13 best Stranger Things characters before Season 5

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With the final season of the hugely popular Stranger Things now available, let’s take a look back at the show’s most memorable characters as the Netflix series concludes.

The streaming service is releasing the final episodes in stages, starting November 26th and continuing through New Year’s Eve. After a three-year wait since Season 4, fans of Stranger Things are eager to see how the group from Hawkins will defeat Vecna (played by Jamie Campbell Bower) and prevent him from destroying the world and turning it into the Upside Down.

Naturally, fans have come up with many theories, like who Eleven’s biological father might be and what the strange title of the final episode is hinting at.

But until we have all the answers, here’s our ranking of the best Stranger Things characters.

13. Joyce Byers

Played by: Winona Ryder
First appearance: Season 1 Episode 1: ‘The Disappearance of Will Byers’

Who they are: Will Byers’ mother who desperately tries to find her son.

We admire Joyce because of her unwavering determination to find her son. While she’s always been a hardworking mother to both of her boys, her relentless efforts to bring Will home and then seek justice for him truly reveal her strength and character.

Joyce may not have the most dramatic scenes, but her story is just as crucial as anyone else’s. And it’s easy to root for her and Hopper to work through their complicated, yet obvious, connection.

12. Robin Buckley

Played by: Maya Hawke
First appearance: Season 2 Episode 1: ‘MADMAX’

She’s a coworker of Steve’s – they both work at Scoops Ahoy in Season 2 and Family Video in Season 4.

We love Robin because she’s just as quirky and fun-loving as the other characters, making her a natural fit in the battle against the Upside Down. Plus, her friendship with Steve is a real highlight of the show that doesn’t get enough attention.

The most powerful scene happens when she shares her sexuality with him, and he accepts her for who she is and everything she’s experienced. From that point on, her identity isn’t the only thing that matters in the story, and she’s given more opportunities to develop as a character beyond simply being a representative of the LGBTQ+ community.

11. Eddie Munson

Played by: Joseph Quinn
First appearance: Season 4 Episode 1: ‘The Hellfire Club’

Who they are: The leader of the Hellfire Club who is framed for Chrissy’s murder in Season 4.

Here’s why this moment is so great: Eddie Munson’s incredible guitar solo of Metallica’s ‘Master of Puppets’ in the Upside Down distracts the demobats, saving the day. It’s a truly unforgettable scene.

10. Lucas Sinclair

Played by: Caleb McLaughlin
First appearance: Season 1 Episode 1: ‘The Disappearance of Will Byers’

Lucas is a key member of the group of friends in Hawkins. He eventually expands his circle by befriending people on the basketball team.

Lucas Sinclair is the final member of the Hawkins AV Club, and many fans consider him the coolest. He’s aware of how others see him, particularly when he tries out for the basketball team. However, he always prioritizes his friends, which keeps him grounded, even when things get difficult – as we saw in Season 4.

Hopefully Max recovers and she and her partner can rekindle their relationship – they’re a really compelling couple, right up there with Eleven and Mike.

9. Dustin Henderson

Played by: Gaten Matarazzo
First appearance: Season 1 Episode 1: ‘The Disappearance of Will Byers’

Who they are: The Hawkins gang’s funniest member, and a devoted part of the Hellfire Club.

It’s no surprise Dustin makes the list! He delivers some of the funniest lines and jokes in Stranger Things – like his famous “You better run! She’s our friend and she’s crazy!” – and always stays true to himself.

Dustin is a remarkably loyal friend, as shown by his close bonds with the group, Steve, and Eddie. He consistently brings a sense of normalcy to even the most bizarre and otherworldly situations in the show.

8. Billy Hargrove

Played by: Dacre Montgomery
First appearance: Season 2 Episode 1: ‘MADMAX’

Billy Hargrove is Max’s stepbrother, struggling with past trauma and a large ego, which makes him vulnerable to the Mind Flayer’s influence.

We enjoy Billy Hargrove as a character because he’s initially presented as a confident, yet flawed, bully in Season 2. He creates problems for Max, the other kids, and even Steve. While he primarily serves to challenge the main characters, his story becomes even more compelling when he’s taken over by the Mind Flayer in Season 3, giving him a villainous past.

