Experience Tumblr Like Never Before
Number 1) They broke up.
We see them as cute in s3, but is is a candy-coating. Underneath, the relationship is strained with unhealthy dynamics.
Max is too distrusting of men and takes to heart messages of playing hard to get- just waiting for Lucas to come crawling back after anythingnhe does displeases her instead of talking it out- to be able to support/understand Lucas properly.
Lucas is too invested in being a man- keeping his woman happy and viewing women as "other"- to open up to Max/how her he is a safe space to be vulnerable.
And then they break up. They grow and reflect. They start showing these missing characteristics- Max is there for his games (maybe not in the stadium, but she is there as much as she can be with the shit in her life). Lucas pleads with Max to talk with him; admits he didn't look hard enough.
So they start talking. Like really talking and beginning to be open and vulnerable.
I love that they did not officially fet back together yet (despite the very clear implications they both still love and care for one another and would consider another foray into the romantic) because we can clearly see Lucas has grown to be able to support Max and that Mac has grown to be open with Lucas, but we still don't see it fully reciprocated. Lucas keeps his insecurities so close to his chest. I really want him to find an ear in Max.
It is devastating that Max is killed before Lucas can really start leaning on her in return or see how much she wants to support him too.
I really hope Max is out of her coma in s5 to see some of this growth occur.
Number 2) The continued/potential growth into a healthy dynamic
Max is able to be fully open and vulnerable with a boy/man.
This is big for Max. We see a lot of Max's issues with how the men in her life have treated her (and presumably other women) and how that has effected her with how defensive she is with the boys.
Max was much more open and readily so with El. Max also jumps on the El needs independance train so quick.
It is obvious the girl is struggling with some things. Things that can be very hard to unlearn with the way we can assume she learned them.
And yet, she exposes her soft underbelly to Lucas. She apologizes to him. Something she doesn't do anyone else (outside of her letter to Billy). She decided to trust Lucas when he says she can talk to him; when he listens to her when she tells him she doesn't want empty reassurances.
She began trying to trust Lucas all the way back in s2, when she admitsbshe was mean and defensive to him and Lucas responds that she is nothing likenher brother even though she was being a dick. This is why she went to the Snowball with Lucas and not (sweet/good/happy) Dustin. That bus moment was defining, but it didn't fix their core issues. She kept pulling back and falling on her "madmax" persona; kept breaking up with him in s3. Even early s4 it was impossible for her to let him in, even though she wanted to: Lucas knew she needed help and begged her to reach out to him and while she didn't go to his game, she did listen to it.
And then she really does it. Her issues aren't resolved, but she is willing to finally open up with Lucas and trust him.
Max opening up to Lucas is part of what let her survive Vecna.
Number 2) Lucas has someone pick him as their first choice.
Lucas gets sidelined pretty hard by the party. Certaintly Mike, those two have the most actual fights/disagreements within the party. And even Will ccommits a pretty hard pass on him by not confiding in him.
Will has always supported Lucas, which is made clear even with the very little screentime the two share (Going with fireball s1, venkman argument s2, laughing at his jokes opening mall scene s3, and the fireworks against the mindflaesher s3). So even though Will supports Lucas, he still doesn't chose Lucas as his confidant (that role- so far-goes to Jonathan or Mike or even no one before Lucas).
Lucas is always coming in clutch. And that is part of the issue. Most of the time, Lucas is given no option but to make a save at the last minute because he didn't get enough support initially. Even his younger sister is presented as more together and capable. I adore their scene in s4, but she is still operating as his guide here. Lucas' popularity arc in s4 is so painful because he wants to be a protector/rock for the party (someone) but no one gives him the time of day.
Except Max. As s4 progresses, Max really does treat Lucas as that person for her. She is depending on him to keep her safe while she acts as bait for Vecna. She discusses her real fears and wants with him. She looks to Lucas. Even when he has no big plans, no part in the major action (that goes to Dustin and the older kids), not even his popularity, Max wants Lucas, the dork, by her side. She trusts that he will let her go through with her plan (acting as bait because she doesn't want anyone else to be in her place) and work to support her. Her memory with him is her happiest (and then the Snowball is no longer a happy memory and Lucas' promise to put her headphones is dashed to pieces and Caleb is spitting out ominous lines about things not working out as we hope... I want Max to wake up and chose Lucas again, despite him failing for the first time- failing whatbhe must feel was his most important task...)
And Lucas steps up. He faces down a greif-maddened Jason, who has both a gun and phsycial prowess over Lucas, to keep Max safe. He is there with her at the end.
And, while Lucas really needs more screentime for himself and with a partner that supports him, we do see Max trying to reciprocate this role. Lucas is very vulnerable when talking about Patrick. Lucas normally gets angry/confident/defiant when he is vulnerable with others, not reflective. Max lets him talk and Lucas feels comfortable enough to be vulnerable. Something we haven't seen with anyone else, except a bit with Erica.