins dating Vickie Dunne (Amybeth McNulty). The moment is a welcome character beat for Robin — now more settled and happy — but the scene also underlines a larger narrative choice about life in Hawkins after the Upside Down ripped the town apart.

Hospital scene exposes the disconnect

In “Chapter Six: Escape from Camazotz,” Robin meets Vickie at the hospital and tries to explain the supernatural chaos surrounding Hawkins. Rather than accepting the explanation, Vickie assumes Robin is on drugs. That reaction — repeated across supporting characters this season — draws attention to one of the show’s biggest problems: ordinary townspeople behaving as if their world hasn’t fundamentally changed.

Why the scene matters

The end of Season 4 showed massive chasms, portals, and a clear Upside Down influence. Hawkins is now ringed by military forces, trenches, and sealed metal barriers. Despite this, many background characters in Season 5 act as though the status quo persists. The Robin-Vickie exchange becomes an emblem of the show’s choice to keep everyday people largely oblivious until the main cast explains the truth.

Belief and disbelief: a recurring beat

Stranger Things has long used disbelief as a narrative device: adults and casual observers routinely dismiss odd events until actors in the main cast prove otherwise. In this case, Vickie’s initial skepticism—thinking Robin is hallucinating—feels jarring given Hawkins’ recent trauma. The episode later resolves the beat when Vickie comes to understand the danger, but the scene still highlights the pattern.

What it means for Season 5

The Robin-Vickie romance adds human warmth to Season 5, giving Robin a quiet, earned win amid the chaos. At the same time, the scene underscores how the show balances character joy with narrative convenience. Locals’ disbelief keeps the series focused on the core group, but it also raises questions about realism after such visible destruction and a heavy military presence.

Where to watch

Stranger Things season 5, volume 2 is streaming on Netflix.

Keywords: robin stranger things, Robin Buckley, Vickie Dunne, Hawkins, Upside Down.

Image Referance: https://www.slashfilm.com/2055318/stranger-things-season-5-vicki-robin-romance-highlight-problem/