Dacre Montgomery gives a fantastic and emotionally powerful performance throughout the series, particularly in the heartbreaking scene where Billy tries to apologize to Max at the Starcourt Mall. It’s a really tough moment.

7. Vecna

Played by: Jamie Campbell Bower
First appearance: Season 4 Episode 1: ‘The Hellfire Club’

Who they are: The overarching villain of the show who’s origin story is intricately tied to Eleven.

We love this villain because he’s a truly terrifying and memorable monster, reminiscent of classic horror icons like Freddy Krueger and Pinhead. The fact that he made such a strong impact on fans shortly after his 2022 debut as the main antagonist of the series speaks volumes about how effective he is.

Learning about Henry Creel’s past – that he was actually 001, the orderly who showed Eleven kindness in the lab – added a compelling layer to his character. Vecna’s overall story is captivating, making him a standout villain.

6. Max Mayfield

Played by: Sadie Sink
First appearance: Season 2 Episode 1: ‘MADMAX’

Who they are: She’s another social outcast who winds up joining the Hawkins gang in Season 2.

We love Max because she started out as a tough, standoffish character, but she’s become surprisingly sweet and caring towards her friends. She also isn’t afraid to challenge the guys when they need it, keeping them grounded.

Focusing the fourth season’s storyline on Max was a clever decision by the writers. It gave Sadie Sink the opportunity to deeply portray Max’s inner struggles and strength, culminating in the powerful ‘Running Up That Hill’ moment and its aftermath.

5. Will Byers

Played by: Noah Schnapp
First appearance: Season 1 Episode 1: ‘The Vanishing of Will Byers’

Who they are: Will is the reason the show even happens when he gets kidnapped by the Demogorgon.

It was hard for viewers to connect with Will at first because he was separated from his loved ones and trapped in the Upside Down for much of the first season.

His time in the Upside Down and the consequences he faces have turned him into a crucial player in the fight to save the world from being destroyed.

4. Mike Wheeler

Played by: Finn Wolfhard
First appearance: Season 1 Episode 1: ‘The Vanishing of Will Byers’

This character is a key hero who begins the search for Will after he disappears at the start of the first season.

We like Mike because he naturally steps up as the leader and motivates his friends to find Will after he disappears into the Upside Down. He’s incredibly loyal, always sticking by his friends even when they disagree, and his relationship with Eleven is genuinely heartwarming.

3. Chief Hopper

Played by: David Harbour
First appearance: Season 1 Episode 1: ‘The Vanishing of Will Byers’

Okay, so Hopper… he used to be the police chief in Hawkins. But honestly, he became way more like a dad to Eleven, taking her in and raising her after everything that happened.

We appreciate Hopper because he’s a tough, straightforward police chief. This makes him a great contrast to the kids’ playful energy and humor. Plus, he’s skilled with weapons, which is useful when facing dangerous threats like demogorgons or enemies from Russia.

The show does a good job of showing Hopper dealing with his past, specifically the loss of his daughter and how it affected his marriage. He’s still working through these personal struggles, but he’s able to use what he’s learned to confront bigger challenges.

2. Eleven

Played by: Millie Bobby Brown
First appearance: Season 1 Episode 1: ‘The Vanishing of Will Byers’

She’s a young girl who grew up under the care of Martin Brenner and was subjected to experiments that eventually revealed her ability to move things with her mind.

Eleven is a standout character in the show. Although the entire Hawkins group is central to the story, Eleven undergoes an incredible transformation. She starts as a frightened child seeking safety, but grows into a courageous hero who fiercely protects her friends, especially by the end of Season 4.

While Will’s story started the whole thing, it was Eleven’s character that really captured our attention and kept us hooked.

1. Steve Harrington

Played by: Joe Keery
First appearance: Season 1 Episode 1: ‘The Vanishing of Will Byers’

Steve Harrington is a well-known student at Hawkins High, initially introduced as Nancy Wheeler’s boyfriend.

Steve is our top pick because he undergoes significant character development throughout the series. Initially, he’s portrayed as a typical, somewhat unpleasant popular teenager, but he evolves considerably.

Over time, getting to know the kids and fighting the creatures from the Upside Down transforms his perspective, leading him to accept people as they are. His relationships with the group – especially Dustin – in seasons two and three are also incredibly heartwarming.

If he dies in Season 5, we riot.

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2025-11-25 19:21