If you’ve spent any time online, you know that Stranger Things ships operate like their own miniature fandom ecosystems.
What actually is a ship, though? Short for “relationship,” a ship is when fans support a romantic pairing, canon or not. Canon ships are the ones the show confirms onscreen; non-canon ships live in fan edits, theories, and the corners of TikTok where people spend hours breaking down micro-expressions.
Just as choosing a major reveals something about you, picking a ship also says something about you. Some are practical, some are chaotic, and some are pure delusion (in a fun way). Here’s what a few of the show’s biggest ships would be if they were college majors:
Byler: Pre-Med / Pre-Dental
The Will Byers and Mike Wheeler ship, aka “Byler,” is the academic grind of the Stranger Things shipping world. Think difficult prerequisites, endless labs, and feeling like you’re jumping through hoops that probably aren’t even relevant — but you still do them because the end goal is worth it.
This ship works, emotionally and narratively, but no one would ever call it easy. Fans commit to Byler the way pre-med students commit to studying on Friday nights: stubborn optimism mixed with quiet suffering.
Jancy: Business
Jonathan Byers and Nancy Wheeler, aka “Jancy,” are the practical, stable, canon ship; the business major of the series. It’s grounded, realistic, and directly applicable to everyday life. You know what you’re getting, and it makes sense on paper. Some people may call it safe, but there’s something to be said for a relationship that actually functions in the real world.
Ronance: English
“Ronance” is Robin Buckley and Nancy Wheeler. This ship is for the dreamers, romantics, and people who annotate their favorite books. It’s theatrical, a little chaotic, and full of potential energy that may never become canon, but the vibes are immaculate. Like an English major, it’s more about passion than practicality.
The chemistry is all subtext and stolen glances, the kind of thing you write entire essays about even if nothing officially happens. At the end of the day, Ronance fans are perfectly happy living in the space between the lines.
Lumax: Art History
Lucas Sinclair and Max Mayfield, fondly known as “Lumax,” are about appreciation: deep, emotional, and personal. Lucas and Max’s connection has texture, history, and heart, much like the artwork an Art History major can talk about for hours. Their love feels layered and expressive, built on truly seeing one another for who they are.
Even when things get messy, there’s a sense of meaning behind every choice and every moment they share. It’s the kind of relationship you can study from every angle and still find something new each time.
Mileven: Public Relations
Mike Wheeler and Eleven, widely known as “Mileven,” are the PR majors of Stranger Things ships: right place, right time, widely appealing, and built on moments that look great from the outside. It’s designed to hit, and for many fans, it still does. Even if the messaging changes over time, the brand recognition is strong.
There’s a polished, promotional quality to their relationship that makes it easy to root for on a surface level, and like any good PR campaign, it knows how to stay memorable, even when the narrative shifts.
If Stranger Things has taught us anything, it’s that ships, like majors, say as much about us as they do about the characters. Whether you’re a practical Jancy or a stress-crying Byler pre-med, there’s a place for every type in the fandom’s course catalog.
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