i feel like some fans might be overestimating the duffers when it comes to romance. The romantic storylines have always been pretty straight forward in the show narratively. Kind of have to take them at face value. There’s no hidden complex agenda. I’ve always felt the duffers focus more on a complex plot and the sci fi stuff and they keep the relationships fairly simple and fun.

I may be wrong but I feel if they were setting up Stancy in season 4 it’s very likely it will reach its resolution in the last season. The only times they’ve done things that are random are when they’ve suddenly changed their mind about a character (robins sexuality at the last minute even though she was supposed to be a love interest for Steve). So until they do something out of the blue like that, their plan so far is pretty clear when it comes to Stancy. Narratively speaking. It’s gonna be exactly what it seems to be building towards.